Happy weekend! It’s been a quiet one around here as I’ve been under the weather and Tom has been busy disinfecting everything I’ve touched ;) That being said, we’ll probably be keeping a low profile this weekend, but here are a few things you might be interested in!
What better way to end the week than with a laugh and a cocktail? You can grab both at The Park Theater on Friday night as comedian Dave Hill (named one of the funniest people alive!) performs at 8pm. Snag your tickets here!
If wedding planning is in your future, you won’t want to miss the Wedding Expo on Sunday at The Q! Chat with vendors, sample food, and enter to win prizes, too - check out the details and pre-register here.
Any other pig lovers out there?! I happen to think they’re the cutest, and it just so happens that Sunday is National Pig Day! The World Awareness Children’s Museum is celebrating with a program sharing all about pigs and bonus - they’ll have a real live therapy pig on site to play with! Details here.
If you’re into soup, gumbo, and live music - this is for you. Seventeen Lake George businesses are teaming up for this weekend’s Mardi Gras event, which features free cups of their homemade soup or gumbo, raffles, live tunes, and more. Grab the scoop here!
Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom
It’s Thursday! Hope you’ve had a great week - especially if you and the kids had this week off! We’re chatting through what’s on our radar for the weekend ahead in another video edition of The Weekender - watch it below!
Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom
If you’ve been a hockey fan in these parts over the past few decades, you’ve heard this iconic voice introduce every hockey team that has taken to the ice at the Civic Center, and now Cool Insuring Arena, including The Adirondack Red Wings, Ice Hawks, Frostbite, Phantoms, Flames, and now our Adirondack Thunder! We had an amazing time catching up with Dan Miner, the public address announcer for the Adirondack Thunder and local radio personality on WCKM 98.5 FM. He’ll be inducted into the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend and we were fortunate to spend some time with him and learn what inspired him to get into radio, his favorite announcers growing up, what it’s like to be the voice of an entire arena and more!
Congratulations on being inducted into the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame!
Thank you! It’s a little odd for me… I’m not used to people complimenting me and saying congratulations, I’m used to being on the other side. It’s just very humbling to be recognized for all the years of service and great to be recognized alongside such talented people and friends. It’s like getting the band back together! [Sylvain Cloutier, Frank Littlejohn and the late H. Douglas “Doug” Burch will also be inducted.]
How did you get started in radio?
When I was a little kid, I just loved radio. I got the bug early. When I was growing up in Troy, my grandparents lived down the street from the WTRY studios so you could go down and the disc jockeys would let you watch and see what was going on. And right next to the school I went to was WRPI so after school I could sneak over to the college radio station and check things out. As a little kid, it just fascinated me. I never had a back-up plan, this is all I ever wanted to do.
Did you have any mentors along the way?
My radio instructor at SUNY Adirondack, Ron Pesha, was awesome. He had been there and done that, worked in the smallest of small markets and the biggest. Just real-life experience. When I first got started in radio, there were some people that took me under their wing. Glenn Britton was another one of those guys with an amazing voice and he was just so cool - he helped me out a lot early on. I’m still great friends with him today.
Who were some of your favorite radio announcers growing up?
Boom Boom Brannigan when I was a kid growing up in Troy. He was just awesome. He made everything so big. Of course Wolf Man Jack, I was fortunate enough to interview him and he was one of those guys that I really looked up to. Rick Knight, who I ended up working with later - he’s a Glens Falls / South Glens Falls guy. I went to work with him in the 90’s when he was at Fly 92. He was one of those guys that I just absolutely loved. And then there was Dave Strader who I got to know later on in my career. Being a kid from Whitehall, listening to the hockey games when they started in ‘79, he was the guy who painted the picture. Dave did a game so perfectly.
How about your all-time favorite sports announcer?
Dave Strader definitely. He had a way of painting a picture, and even when he moved to TV, I could lay on my couch, close my eyes and still know what was going on with the game just by listening to Dave. Not the hype, not the hyperbole, and not the show - Dave really called the game and that’s what I loved about him. He was just great at what he did. To do what he did from his radio beginnings through national and international feeds was just incredible.
What’s it like to be the voice of an arena?
Things have changed over the years, it’s much more of an entertaining experience. There’s also a alot going on including announcing the officiating, advertising, etc. We’ve got a great team up here. Video, officials, cameramen, staff from the team, etc. That took a while to figure out. It’s humbling, when you have people come up to you and they say you were announcing my first hockey game and they’re 40-something years old. I’m like Geez, I'm old! The team in the office is amazing as well. They’re local people who care.
We’d love to hear some of your favorite moments.
Any opening night is exciting, the playoff opening nights of course are awesome. Shoot outs aren’t There’s so many. Then one time on my second night of announcing, one of my best friends was shooting to win a car on the ice. And he did it! That was just awesome.
What’s your favorite battle cry to get the crowd going?
Probably the Rick Flair “Whoooooo!”. That came about one night when the music went down right when the crowd needed a punch. So I just got on the mic and did it. Sometimes the best stuff is accidental!
What’s your biggest challenge being an arena announcer?
Trying to get all the names correct - it’s a sign of respect. I always want to be sure to get everything right.
Thoughts on the team this year?
We’ve got a great group that will always play hard and give their best every night. Most importantly, they are good, kind people. It starts with James Henry right on down. And that’s a testament to coaching and front office.
We must know - what’s your favorite thing to eat at the arena?
Pretzel! Gotta keep it simple during game time.
What are your thoughts on Glens Falls these days?
The city has a whole new energy. It really starts with the Coalition. It gave everybody hope. It’s like even back with the Red Wings. It was more like an event happening. You had to be there and I think they’ve done that here with The Thunder. I credit guys like Jeff Mead as well, a local guy that’s been there and done that and gets what it takes to make it work. It’s great to be in a hockey town!
And one of the smallest hockey towns, correct?
We’re the smallest market in all of the ECHL, if not all of professional hockey. I never lose sight of that. It’s one of those things that I hope people don't take for granted since hockey has been here since 1979. The fact that we have the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition made up of people who are great at what they do and then to come together with great energy and knowledge to help keep hockey here is amazing.
When you’re not enjoying a pretzel at the arena, where are your favorite places to grab a bite to eat?
I enjoy the Bullpen, Jack’s American Bistro, Talk of the Town, and Massies. For breakfast - Sam’s and Coaches Corner.
ON THE FUTURE
What kind of advice would you offer someone who wanted to get into the radio business now?
Diversify. Learn everything. There are no more one trick ponies any more. So if you want to be on the air, you better know how to operate computers, do production, engineering, and all sorts of things. The job that I have now, seven people used to do.
Thanks Dan! And Congratulations!
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Lauren Grogan and Michael Plank welcomed their adorable daughter Diana this past fall, and we were so happy to catch up with them to hear all about her (and hang out with their sweet son Harvey!). Read on to find out about their experience with home birth, the significance of Diana’s name, and some great advice for new parents!
We are Lauren Grogan and Michael Plank and we live in Hudson Falls. Michael and I have been married for 10 years, he is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls and together we founded Underwood Park Crossfit in Fort Edward. Our first daughter, Aliza Dayenu, was still born at 23 weeks in June of 2013. That loss was a profound and transformative event for our family, and it echoes through our life today in some very beautiful ways. A year later, our son, Harvey Michael Plank, was born. He is now a wonderfully sweet and silly 5 year old who always makes us laugh and impresses us with his intelligence and sensitive heart. He also adores his new sister, Diana Caroline Grogan. As a family we love to sing and have kitchen dance parties. We also like to spend our free days outside and our nights at SlickFin Brewing Company.
How did you share your pregnancy news with your family and friends?
This pregnancy was very planned, and I was pretty sure our plan had worked well before the test confirmed it, so there was no big reveal for my husband. We chose to take our time telling family, until I accidentally mentioned it in a totally unrelated conversation with my mother-in-law! So there was no big reveal there either, just some quick happy phone calls once the cat was out of the bag. Harvey also had a great time announcing our news, he even told a few people before we were ready! It was nice to tell people a few at a time, like breaking off a little piece of our joy and sharing it in a bunch of intimate moments over the course of a few months.
Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right?
Harvey always referred to the baby as ‘she.’ A week before our ultrasound, we talked to Maureen, a woman from our church who’s ability to predict the sex of a pregnancy is legend in our town. She has never been wrong, but she told us it was a boy! At the ultrasound, it was clear that it was a girl and Harvey reminded us that he’d known all along. Maureen said she might retire from predictions.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
Diana was born at our house on October 29th, 2019 at 11:55 AM. She weighed 8lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long.
How did you decide on a home birth?
This was our second planned home birth, with the same midwife who helped us welcome Harvey, Kathie Breault with Sage-Femme midwifery. She is now an extension of our family, a true wise woman whose advice I deeply value and seek often. This time we had our friend, Kelli Evans, photograph the birth and the pictures she took are a stunning capsule of the emotional event. My water didn’t break until the moment Diana was born, which is unusual and a fascinating thing to see captured in photographs. Labor was hard, I was physically and emotionally drained. But Michael is the most supportive partner and we make a great team. Just like her sister and brother, Diana was born into her father’s hands. There was a moment right after she was born, before they put her on my chest, when I was so happy to see her and relieved to be finished laboring. I reached for her, and in one of Kelli’s photos, you can see Diana’s hands stretched toward me too.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
The first time we chose to plan for a birth at home, it was about redeeming some of the hard parts of my first birth and having a team of people caring for me who treated me like the healthy person I was. This time, I just couldn't imagine doing anything different! I appreciate having the agency to make choices for myself combined with the knowledge and care of birth experts. Receiving care in my home during the days after she was born was so wonderful, I was well looked after and didn't have to leave the house until I wanted to!
Tell us about her beautiful name!
A few years ago we were on a family trip to Manhattan and the weather was awful. To escape the rain, we went to The Met. We stepped into one particular hall, full of light from its glass ceiling, and in the center was this dramatic statue of a woman holding a bow and arrow (bow hunting is a favorite pastime of Michael, and many people in my family) I read the description, and it was a statue of Diana, the Huntress. I thought that would be a beautiful name for a daughter some day, which surprised me because at that point I was definitely not thinking about having more kids! Over the next few years I would see her from time to time in different works of art. Diana is the roman goddess of the moon and the hunt, she is almost always depicted with a bow and often a stag or hound. I love that imagery, and by the time we were thinking of having another child, I knew that this name had worked its way into my heart. We went back to the museum this summer and told Harvey about his sister’s powerful name. Her middle name is Caroline after my mother-in-law, and her last name is Grogan because it’s my last name and I like it!
What are a few things you love about her so far?
I am really loving this newborn stage! The experience of having done it already makes it much easier for me to enjoy. I’m not as anxious and I know I won’t be sleep deprived forever, so I’m able to relax and soak it all in. She is deliciously squishy right now, I love her chubby baby rolls!
How about some of your favorite things to do together?
She goes everywhere with me, so we do it all. She has been to several meetings, and last week for the first time I wore her while I gave a presentation. I also wear her when I walk to school to pick up Harvey, and I just love the connection we have when she is snuggled in to me. We’re also settling in to a weekday morning routine that I really love: I get my coffee before she wakes up and then we hang out in bed. I feed her, we snuggle, she lays on her stomach for some strength training (baby CrossFit). The rest of the day I may need to focus on other things, but that first hour is just for us.
Any similarities to the two of you?
She most strongly resembles her brother, it’s really fun! She is calm and content, which is more like my husband, but she has a wildcat scream that she uses to get her point across and that’s definitely my style.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
What’s your favorite thing about being parents?
I love watching them learn and seeing their personalities emerge. Harvey is learning to read at lightning speed and we get these fascinating glimpses of how his mind works as he learns and applies new skills. Diana finally figured out how to get her thumb into her mouth after many weeks of diligent effort. I’m looking forward to learning about her personality, the ways that she is similar to Harvey and the things that are unique to her.
What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Diana to your family?
Having another girl is pretty fun! I’m excited for floral print everything and it’s been fun to put her in some dresses that I wore when I was a baby. We are also pretty sure we are finished having kids, so I am excited to take in all of her milestones, knowing that it will be our last time experiencing them as parents.
How have you changed since becoming parents?
I think being a parent makes you a better person, because your kids are always watching. They see and imitate everything we do, so there is a pretty strong incentive to be the best versions of ourselves, and to own it when we fall short of that goal (often). You do so much to shape their worldview when they are little, it’s a huge responsibility and also an incredible opportunity to think critically about what you value. It can be exhausting to have to explain literally everything to them, but I have articulated so many things that I previously did not have words for. I think I know myself better because of that.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
We’d love to hear the best advice someone has given you?
The most helpful thing for me is when other women affirm how I am feeling: that it’s hard, lonely even boring sometimes when you have a young baby and it’s ok to not love every minute. Also the geniuses at babysleepscience.com taught me how to help my baby sleep and that changed my life.
How about your advice for new parents?
Nothing lasts forever! Most people think of this as a negative, but I think it’s comforting to know when you are in the trenches that it’s a short season of life. And don’t buy anything! Take all the hand-me-downs you can get and save your money for date nights. The best thing you can give your child is happy parents.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
What are the the top 3-5 products that have gotten you through the first few months?
Dry shampoo and a soft sided carrier, I like the baby k’tan, my husband likes the moby. And a Haakaa breast pump! I didn’t have this with Harvey and it’s a game changer, especially to use on the opposite side while Diana is nursing.
If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do?
Sleep! I guess I wouldn't say no a nice meal, but I’d want it in bed.
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The New Additions Series is made possible by Glens Falls Hospital.
At Glens Falls Hospital, we know how special that first look at your newborn is. That’s why we’ve taken strides to provide the most intimate, state-of-the-art accommodations for delivering your little bundle of joy at the Joyce Stock Snuggery.
Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that support Glens Falls Living!
We’re excited to bring you the first in our new At the Lake series - and what better place to start than one that holds a special place in our hearts - The Inn at Erlowest (where we had our wedding reception!). Sure, some folks may not think of the lake as a winter destination, but with the Winter Carnival, Ice Bars, and now, igloos (or as they call them at Erlowest: e-gloos!) - winter at the lake is the new summer ;)
With a gorgeous spot overlooking Lake George, The Inn at Erlowest was looking for a fun new way to provide outdoor dining with a view once the summer season ended, and this unique idea definitely fits the bill! We popped in to enjoy dinner in one of their e-gloos earlier this month, and it definitely has our vote as a perfect winter date night.
Decked out in white lights (and outfitted with their own little heaters!), the e-gloos are perched on the patio - a prime location to enjoy the view as the sunset turned the sky pink. It just so happened that our e-gloo was also next to the gorgeous outdoor fireplace - always a hit in the summer and even more appreciated in the winter! We couldn’t help but pop out to enjoy the crackling fire (and the view) between courses.
Speaking of courses, the meal (prepared by Chef Scott Dewar), was outstanding. Some favorites: the Harvest Bisque with Maple Cream and Spiced Pumpkin Seeds (like candy!), the Jumbo Shrimp with Polenta, the Brown Sugar Cured Salmon, and the Scallops (cooked on a salt block!). We couldn’t stop talking about the food the entire drive home (and Bri is still talking about the scallops!).
They’ll be serving dinner in the e-gloos through April 15 (which is perfect for our winters that don’t seem to end!). You can grab more details here, or reserve by giving them a call at 518-668-5928.
Chef Scott Dewar at The Inn at Erlowest
Until next time!
P.S. Still hungry? Check out more local favorites here.
Happy weekend! Doing things a bit differently this week and popping in on video with our picks - tune in below! Hope you enjoy… Happy Valentine’s Day!
Have a great weekend!
Tom + Bri
This week we caught up with Alisha Stosic-Hanley! She's been a local for the past three years or so, but if you've ever met her, it seems like she's been here her whole life! Tom first met Alisha through the Glens Falls Rotary Club, but you may recognize her as the friendly leader of the team at the Queensbury Senior Center. Read on to hear her thoughts on the spirit of our community, a few of her favorite spots, and where to find some amazing fries with gravy!
Hi! I am Alisha Stosic-Hanley and I am the Executive Director of the Queensbury Senior Center. I have had the honor of being in this position for the last year and a half and am grateful each day I walk into the Center. I am a mom to 4 wonderful kiddos, 3 boys: 18, 15 and 13 and a little girl who is 6 and 3 quarters (in her own words). I enjoy being involved in all sorts of activities, but especially fun and unique fundraisers that go to support the many wonderful organizations in our area.
I grew up in Southern California, graduated high school in Southwest Missouri and went to college in Montana — I only moved to the Glens Falls area 3 and a half years ago! Although it has been a short time, I have fallen in love with the charm, beauty and goodwill of Glens Falls. It is easy to see why so many people stay, or come back, to this area. Being that I have lived in many different regions of the US, I have had the opportunity to explore and discover what makes each place special and unique. It did not take me long to figure out the idiosyncrasies of Glens Falls and the amazing people who call it home.
I currently rent a townhome that is just on the outskirts of Glens Falls. It is easy to get to downtown (6 minutes), to work (10 minutes on a good day) and all the other places a busy working mom needs to go. I enjoy finding fun, local items to decorate my home with to give it the modern small town charm appeal. If you see me out walking a Saint Bernard puppy all hours of the day - make sure to wave! She will most likely be walking me....
My favorite thing about Glens Falls is, hands down, the people. I have lived in many places and this area is a true testament to the power of a group of like minded individuals that seek to improve their community through service, activism and education. I have had the honor of being enveloped in a network of friends that have turned into family. Being in the ‘senior industry’ for so long, I would say some of our greatest hidden gems, and most valuable assets, is our senior population! The wisdom, humor and honesty this group serves up on a daily basis is truly book worthy. And if you ever doubt this, I challenge you to join me for just one day at the Queensbury Senior Center! You will go home feeling better than when you entered....the kindness and love that seniors give freely is priceless.
My ideal day is enjoying all the wonderful offerings of Glens Falls! I would start with a heart pumping workout at Core of Glens Falls, where I would be encouraged and welcomed by some of the best people around. Afterwards I would grab a bulletproof maple latte at Spektor Coffee Roasters, because “coffee is the most important meal of the day”! From there I may venture a walk on the Betar Byway with my dog and kiddos. A perfect evening would start at Craft on 9 (poutine is to die for!) and either catching one of the amazing performances at the Adirondack Film Festival (if in season) or doing a fun paint and sip at Sip n’ Canvas downtown. My youngest kiddos and I enjoy cheering on the Adirondack Thunder as much as we can as well! To finish the night would be a handcrafted cocktail at Fenimore’s while enjoying the music of a talented local artist.
One memory I have in particular is when I first visited Glens Falls back in 2000, which was my first real experience on the East Coast. I had the pleasure of dining at Massie’s Italian Restaurant and was blown away that people actually ordered fries with GRAVY on them. I had never heard of such a thing. Now I’m hooked!!
The future of Glens Falls and its surrounding areas is so incredibly bright! I would love to see an outdoor music venue brought to the area to enjoy the many talented local musicians that call this area home. Two of my favorite things are summer nights and live music - put them together and you have a winning combo.
Thanks Alisha!
P.S. Check out more of our My Glens Falls series here.
Winter is back, and there are plenty of perfect ways to celebrate the snow (or avoid it) this weekend - and we plan to do a bit of both ;) Let’s get to it!
We couldn’t be more excited for the first Glens Falls Ice Bar this weekend at Doc’s! Open Friday and Saturday, they’ll have specialty cocktails, food, music, and maybe even a few inches of fresh snow! Find out the scoop here.
With snow in the forecast, I can’t think of a better time to peruse a book sale. The Friends of Crandall Library hold their book sales (3 per year!) to raise funds for the library, and this weekend is the first sale of the year. Grab the details here and happy shopping!
The Adirondack Thunder are home this weekend for two nights to benefit the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital. On Friday, donate $10 to write a message on the ice after the game, and on Saturday, the Thunder will play on the painted ice. Grab the details and purchase tickets here.
Feel like a day trip? Head to Gather 103 in Greenwich to shop goods from local makers and indulge in some drinks from Argyle Brewing and sweets from Two Birds Marketplace (details here). Pair it with a visit to a few of these Washington County antique shops, perhaps? A pretty perfect Saturday.
Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom
P.S. Tom is participating in the 22-a-day Push-up Challenge; an initiative to help promote awareness for veteran suicide prevention along with honoring our brave military service members and cherished veterans.Click here for more infomation!
Have you ever thought about selling it all and taking off to travel the world? Eileen and Andy Mentor (and their little ones, Rowan and Murphy) did just that. In 2018, they sold their Glens Falls home and spent six months adventuring through Southeast Asia. Now that they’re back in town, we were excited to catch up with them to learn a bit more about what inspired their travels, what they love about being back in Glens Falls, and of course, what destinations they’d recommend to anyone planning a trip to Asia.
Hi, we are Eileen and Andy Mentor. We run Crayons and Carry-Ons, and are the owners and creators of a local photo and video production company, Mentor Media. We have two children, Rowan and Murphy, and we share a huge addiction to travel.
In the beginning of 2018 we hatched a plan to sell most of our possessions, packed up our children and traveled throughout Southeast Asia for 6 months. We’ve never believed in the narrative that you must work until you retire and only then can you travel long-term. We believe life is meant to be lived and we rarely feel as alive as we do while traveling.
A lot of things had to fall into place to pull this off but as fate would have it, we reached our savings goals, sold just about everything and bought enough camera equipment to capture our experience on the upcoming trip. We started Crayons and Carry-Ons with the intention to share our experiences with friends and family through a series of vlogs, blogs and photos but it became much more! It has opened us up to a huge community of other traveling families and along the way we were able to meet so many amazing people!
So in October of 2018, we set out for Thailand and ended up traveling to 20 cities across 4 countries in 6 months.
I (Eileen) first moved to Glens Falls in 2003. When I graduated college, I escaped the snow and moved down to Wilmington, North Carolina which is where Andy and I met. While we both thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather, we decided to move back up to Glens Falls to start a family.
Six years and two kids later, we have rented three apartments throughout the city and purchased our first home which was located on Webster Avenue. It was the perfect place to put down roots, or so we thought. The neighbors were amazing, we could walk downtown, it was right next to Crandall Park and in September, we were able to watch the hot air balloons fly right over our house but still, we couldn’t shake our desire to live abroad. So fast forward two and a half years, we put the house up for sale, accepted an offer 9 days later and were that much closer to our dream of full-time travel.
We love Glens Falls in the summer so an ideal day would include waking up and heading right to the outdoor Farmer’s Market. It is a great place to walk around and support small, local businesses. Afterwards, we make our way to Fresh ADK to enjoy a cup of coffee and breakfast while the kids are kept busy on the playset. For lunch, you will find us on a patio, either at Raul’s or Downtown City Tavern. From there, we would head to Crandall Park to walk around and let the kids burn off some energy on the playground. If we are lucky enough to find a babysitter, we would then head to Common Roots or Northway Brewing for a pre-dinner beer. For dinner, there are so many amazing spots to choose from but our favorites are Craft on 9, Morgan & Co and if we need our Thai fix, Aroy Dee (the owners are the sweetest). Realistically though, we usually grab some meat from Oscars and vegetables from the Farmer’s Market and grill on our patio with friends and family.
While we have so many fond memories from the Adirondack Balloon Festival, Taste of the North Country, hockey games and other great events that Glens Falls puts on, our greatest memory will always be starting our family here. Both of our children were born in the Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital and thanks to the amazing nurses and staff, our experiences were wonderful.
No matter where we end up living or traveling, we will always consider Glens Falls “home”.
We are lucky to live in an area with a good amount of options but if we had a magic wand, we would like to see a few more. Andy always jokes about opening a burrito and craft beer restaurant so we would love to see something like that pop up and I would be thrilled if a Trader Joe’s came to the area. Another thing we fell in love with on our trip were the international food markets which were more like modern day food courts for grown-ups. You could find anything from the typical American hot dog to bahn mi from Vietnam or chicken tikka from India. We would absolutely love seeing something like that with more international options.
Lastly, we would like to include some of our favorite places that we visited and would recommend to anyone that may be considering a trip to Asia.
Chiang Mai, Thailand - Situated in the north, it is a small city filled with over 300 temples, some of the most beautiful markets and the best place to visit ethical elephant sanctuaries.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - In the capital city of Malaysia, you will find endless activities for children and some of the largest playgrounds we have ever seen. It is a very multicultural city with residents and visitors from all over the world contributing to amazing food and beautiful architecture.
Ha Long Bay and Tam Coc, Vietnam - If you find yourself in Northern Vietnam, these two places are a must do. Take an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay and be surrounded by 1,600 islands and head to Tam Coc to relax and ride bicycles through lush rice paddies and towering limestone cliffs.
Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia - Located off the coast of Bali, this island is home to some of the most beautiful blue water we’ve ever seen. You can rent a golf cart to explore as there are no cars allowed on the island. It is definitely worth a visit.
You can follow all of our adventures on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and find out where we are off to next!
This week’s My Glens Falls was made possible by The Queensbury Hotel.
Valentine’s Day is next Friday - have you made your dinner reservations yet? Park 26 at The Queensbury Hotel will be celebrating all weekend with an incredible four course dinner special (or their fabulous a la carte menu) and overnight packages to if you’d like to make a weekend out of it. Grab all the details and make your reservation here!
Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!
While we’ve dabbled with growing a few vegetables in the past, we’re really hopeful to have a thriving backyard garden this spring and summer with even more vegetables and Bri’s dream - a cut flower garden. Since we have absolutely no experience whatsoever, we were so excited to discover Emily Gardner’s Instagram account last year. She just so happens to be a landscape designer, AND she also just so happens to have a dreamy backyard garden right here in the city. Read on for her tips on getting started - because the best gardens are planned in the winter!
Hi! My name is Emily Gardner, and my name fits - I love to garden!
I grew up along the Hudson River in Malden, a small hamlet of Saugerties in Ulster County. I seem to have slowly migrated northward, moving from Albany to Saratoga Springs before ultimately buying my first home in Glens Falls in February of 2019. I was extremely lucky to find a home with a sunny yard, a large porch (which my cat loves), and a two-car garage (one side of which functions as my garden shed for the summer).
When I’m not working or gardening, you might find me in the kitchen, out at yard sales or flea markets, or adding things to an Etsy shop I share with my mom (Malden Mercantile).
Photo courtesy of Emily Gardner
We’d love to hear a bit more about your career in landscape design and what motivated you to get into it.
I received my Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University and my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from UAlbany. I actually started college in Boston with an interest in neuroscience and psychology, but my interest in the outdoors ultimately won out!
Growing up in a small town, I spent lots of time outside– playing along the river, building forts in the woods, and gardening alongside my mom. When I realized that science might not be my ultimate career path, I looked into schools with interior design programs. I actually discovered landscape architecture by accident, when a transfer advisor asked me about my hobbies and, thankfully, suggested a major that combined science and plants with design.
Now I work as a landscape designer and community planner at Saratoga Associates in Saratoga Springs. I’ve been able to work on dozens of projects, ranging from state parks to community waterfronts and downtown streetscapes. One of my favorite parts of a project is choosing the plants for each site. As my friends begin to buy homes, some have asked for ideas for their yards, which is a lot of fun for me.
Photo courtesy of Emily Gardner
What inspired you to plant your backyard garden?
I’ve been in the garden for as long as I can remember – so over 30 years! When I was little, my mom would give me a small patch where I could grow whatever I wanted (which was usually a mix of wildflowers). Last year was the first time I truly had space that was all mine, and I was so excited to start digging!
While renting in Saratoga, I had a community garden plot – but everything had to be pulled out at the end of the season, so I grew mostly veggies and some annual flowers. As soon as I’d purchased the house, I was drawing plans for what the yard might become, including trees and perennials. I was lucky that the house itself had been fully renovated, so I was able to head straight to the garden.
It started out as just lawn, with a rusted wire fence hidden behind an overgrown hedge. As soon as the snow melted, my dad helped me remove all of the hedges (thanks to the DPW for picking all of that up!) and replace the fence with a wooden one. Then we built six raised beds and left a deep border along the fence for flowers. I was lucky enough to get quite a few perennials from family members who were eager to share. I filled the raised beds with veggies and herbs, which meant I had a mini farmers’ market right in my backyard.
Photo courtesy of Emily Gardner
You mentioned in a previous chat that the best gardens are planned in the winter. Tell us a bit more about your winter planning process!
Cold winter days are the perfect time to start daydreaming. When everything is covered in white, it’s like a blank canvas to imagine what could be when the color returns in spring. I start out with a list of all of the things I might want to plant, and decide which things I want to start as seeds and which I want to buy as plants. I definitely buy my tomatoes as plants – I don’t need an entire packet of seeds which I just want a few plants!
If you want to start things from seed, definitely plan early, and check the guidelines on the packet. Some plants (perennial flowers in particular) should be started up to 12 weeks before the last frost. Using mid- to late-May as a guide, that means starting seeds in late February or early March!
What are some things to keep in mind when planning a garden in a smaller footprint (like a Glens Falls backyard)?
When it comes to vegetables, think about alternating what you grow. Space for early crops – like lettuce, peas, radishes – can then be used for late-season items like beans and squash. Also look for “bush” varieties – veggies like pumpkins, summer squash, and tomatoes can all be found in varieties where the plants stay compact, making them better suited to small spaces. Peas and pole beans, which grow on vines, can be trained to grow up a trellis or post and will save space on the ground. Also, take advantage of containers! Pots allow you to move things to where the sun is, if needed, and are a great option for renters.
Look for inspiration around town - your neighbors might have similar growing conditions and challenges. Don’t be afraid to try something new – if it doesn’t work out, there’s always next season!
Photo courtesy of Emily Gardner
There are so many options - how do you decide what to plant?
At the end of the season, I make a note of what did well, and what didn’t do so great - what got hit by disease or pests? and what seemed resistant? I replant the top performers, tweaking my choices based on what I might want more or less of – I ended up supplying my office with fresh mixed greens well into October last year! I always leave space for “experiments” – a few new things I want to try. This year I'm planning to add strawberries and sweet corn, along with a few ornamental grasses and red-twig dogwood shrubs for future winter interest.
What flowers or vegetables would you recommend for beginners? What has worked well for you (or not so well)?
Flowers like zinnias and cosmos are really reliable from seed, attract pollinators, and are great for cut arrangements. I always add in some snapdragons too, but find them easier to buy as plants. Lettuce, peas, carrots, radishes, and green beans are must-haves for me in my veggie garden and have always done well. I always plant cucumbers, too, but they can come out a little strange if watering isn’t consistent (think baseball-bat shapes)! Don't be afraid to add some perennials: Hosta, astilbe, and coral bells for shady spots; echinacea, coreopsis, sedum, salvia, irises, and ornamental grasses if you've got sun. Butterfly bushes are great if you've got a sunny spot for a shrub - they're very tolerant, fast-growing, fragrant, and butterflies really do love them.
Photo courtesy of Emily Gardner
Do you have a favorite place to shop for seeds?
Browsing through seed catalogs is a lot of fun, but I also pick some up at Dollar Tree! They have a lot of the standby plants (sunflowers, green beans, zinnias, marigolds, radishes) for $0.25 per packet! When I’m looking for something new, I check out the local garden centers. They’re more likely than the big-box stores to have an unusual or heirloom variety of something and it’s great to support a local business at the same time. I'm looking forward to exploring the local nurseries this year.
Photos courtesy of Emily Gardner
Any must-have supplies to prepare for starting seeds?
I began with seed starting kits (a plastic tray with a cover and Jiffy soil pellets), and I still use them. Now I have a small indoor greenhouse – wire shelves with a plastic cover – which gives me the space I need when it’s time to start the seeds, but is small enough to pack away for the rest of the year.
I’ve started adding to my supplies: Last year I bought a heating mat, which really helps with germination by keeping the soil at a steady, gently warm temperature. I also ordered some grow lights online and really noticed the difference they make. Without them, the little seedlings reach toward the sunlight coming in through the window, and the grow lights allow you to make sure they get light every day, while also encouraging them to grow straighter, a win-win!
Emily Gardner
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Hope you had a great week! It feels like we’re in that winter sweet spot - the post-holiday lull has passed and all of the fun wintry activities (and ice bars!) are in full swing. Excited to take full advantage this weekend (and then crash on the couch for the Super Bowl). Here’s what’s on our radar:
We can’t wait to check out the First Annual Fire & Ice on Friday night to celebrate the first night of skating on Crandall Pond. Skating on the pond + hot chocolate by the fire (bring your own mug!) - it doesn’t get more Hometown USA than that! Here are the details.
It’s the kick off weekend for the Lake George Winter Carnival, and we can’t think of anything we’d rather do than watch all of the crazy antics unfold at the Outhouse Races on Saturday ;) There’s also a chili cook-off, parade, and lots more. Grab the scoop here.
Did you head up to any of the Ice Bars last weekend? If not, you’re in luck, because the party continues this weekend with bars at The Sagamore, Holiday Inn, Gaslight, Lake George Beach Club, and more (grab the full list here), and this weekend, add Winterfest at Erlowest to the mix (here are the details on that). Cheers!
What are your plans for the game? We’re excited to whip up some of our favorite comfort foods and relax by the fire to watch at home. However, we may need a big brunch to carry us until then… What’s your weekend go-to? Farmacy? Farmstead Flatbread? The Silo? Would love to hear your favorites.
Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom
A beautiful autumn wedding, complete with deep, rich hues to complement the season and overflowing with meaningful personal touches. When it came time to plan their wedding, Sarah and Eric made walkability a priority for their guests, and Glens Falls turned out to be the perfect place for folks to stroll from their hotel to the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception locations. Read on to see and hear about all of the details of their downtown wedding, with gorgeous images by Kimberly Nicole Studio!
Tell us about yourselves!
We met at college at SUNY Geneseo. We were both Chemistry Majors. Turns out, we had excellent chemistry!
There is almost nothing that we don’t like to do together. We love to ski, cook food from our favorite cooking magazine (177 Milk Street), and paint together. Most of our paintings are landscapes and we have about 3 around our apartment. We also trained and ran the Buffalo marathon together in May 2019.
We have a black cat; her name is Hiccup. She is simultaneously the cutest and most ferocious creature in the world, and we love her very much.
On Glens Falls
I grew up in Queensbury, and Eric and I now live in Binghamton, NY.
A few of our favorite things about coming back to visit:
Exploring the goodies at The Farmers Market
Cooper's Cave ice cream. I'm very fond of a Wild Cherry float after biking downtown on a hot summer day.
Spot coffee and sandwiches at The Exchange Cafe
Skiing at West Mountain
Going for day hikes or snowshoeing in Lake George / the High Peaks
Catching up and spending time with friends
Christmas shopping at The Shirt Factory
Hot cider donuts at the Silo
This list could almost go on forever. The area is a year round playland and I hope someday we can move back!
We were hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. While we were in the middle of the hike called Falling Waters and I noticed Eric was lagging behind, I doubled back to tease him for being slow and he got down on one knee and proposed! I was completely surprised and honestly shocked that I hadn’t seen it coming. I’m known for being a snoop around the house.
The ring was bought from a vintage jewelry store in Ithaca. Its center stone is a sapphire with a diamond on each side and a white gold band.
The Planning
My favorite part of the planning process was getting to spend time with my mom and my maids of honor making the decisions for the wedding. It was fun feeling like we were on a mission together to find beautiful flowers at a reasonable price and search craft stores and sales to find decorations that would work in our vision.
There were a lot of challenges in planning. Choosing a venue was difficult as well as hearing other peoples’ (sometimes negative) opinions on the details I was very excited about. It was also challenging to find time to answer all the questions that came last minute.
The Venue
We chose to have our wedding at Morgan & Company, in the heart of Glens Falls. Most of the reception was held outside. Morgan & Co. rented tents to make this happen and they set up a bar on the front lawn and outdoor seating as well as the dance floor which was perfect for busting moves all night long.
The Details
We had a romantic/moody theme with deep reds, forest green, black and gold accents. We wanted the day to feel cozy and warm while matching the changing colors outside.
So many of the details in our wedding were so personal to us and made our wedding day feel intimate and close to our hearts. We wanted the day to not only be “the perfect day” but truly be a celebration of beginning our life together as a family.
The bridesmaid dresses were black and they all wore pearl necklaces and burgundy pashminas. The pearls were a special touch because my grandmother gifted each of her granddaughters a pearl necklace on our 18th birthdays. She had started making them for us when we were each born. My cousins both wore those necklaces.
Another special touch was Eric’s tux. After struggling to find a tux that “fit his personality”, we decided to go rogue and purchase a burgundy tux jacket that Eric could swap for the rented black jacket that matched all the groomsmen.
I wore a vintage dark ivory lace dress from Bride & Gown with long lace sleeves and gorgeous back detail. I absolutely loved the classic look to this dress and the dark ivory went perfectly with our romantic vision.
Our wedding bands are originally my grandparents. My grandfather passed away when I was young, and my grandma graciously handed down the rings to us for our wedding.
We had a beautiful hand painted cake by The GingerSnap Cake Shop. I really liked the idea of having a cake that looked like a painting rather than a sculpture of frosting. It was a two-tier pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting.
Yet another special touch was the blackboard sign that welcomed our guests to the reception. My sister in law is an artist and created a beautiful calligraphy style sign inviting our guests to enjoy the special day.
The most unique element of our wedding was the local set up. One of our goals for the wedding was to have all the event locations in the same area. An issue we had encountered at a few weddings we’ve attended before was transportation for the guests between locations. Our vision was to have everyone be able to walk between all the main spaces. So, we decided to host everything in Glens Falls: the rehearsal dinner was at The Bullpen Tavern, our guests stayed at The Queensbury Hotel, the ceremony was at St. Mary’s and the reception was at the Morgan and Co.
The Moments
My favorite moment of the day was talking to my grandma after the ceremony. She was very excited because during the ceremony the rings were blessed. Only known to her was that the rings had been blessed previously at her wedding in 1966. It was very humbling to see how much that meant to her and made the gift feel even more personal.
The Honeymoon
We went on a honeymoon right after the wedding. We went to France and spent time in Paris and Colmar. We had an amazing time.
Some Advice…
Keep it simple.
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Ceremony: St Mary’s Church
Venue + Food: Morgan & Company
Cake: The GingerSnap Cake Shop
Gown: Bride & Gown
Hair + Makeup: Beverly Martindale
Photographer: Kim Britton
Invitations: Kingsbury Printing
Florals: The Arrangement Shoppe
DJ / Band: Riptide Entertainment (Justin Sarsick)
Ring: Sheldon Hill Vintage & Estate Jewelry
Transportation: Royale Transportation
Rentals: The Black Tux
We caught up with Grace McDonald this week! You’ll recognize her friendly smile from Graceful Touch Massage Therapy (note to self: book a massage ASAP!). She shared a bit about her connection to Glens Falls and raising her daughter here, the joys of entrepreneurship, and one type of restaurant that she’d like to see added to the mix downtown.
Hi! My name is Grace McDonald. I’m the owner of Graceful Touch Massage Therapy (Winner of The Post Star Best of the Region 2019) in Queensbury, NY. I was born in Belize, Central America. My mom and I lived in South Glens Falls for 5 years before moving to Glens Falls in my freshman year of high school and I’ve lived here ever since. I’m in my 40’s now, married to my husband Scott for 27 years, and we have one beautiful daughter, Jade, who is now 26 years old and married to my son-in-law Daniel.
You could say that I grew up here in Glens Falls. I’ve definitely seen the amazing changes that have happened and continue to happen in this amazing community. My mother was the seamstress for many years at Aroxy Dry Cleaners until she retired and that’s why we settled here in Glens Falls. What I love about living in Glens Falls is that it’s the best place to raise a family. After graduating high school, I got married and had my daughter. When Jade started school at Sanford Street, I worked as a Teacher Aide in Big Cross Street School for over 10 years. Now, I work with teachers helping them relieve their stress levels and they hold a special place in my heart.
Thinking back on those years raising Jade, there’s no better place I would have wanted to be doing that and working with the children in my community than here in Glens Falls. The Crandall Library was a place downtown that we loved going to get books to read and do activities as she grew up. We also went to Crandall Park to play in the summer months and sledding in the winter months. My husband and I still live in the home close to Sanford Street where we raised our daughter. My momma lives in one apartment and we live in the other. We have great neighbors that help each other and some new families that have moved in with little ones. Being close to downtown with the diversity in shops and restaurants is also one of the many things that I also love about living in Glens Falls.
In October 2017 I opened my business, Graceful Touch Massage Therapy inside The Skin Transformation Center on Bay Road and the support from the people in the community has been so awesome - my heart is so happy! I won Best of the Region 2019 and was 3rd in 2018! Today, I’m booked out 6 weeks ahead! What a supportive community I live in that makes me a part of their wellness program and I’m so grateful to be a part of it! I look forward to many more years doing what I love, receiving the support and supporting the businesses (Dickinson’s Delights, Adirondack Etching, Sensibiliteas and others) in my community here in Glens Falls.
My perfect day in Glens Falls would be going to have breakfast at Steve’s Place. I love their meat lovers omelet with their home fries! Then going to get an acupuncture treatment at The Acupuncture Studio on Warren Street (Brooke is the best) and after that having lunch at The Exchange Café with their delicious sandwiches and salads, before heading to my office for the rest of the day and working with the best clients anyone could ask for!
If I could have anything here in Glens Falls, it would be an Indian restaurant downtown! True, there’s one in Lake George, but to have one downtown along with Siam Thai, Mikado (Japanese) and the other fantastic restaurants would be just perfect! I’m hoping that one day soon that will become a reality!
Brendan and Emily McCarthy recently welcomed their sweet daughter Rory in October, and we were so thrilled to catch up with them recently to hear all about her! They’ve shared the sweet significance behind her middle name, a helpful resource for sleep training, and lots more below!
Hi! We are Brendan & Emily McCarthy. We have one daughter, Rory. She is 3 months old. We both grew up here and recently moved back to be closer to our families. We live on the east side of Glens Falls.
Brendan likes to attend hockey games with his parents, dine at Raul’s and enjoy beers at Common Roots. I love the Crandall Library, the Adirondack Balloon Festival and taking neighborhood walks.
How did you share the news of your pregnancy with your husband and family?
When I found out I was pregnant I immediately called my mom; I wanted to be with her right away. She came over and we just sat in awe & excitement & talked for a few hours, and then I drove to Brendan’s work, telling him I was just coming for lunch. He was very surprised and not completely convinced. He said, “That’s great! But let’s make sure the doctor confirms it.” Ha!
We were pregnant at the same time as my brother and sister in law, so that was really fun!
Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right?
We didn’t find out the gender beforehand, we wanted to be surprised. We both thought we were having a boy, and were thrilled with a girl. She is our dream come true.
Rory Mahoney McCarthy was born October 21, 2019, at 10:01 pm. She measured 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 18.5 inches long.
Such a cute name! How did you decide on it?
Rory was the only name we could both agree on, and luckily it was gender neutral. We thought it sounded nice with our Irish last name, too. I (Emily) chose the middle name, Mahoney, in honor of my beloved grandparents. I thought if I was ever worried about her, they would be her guardian angels in heaven.
What are a few things you love about her so far?
Everything. Brendan loves her hair, her smile, her laugh, and the way she looks at her Mommy. I loves her little baby sounds, when she gets excited about anything, her smell, her giggles, every smile, every moment.
How about some of your favorite things to do together?
I love to sing Disney songs to her, read books, perform puppet shows for her with her stuffed animals, and dress her up in all her adorable clothes for daily photo shoots. Brendan does all the grooming - from hair to nails! We love giving her baths together because she smiles and coos. We like to take her out anywhere and she enjoys the stimulating, big, wide world.
Any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you?
She certainly has her Daddy’s hair. She receives so much attention for it! She looks just like Daddy’s baby pictures. People have commented that she resembles both of her grandmothers.
We’d love to hear your favorite parts about parenthood thus far? And the most surprising thing?
Brendan says Rory has brought new meaning to “home” and he can’t wait to come home from work every evening. I love how close parenthood as made our little family. We work pretty well together as a team.
We both think adjusting to the sleep schedule in the beginning was the biggest challenge.
The most surprising thing about parenting is how fast time truly seems to fly by.
What are you most looking forward to with the new addition to your family?
Taking her on hikes and getting outside even more after winter.
I grew up across the street from Crandall Park and I have so many wonderful memories playing at the playground, sledding and skating on the pond with my Dad. I can’t wait to take her to all these same spots. We can’t wait to play with her in our backyard.
What has being a parent taught you? How have you changed since becoming parents?
As a Mom, I now see my own parents so differently. I think, “Wow, you’ve been through all of this many times!” (They raised 5 children). My respect, love and admiration for them has grown even stronger somehow. And I don’t say it enough, so shout out to them!
What’s the best advice someone has given you?
Our sister-in-law, Katie Fowler, is a clinical nurse educator at Glens Falls Hospital, and she recommended we take an online sleep training course for newborns entitled, “Taking Cara Babies.” We credit Rory’s successful sleeping schedule to this. The program has truly been a lifesaver!
Would you like to share some advice for parents-to-be?
We both recommend taking all the classes available to new parents offered at Glens Falls Hospital.
Brendan: Don’t be ashamed to take advantage of NYS Paid Family Leave. I enjoy the time I’ve taken off to spend with her and would never do it any other way. We are fortunate to live in a state that affords us this opportunity.
Emily: Hire a professional photographer for the early newborn days. You will cherish those photos forever!
What are the top products that got you through the first few months?
The Hatch Baby Rest Night Light & Sound Machine
The Solly baby wrap
Tiny Love Magical Tales Black & White Gymini (playmat)
Spectra 9 Plus portable breast pump and a hands-free pumping bra
Swaddles
If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do?
Dinner & a movie! We’re simple : )
We’d like to say “thank you” to our families and friends for all their love and support at this wonderful time in our lives. We love you!
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Thanks Emily and Brendan and welcome Rory!
P.S. Check out more from our New Additions series here.
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It doesn't take long to notice that every night is family night at an Adirondack Thunder game. Always a fun, family-friendly place to be! We were excited to catch up with Marc Monahan and his family recently to learn more about what draws them to our home town arena to root for our home team! Read on to learn a bit more about this great family and what they love about spending some quality time at the rink!
My wife Desiree and I live in Queensbury with our two kids Evan (8) and Reese (5). I grew up in Hudson Falls and have lived in the area for most of my life, other than attending SUNY Oswego for college. My wife is from the Albany area and graduated from Columbia High School in East Greenbush. I’ve been in the banking industry for my entire career and am currently the Regional Executive for NBT Bank. I love working downtown and everything our area has to offer. Being 15-20 minutes to either Saratoga or Lake George is amazing. Seeing the transformation of downtown Glens Falls for the past 15 years has been awesome. We have so much to enjoy with all of the restaurants and culture our city has to offer.
I grew up around hockey and can remember most of my childhood attending the Adirondack Red Wings games with my family. At one time I think our family had an entire row of season tickets in section O. When hockey came back to the area (when the Phantoms came to town) I was beyond excited. My wife and I enjoy going to the games with the kids and they seem to love it too. My son has been playing AYHA hockey since he was 3 and I think having local hockey has been a huge part of it. He gets to skate with all of his buddies and then they all hang out at the Thunder games. We have met so many families through hockey.
I have been lucky to be involved with the organization that runs the arena and the team as well. Currently I sit as the President of the Civic Center Foundation and the Treasurer of the Coalition that owns the building and team. It has been amazing to see the success of the building and the impact that it has on downtown. There are some amazing volunteers that spend a lot of time making sure the arena is a success. In large part, the endeavor has been successful due to the efforts of Jeff Mead and his outstanding staff.
Most of our family trips to the arena are running from hockey practice or a kids activity. If we have time, we love to stop into Talk of the Town for a pizza before the game. Once we get to the game, there are usually some snacks for the kids and a stop in to the store to see if there is any new Thunder gear. We typically see a lot of family and friends at the games and have fun, win or lose. My son loves to watch the games and my daughter loves to dance when the music is playing and trying to find Gunnar in the arena. The entire night at the game is a great family event. We have some passionate fans and they really get behind the guys.
What do you like most about coming to the games?
Evan: I like it when they fight!
Reese: I like to go and get nachos!
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Thanks Marc, Desiree, Evan and Reese!
Happy weekend! We’re still not sure if it’s going to rain or snow but we’re hoping for the latter with all of the fun winter events planned (hello ice bar season!). Regardless, there’s lots to do this weekend, and here’s what’s on our radar:
This Saturday, you can ski free at West from 2-6pm when you pick up a lift ticket voucher from Mohawk Chevrolet. I (Bri) say this every year, but this is the year I’m going to learn to ski. In the meantime, the live music, snow wagon rides, and tubing sound right up my alley. Grab the details on the event here!
Radici Kitchen opens downtown this weekend, and we can’t wait to check it out (stay tuned for our First Look!). After perusing their menu (sneak a peek here!), we’re sure they’ll be a new favorite. Grab their info here!
Have a great weekend!
Tom + Bri
Have you popped in to Samantha’s Cafe lately? When we heard about their new menu, we couldn’t wait to stop in to see what was new.
Samantha’s has always had a warm, cozy aesthetic, and on this visit, the smell of cinnamon buns greeted us as we walked through the doors from Glen Street. Which, by the way, you must try if you haven’t. The. Best.
We grabbed a couple of delicious sandwiches (on their freshly made bread!), and caught up with owner Bea Morin to get to know her a bit better and get the scoop on the new menu. And don’t worry: they kept most of your old favorites, too!
We’ve loved Samantha’s for quite a while now… How would you describe it to someone new to town?
Samantha's Cafe has a relaxed yet comfortable vibe with some delicious eats! We have been in business for over 30 years and still make the bread from scratch.
We’d love to hear a bit more about you! Where are you from originally?
I was born in Troy, NY and moved to South Glens Falls before I started kindergarten. I have lived in Queensbury most of life since graduation.
There’s a lot of great energy downtown these days…what’s your take?
I love the spark of Glens Falls. We have so many organizations and businesses working together to keep the energy alive in our little Hometown USA. No matter what day of the week it is you can find something to do whether it be going to grab a bite to eat, shopping, the museums, the library, taking a stroll through the park, visiting the wonderful shops in The Shirt Factory, and all of the events that happen weekly.
What inspired you to become a business owner?
I never in a million years thought I would own my own business. When the opportunity was offered to me I was shocked, yet honored that the previous owners of Samantha’s, Jennifer Kraft and Elizabeth Wilcox, wanted me to be the "next chapter" to Samantha's Story. Being the third generation of a women owned business seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Did you have any mentors as you got started?
The previous owners, Jen and Liz, have been wonderful mentors and so supportive after the change of ownership. Also, my staff has been nothing short of amazing with their support and guidance.
At Samantha's we are a family. We have all worked together for many years, building unbreakable bonds and friendships. PJ has been with Samantha's for about 10 years and has gone from a head catering position to being my right hand man in the cafe as well. He always has Samantha's on his mind and calls me with new ideas daily.
What do you love the most about running the cafe?
I love getting to know our customers day to day. Knowing their names, favorite menu items, and their hobbies makes their experience enjoyable and more on a personal level. Who doesn't love making new friends?
What advice would you offer someone considering opening their own shop?
Always follow your heart and do what you do best.
Tell us about the new menu...what inspired the change?
We have been ready for a change in the cafe for a while now but wanted the "new" us to be perfect. One afternoon as we were brainstorming, the idea of new names for the menu items was brought up. With our love and passion for the town we live in, it only seems right to take inspiration from our small town and its fascinating history and incorporate it into our menu.
What are some of your fan favorites? Any hot new items?
We have kept many of our top sellers including our Turkeyberry and Turkey Cheddar Apple but we have added some great additions. The Wing has been a HUGE hit since the menu launch - it’s a Panini with roasted chicken, cheddar, cream cheese, and Frank’s Red Hot. We also added The Adirondacker (a double decker sandwich), Quesadillas, French Toast and The Southwest Burrito (a great vegan option!). Don't worry, the bread is still made in house so you can get your favorites still.
Anything else you’re working on behind the scenes?
We have a beautiful venue to hold small private parties such as showers, birthdays, receptions, you name it.
Off site catering is another thing we do weekly, from 15 person lunch orders all the way to 150 person weddings. We customize each and every menu per client and keep in mind any food allergies, budgets, and menu flair they desire.
Our Private Chef service with Chef Donnah Lewis is another great avenue to look into for a small intimate gathering. Her Latin/Carribean cooking and amazing personality are always crowd pleasers.
Owner Bea Morin with PJ Duell at Samantha’s Cafe
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Your hometown insurance agency, they offer car, home, commercial, and life insurance (and lots more). O’Brien shops the best rates for you, often saving you money and getting you better coverage (and they make it super easy to switch to them if you’re considering a change!). Most importantly, they’re local people who are always there for you when you need them.
O’Brien Insurance is thrilled to offer our readers a chance to win a $25 gift card to Samantha’s Cafe! To enter, simply sign up for the O’Brien Insurance email list (click here!) by January 27. They’ll be in touch with the winner next week!
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This week we had the pleasure of chatting with Nick Taylor, Jr., who you may recognize from Taylor and Leonard Insurance! Read on to find out how long Nick’s family has called Glens Falls home, his family’s go-to for smoothies and sandwiches, a few great memories from his childhood (including a bike ride to a market we all knew and loved!), and lots more.
My name is Nick Taylor, Jr. and I am a local insurance agent at Taylor & Leonard in Glens Falls. I have also earned my CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) & RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional) designations and have a financial planning practice through my affiliation with Equity Services, Inc as a registered representative and investment adviser representative (www.nicholastaylorjr.com). I married my wife Meaghan in 2016 and shortly after, in 2017, we welcomed our daughter into the world. I wear many hats every day but my favorite and most important one is being a Daddy! People around town probably best know me as the insurance guy who says his “Insurance Service Never Sleeps!”. I pride myself on being available 24/7 to folks that need me. I am a 2003 graduate of Glens Falls High School and a 2007 graduate of Siena College with a degree in Marketing. I began my practice within my family’s business in 2007 and have never looked back!
Our family has roots back to 1896 (as far back as we can trace). Every single generation of our family has chosen to call the Glens Falls area our home. Both sets of my grandparents still live here in the community as do parents and siblings. My parents and all three of my sisters and their families live within 2 miles of my house (and office!). I was born in Glens Falls and grew up here. As our family got bigger we required more and more space. So much so that we ended buying 3 different houses on Coolidge Ave as our family grew! By the last house, I was a junior in high school playing football for the Glens Falls Indians so instead of hiring a moving company we just offered the lineman on the team a few pizzas to move our stuff a few houses down the street!
The day after I graduated from Siena College I was in the office at our family insurance agency in Glens Falls and I’ve never left. Our friends & family, our business and the community spirit anchors us down here for good. We could never picture leaving. Our roots run deep and with every passing day they run even deeper. Our business alone provides us thousands of deep, meaningful relationships with the members of our community. We laugh, cheer and cry with them as they move through their lives and they do the same with us during our own triumphs and heartbreaks. I can’t imagine living life anywhere else.
We purchased our family home on the outskirts of Glens Falls which is technically Queensbury although we are in the Glens Falls School District. I own our business’s building on Glen St. in Glens Falls with my mother and father. The building has been in our family since 1994. We affectionately like to call it “the old building and loan” (of course referencing the loveable business establishment in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”). The building is an old one but it has a ton of character and a primo location- especially during great community events like the Adirondack Balloon Festival and Memorial Day Parade. The parade is one of our favorite events and we usually host a hospitality tent with free bagels, donuts, and coffee for folks passing by. This hospitality tent really grew from a childhood memory of mine. As a kid, I fondly and distinctly remember the excitement of the parade generated by a simple act of my grandmother - boxes of Dunkin’ Donuts for all of us kids!! We have carried the tradition on for decades and it now extends to outside of our immediate family! We usually have dozens of parade watchers congregating around our headquarters at 553 Glen St.
What I love about my own neighborhood is three of my direct neighbors have all owned their home for 30 years. They built and never left. I’ve found that to be the case all over the area. Folks bought their homes in their 20’s and 30’s and never left. They love the area and never want to leave.
One of the things I am most excited about is the rebirth of downtown Glens Falls. Not only from an aesthetic point of view but its variety of offerings in terms of shows, events, restaurants, community events etc. We find ourselves downtown several days /nights a week. When I returned home from college in 2007, downtown Glens Falls was still mired in a slow and sleepy environment. Now there is hustle and bustle. There is energy and a feeling that we are on the cusp of creating a special part of the city once again (like we had back in 30’s and 40’s). As weird as it sounds, I sometimes enjoy not being able to find a spot to park downtown because it is reflective of our little city’s emerging growth and prosperity.
We LOVE to eat out. Eating great food, running into friends and clients, and not having to cook and clean is a winning combination in our busy household! You will find us at Kelly’s Roots probably 3-4 times a week (at least) enjoying their smoothies and sandwiches. We are on a first name basis with basically their entire staff and Kelly starts cooking our daughter’s order the minute we walk through the door! We LOVE that feeling of personal connection to another local, family business. We also love to dine at and support The Queensbury Hotel and The Bullpen. Some of the nicest folks in our community are steering those ships and they are doing a phenomenal job. We love grabbing a bite to eat and then walking through City Park and downtown. We love bumping into friends, family, and clients unexpectedly on a stroll through downtown.
One of my favorite memories has to do with an old Glens Falls staple that a lot of us still miss - Barber’s Market. As a young kid, I excitedly rode my bike from Coolidge Avenue over to Barber’s Market on Shippey Street, hoping to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift for my Mom. After a few minutes of perusing through the store, I had found it - a little potted plant that I was sure she would love! I rode home and ran into the house to present my Mom her new fresh plant. As I shouted, “we have to water it!” she sweetly explained to me that it was a FAKE plant! I was so embarrassed! But of course she loved it and the fact that I had rode over to Barber’s Market on my own to purchase it for her. In fact, she still has the plant today… it is truly the gift that keeps on giving!
Another favorite memory of mine was stepping out onto the basketball court at the Civic Center for the high school state championship final back in 2003. It was an indescribable experience to look up at 7,000 members of your community in a sea of red, supporting the home team. The crowd noise was deafening. We felt like professional athletes. I’ll never forget it.
A local bookstore. I realize that many people buy their books online and the original brick and mortar model of a bookstore is a tough deal these days. But a place like the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga and Manchester, VT seems to be thriving. I personally love to read and I love to mark up my books with notes as I read them. I love building my own personal library. In a world where everyone is constantly looking through screens, they may surprise themselves with the entertainment that a few books in hand could offer them.
In my business, I have a unique position. My clients simply tell me what is going on with their lives. They tell me about themselves, their friends, and their families. I have deeply personal information and stories that are brought to me every day. And what I find so rewarding and heartening are the stories of true community spirit that my clients tell. People in our community are doing some incredible things out there. They are helping each other. They are kind. These stories don’t often get told in the evenings news but I hear about them all the time and they make me love our little city that much more.
We love a good before and after almost as much as we love the sweet Craftsman style homes sprinkled throughout our city, so we’re doubly excited to share this kitchen transformation! Lorinda and Brandon did an amazing job creating a warm, inviting space that also stayed true to the character and charm of the home.
And so without further ado, read on to see how they went from this:
to this!
C’mon in…
Tell us a bit about yourselves!
We’re Brandon Neddo and Lorinda Huntington. We both grew up in the area, Queensbury and Kingsbury to be exact. Although we lived only 5 miles apart, it wasn’t until we were home from college our senior year that we met. In 2015, after a year of traveling back and forth to see one another on the weekends, Lorinda made her way out to Syracuse where Brandon had been living since 2009. There we continued our careers as an Engineer and Physical Education Teacher.
It was in Syracuse living in our 1920s home that we started on our journey of house renovations. Besides scheming house projects, we love spending time with our two crazy pups, Jax and Miley. We also love to escape to the stillness of the Adirondacks. We are thankfully so much closer to them now than we were in Syracuse!
After living together in Syracuse for 3 years, we had the opportunity to move back to the Glens Falls area and to be closer to our families. It took us about 30 seconds to make that decision! We were excited to be back in the area, closer to the mountains and in the communities that we loved. When deciding where to live we knew that Glens Falls would be the perfect fit. You’re close to everything and each neighborhood has its own unique character and charm.
We stumbled upon our 1930s Craftsman Bungalow in the Summer of 2018. To be honest, after seeing it online we really didn’t give it much of a second thought until Lorinda’s dad, Nat, did a drive by and told us that we should come home the next weekend to take a look. When we saw the house it was oozing with potential. We loved the character and knew we wanted to give this little house a second chance.
What started out as a kitchen renovation quickly turned into a 10 month renovation that included everything from new plumbing, heating and electrical to stairs and an additional bathroom. We owe a huge thank you to our family and friends who did 90% of the work alongside us. We couldn’t have done it without them! Thankfully throughout the process, we were able to stay with our parents - perks of living close to family. The day finally came this past April when we were able to move in, although the to do list is still very long!
We knew right away that the kitchen would be one of our first projects. We wanted to take down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the space and make it more conducive to entertaining.
We thankfully have very similar styles so we were aiming for an open and airy kitchen while still maintaining timeless elements and a warm inviting feel.
Pinterest was honestly our best friend during this renovation. Lorinda would spend hours upon hours scouring kitchen designs trying to find bits and pieces of inspiration that we could meld into the kitchen we were dreaming of. We were also incredibly lucky that our good friend and cabinet maker, Bob Cenate, had a wealth of knowledge and experience to help us fine tune the details and bring our plan to life.
Our favorite thing about our kitchen is the peninsula. It adds so much counter space and when it’s just the two of us it’s our go to spot for meals. Plus when one of us is cooking the other can be close by!
Without a doubt there were two things we did that helped immensely with the planning of the kitchen! One, we sketched out a drawing of all of the cabinets. Then we labeled every drawer and cabinet with what we would put in it. We were able to find areas where we thought we needed drawers instead of doors and vice versa. It may have seemed like overkill, but it worked for us! Plus when we finally moved in, we already knew where everything went.
Secondly and if you have the time, when all of the previous cabinets are removed, tape off the floor where you think your cabinets will be. We realized pretty quickly that we had more room for a peninsula than we thought and actually switched where the refrigerator would be to help with the flow.
It’s a lot of planning, but don’t be afraid! There are so many great resources out there and in our community.
White Subway Tile - Glens Falls Tile
Paint - Colorize (Benjamin Moore)
Ceiling Light and Pendants - Hill Electric Supply
Cabinets - Bob Cenate (Family Friend)
Cabinet Hardware - Amerock
Counters - LivingStone Solid Surface
Happy Friday! Looks like winter is planning on joining us again this weekend in the form of some snow, and we’ve got the snowblower and firewood ready. Here’s what we’re hoping to get to in between snowflakes:
If you’re looking for a mini road trip before the snow flies, cruise up to North Creek (we shared some of our favorites in this post), and while you’re there, swing into Barkeater Chocolates to sample their new peanut butter cup flavors (which we talked about here), and take some home for later!
Looks like we’re finally going to get some snow for snowshoeing! The grounds of Camp Santanoni up in Newcomb are open this weekend for snowshoeing (and a peek into the Great Camp!), or if a guided hike is more your thing, check out this one on Saturday at Up Yonda Farm in Bolton.
Rock Hill is up and running in their new location, and we can’t wait to check it out! Their cafe menu won’t be ready for a few more weeks, but they’re currently serving up their bread, pastries, coffee and tea. Grab their details here!
Saturday night is game night in Hockey Town! The Thunder are home for a 7pm game vs. the Worcester Railers and you can grab a 4 pack of tickets (and a free $20 gift card to Dunkin’!) here.
Have a great weekend!
Tom + Bri
