APRIL, 2024 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER / FOUNDER

Stephanie Sittnick

COPY EDITOR

Elisabeth Allen

WEBMASTER

Tony Graveheart

ADVERTISING SALES

Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Sales ( 860) 227-8199 advertising@518mag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Carol St.Sauveur Ferris, Karen Richman, Rona Mann Chandler Stevens, Lawrence White, Kirsten Ferguson, Alan B. Richer, Crystal Cobert Giddens, Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Kristina Watrobski Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

April, spring has finally sprung! Winter’s been nice and we made the most of it, but now is the time to throw those windows open and smell the flowers. With the grass turning green, birds singing, and flowers coming to life, it’s time to try new things and discovering new places.

Spring is the season to get engaged! One of the most important parts of planning your big day is finding the right wedding venue The Mansion of Saratoga is that place. Once you read their story and view their photos you will see what a magical venue it is.

As always, our goal at 518 PROFILES, is always to focus on the good, the beautiful and the positive by publishing stories with heart and soul. We strive each month to deliver authentic and unique content about creative people and interesting destinations. Enjoy!

Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher

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Seamlessly Combining Digital With Fine Art Deb Hall, Digital Artist pg. 8

Born from Grocery Bags, Raised in Elegance This is The Mansion of Saratoga pg. 18

A Career Born of Paradox Kris Kelly, Abstract Expressionist pg. 28

Still On the Corner of E. Genesee and Irving After 1973, The Curtain Never Came Down pg. 36

The Laffer Gallery

Line | Color | Movement

April 13 - May 12

Opening Reception: We invite you to join us opening night on Saturday, April 13, from 5pm – 8pm, for an evening of fine art, lively conversation and hors d’oeuvres. Address: 96 Broad St, Schuylerville NY 12871 Gallery Hours: Thursday - Sunday 12pm - 5pm.

Seamlessly Combining Digital With Fine Art

Deb Hall, Digital Artist

by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris

In the early 1800’s American workers resisted the Industrial Revolution which was spawned by the rise in business and the development of global trade. Today, the rise of te ch nology and its increasing role in how we do business and actually live has also been met with resistance. Its presence is felt in the home, classroom, business, and government...and it’s even claiming a place in the arts.

Initially relegated to graphic design, digital art has slowly gained recog nition as another medium to produce fine art. Artists like GMUNK, Alex Heywood, Minna Sundberg, James Gilleard, and yes, Beeple of recent NFT fame, are slowly changing the way we value this new art form. Over 30 years ago, Deb Hall, a professor at Skidmore

College, joined the ranks in the digital arts world and is now pursu ing it in earnest since her retirement last year.

Hall was born in Washington State and lived there as well as in Min nesota and Oregon where her love for nature and hiking in the great outdoors was planted and nurtured. In grade school and high school she found joy in the arts, taking classes in ceramics, pho tography, silk screening, drawing, and design. Her mother, who was interested in photography, painting, and rug hooking en couraged her artistic pursuits. In addition to her love of the visual arts, Hall had an ear for music, playing the piano, oboe, flute, and organ as a member of the school jazz band and orchestra.

After high school graduation, Hall pursued photography at the University of Oregon but before she could complete the major, the program was eliminated. Undeterred she pulled up stakes, packed

up her VW, and drove cross-country to attend Rochester Institute of Technology where she graduated with a BFA in Photographic Illustration.

Following undergraduate studies, Hall headed back west to attend ArtCenter Col lege of Design in Pasadena, California. They were offering a new major that really appealed to her called Graphic Design which was unheard of at the time. But two years into the program she decided she’d rather be working and earning a living vs earning another BFA, so she left to work in one of several area design firms over the next few years. That experience led her to become an owner and partner at Cambridge Associates, a graphic design and printing company for seven years. Her business partner was a creative guy who was a metalsmith and jewelry designer. They married and had two sons.

While still a partner at Cambridge Associates, Hall became an Associate Professor at Skidmore College and also attended Vermont College of Fine Arts where she earned her MFA in Fine and Studio Arts. It’s no surprise that she ultimately wound up teaching given her family history of teachers, and she found she absolutely loved it. At Skidmore, she was on the ground floor of a new program called Communication Design in Art and played a major part in the development of the curriculum. Hall spent 31 years teaching Communication Design in Art until her retirement in 2023.

“Bouyant Truth” 24 x 24

Because teaching as a career comes with blocks of time off, most spend it pursuing other interests. Hall’s stints at graphic design firms combined with her love of photography and nature led her to explore and create her own digital art during these breaks using a variety of mediums.

“I always felt that what I was photographing wasn’t always what I was seeing, so I started working with experimental methods like hand col oring, printing on fabric, and water coloring. But when the computer came out I became paralyzed, frozen, because I had so much experience working in the darkroom, and that seemed sort of moot. Then I thought, well gee whiz, I can do anything I want now.”

It was on her daily morning hikes that she became acutely aware of the power of observation and sensory engagement in the real world, and in contrast, the limited sensory engagement in the digital world. This di chotomy is what motivates and compels Hall to create her art, and her work endeavors to demonstrate the impact and overlap of the two.

There is a great deal of thought and many layers of media and technology that go into each of her compositions. In the beginning, Hall often creates pen and ink drawings that establish her conceptual framework. She might add watercolors or pastels to the pen and ink piece but sometimes creates a separate watercolor or pastel drawing altogether. All pieces are scanned into a digital file to be edited and layered when she is ready to create her final composition. Hall also takes photographs and adds them to the file as well in anticipation of the next step; however, she might do just the opposite and begin with a single photograph, and then build the file of pieces for her future composition from that. Either way, once all the components are uploaded, the next step is to begin creating her artwork through layering, editing, and juxtaposing all the pieces.

“Honey Bee” 22 x 38

“Phishing” 10 x 10

“The Warmth of Wood” 38 x

“I experimented with starting with different things. My whole Habi tat series started with all photographs, then I did other things to those photographs with Illustrator, InDesign, and type.”

The Habitat series she was referring to is the direct result of a visit Hall made to the Columbia River Basin after 30 years of being away. She was shocked by all the changes and saddened by the impact those changes had on all the natural resources and wildlife of her former homeland. She documented what she saw in an expansive series of 9000 photographs. From those photographs she chose 19 examples of what

she saw as a tragic loss to the natural habitat she once knew and then with Adobe Illustrator added layers of contrasting images and design type to demonstrate that loss and make a statement.

Home Sweet Home, a piece from another series called Elements, and The Gyre, a piece from the Constructions series, are more examples of Hall’s expert use of mixed media to convey her concept. Pen and ink drawings, typography, watercolors, and photographs are thoughtfully placed and layered to tell their stories.

In Home Sweet Home, she depicts the simple beauty of a robin’s nest which is home to delicate eggs that will hatch and be protected until ready to fly away. The nest hangs above the utter chaos of our world littered with scattered ap pliances, TVs, fans, sofas, satellites, smokestacks, and more. It clearly demonstrates the proliferation of the not-sosweet parts of our ‘home sweet home,’ and the impact they have on nature and our environment.

The Gyre started out as charcoal drawings of dog toys from The World Wildlife Foundation. Water colors were added to the black and white drawing as well as typography. If you look closely you can see the words Shark Bite Bar & Grille floating in the debris. By definition, an ocean gyre is an ex pansive system of rotating currents formed by wind patterns and forces created by the earth’s rotation. Most of us have seen documentaries or news of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is actually a gyre that lies between California and Hawaii. Hall’s piece represents that massive swirling gyre with its tons of debris and garbage thoughtlessly dis carded by humans.

“I love nature so and feel I’ve lived long enough to see the disrespect. I worked in a national park and at Yellowstone when I got out of high school, so I’ve had a really close association with nature.”

It comes as no surprise then that as a professor of communications de sign, Hall is inspired and driven by both concept and message. When she creates, she creates in a series rather than doing a one-off to further convey her message. While all of her pieces are a collage of

“Becoming” 10 x 10

“Home Sweet Home” 22 x 38

textures and mediums during the initial creation, when printed, the surface is smooth and the parts are seamlessly embedded into the final product. The result is a standalone singular digital work of art that cleverly sends a message of beauty and concern.

At last count, Hall has created a total of nine different series of digital works of art that include over 150 different prints. Years of taking thousands of photographs, painting hundreds of watercolors and pastels, creating hundreds of pen and ink drawings, and hundreds of charcoal drawings as well, Hall has built an impressive and invaluable digital library of art and resources. It’s truly an amazing accomplishment and she plans on doing so much more.

In fact, when asked what is in store for her now that she is retired and can devote all her time to her art, her response was not a surprise. “I have so many things I want to accomplish. I want to write, but I want to make more artwork because that’s the form of communication that I like. I feel like that’s my purpose.”

No doubt we look forward to seeing more of Hall’s unique digital artwork that expresses her astute observations and con cerns on life, nature, and humanity. Accordingly, her exhibition schedule and current work can be viewed and purchased online at www.debhall.com.

“The Gyre” 30 x 47

Born from Grocery Bags, Raised in Elegance This is The Mansion of Saratoga

by Rona Mann

No question about it. There are many outstanding venues in the Capital District of New York. Many breathtaking sites with sweeping views of the Adirondacks, pa storal scenes, rivers, brooks, and waterfalls. Bucolic. Romantic. Perfect for a wedding or other event.

But then there’s that exceptional one, the one that always makes a difference, that always leaves an indelible impressionthe Mansion of Saratoga, and once you’ve been there, walked the acres of lush gardens, stepped into the halls of history, and met with a staff who possess a sense of unbridled joy and a level of commitment unlike any you’ve ever encountered, all those other venues will just fade from memory and pale in comparison.

Born from the beginnings of grocery bags, this unique story, rich in history, actually begins in 1876 when Saratoga area Assemblyman, Congressman, builder, visionary, and philanthropist acquired

nine water-powered mills in Saratoga County for the purpose of manufacturing flat-bottom paper grocery bags. Manufactured and sold at a much lower cost than cotton sacks, he sold millions per week and within a very short time, the man known as “The Paper Bag King of the USA” was making millions of dollars as well. Across from the mills West had a magnificent Italianate Victorian home circa 1866, which after his death, went through a few transformations until two other “visionaries,” Jeff Wodicka and his business and life partner of more than 40 years, Neil Castro, happened by and noticed it was for sale.

“Did you ever see a magnificent home, wondered what it cost, and just made a phone call out of curiosity?” Wodicka asks. That was precisely what the two men did. “I have an extensive insurance background and can tell just by looking at a property regardless of the shape it may be in if it has good bones. I could

Left to right - Chef Rick Bieber, Lori Wodicka, Jeff Wodicka, Neil Castro - photo by Alicia Thompson

immediately tell, this home had great bones, so we made an offer and within two weeks it was ours!” These guys don’t fool. They do it, and when they do it, they do it right.

They didn’t fool either when they hired famous interior designer, Ed DeRocker to completely remodel the structure, restoring it to its 1866 elegance with six marbled fireplaces, gasoliers, and every detail of historic restoration addressed. Initially, Wodicka and Castro operated the mansion as an exclusive bed and breakfast, but even though Saratoga was just seven miles away, they found visitors preferred to stay in the city. It was Jeff’s daughter, Lori who quite simply suggested, “Let’s do a wedding and event venue. It’s perfect for that.” And just like that, the Mansion of Saratoga was reborn yet

again, this time with bridal couples requesting their special day at none other than The Man sion, a venue unlike any other in the Cap ital District because no two events held there are ever alike. Weddings are carefully cu rated down to the last wish and smallest de tail. The Mansion of Saratoga combines history with casual elegance in a pastoral setting complemented by a staff that doesn’t quit when it comes to doing whatever they can to achieve perfection. It is elegant yet never stuffy. Music and laughter emanate constantly throughout the property.

Lori Wodicka’s suggestion landed her one of the most important jobs at The Mansion. She is the Director of Sales, the “front of the house” person, and planning your event always begins

with her. She is the one to sit down with bridal couples and event planners to find out exactly what they want, and before any suggestions are made or anything is done, Lori does the thing she does best...she LISTENS. There are no preconceived notions here, no stereotypical weddings. At The Mansion absolutely nothing is taken for granted, so you can elect to be as traditional as you’d like or go all the way to the other end of the spectrum. A wedding should first and foremost be strictly about the two people getting married, who they are, and what they want. It should reflect their own unique styles and personalities. Same with other parties and corporate events. It’s only after Lori listens to all that does her pen then go to work, making notes, building an experience unlike any others ever had at this venue.

The next talented individual you’ll meet is Executive Chef Rick Bieber, schooled at the famed Le Cordon Bleu not just in culinary arts, but in hospitality management as well, so he not only is a master of gastronomy, he also knows how to curate an event from the kitchen to the mansion, the gazebo, and the gardens. Chef Bieber “custom-designs” wedding menus incorporating everything from hors d’oeuvres to desserts that are always camera-worthy. The Mansion has no pre-printed menu choices and will never ask you to select the components of your meal from a pre-composed list. No request is ever off the table for this chef and his talented staff. Ethnic foods? They do it and do it well. Vegan? Vegetarian? Gluten-free? It’s never in their vocabulary to say “Can’t” or “No” at The Mansion.

Sydney K Andrew Photography CLH images Photography

Rob Spring Photography

Saratoga County, it easily accommodates up to 200 guests and is fully tented, 100’ x 100’ in size and romantically lit.

Your wedding or event is the ONLY one that will take place on the date you select, so the entire venue both in side and out is yours. Boasting the largest deck in

The Mansion is a favorite of photographers as it offers so many options whether it’s a private and loving capture of the bride and groom canoodling by the rustic barn, guests strolling in the private rose garden, dancing under the white tent, or absolutely anywhere inside this Victorian 1866 mansion.

In summer, The Mansion at Saratoga turns their carriage house into a well-loved entertainment venue for both local people and those who travel to see some of the best from Broadway, the exclusive Manhattan clubs, and those who are popular on cruise ships. This summer, The Concert Series runs June through August and will feature Michael Walters, the world’s longest - running Dame Edna impersonator

CLH images Photography

Blackburn Portrait Design Photography

photo by Alicia Thompson

who according to Jeff, “Has it down pat. A great tribute artist.” Also in the lineup this year is Nicole Henry performing the music of Whitney Houston, Ben Jones recreating the Chairman of the Board in “Let Me Be Frank,” the very versatile Stella Katherine Cole brings “Past, Present, & Future,” and returning to The Mansion, Seth Sikes and Nicolas King, “The New Belters.” Tickets are on sale now and going fast, so don’t wait till summer. Ticket prices also include a 3-course Chef Rick-designed dinner.

But before summer, Chef Rick is looking forward to seeing you, your mother, and your whole party on May 12th for a lavish Mothers’ Day Buffet Brunch

When you come to The Mansion of Saratoga whether for Mothers’ Day, a wedding, or special event, it’s not just a meal. It’s an experience unlike any you’ll find throughout the region. Don’t wait, make those Mothers’ Day reservations now! Chef Rick also has a fabulous brunch every Sunday throughout July and August.

Yes indeed, you do have many choices for your special event in the Capital Region. Many beautiful locales. Many places to take those same

photos you’ve envied in magazines. But when it has to be more than special, the one place your guests will remember for years unlike any other they’ve attended before, there’s only one venue that has achieved a balance between elegance and casual enjoyment. Drive up New York Route 29 and turn in at #801. You will be immediately awestruck by the sheer magnificence of the perfectly manicured grounds, the historic architecture, and the welcome aura and elegance of this ex perience you’re about to have.

So take a look. Take another look. This is The Mansion of Saratoga. You’ve arrived.

Booking a wedding, party, or corporate event” Call for a personal appointment. (518) 885-1607 www.themansionsaratoga.com

For concert tickets, Mothers’ Day brunch reservations, and Sunday Brunch reservations, use the number above. To reach Lori directly: lori@themansionsaratoga.com

Sunday Brunch

Lobster Bake

Image: Leah Bell, Grade 12, Saratoga Springs High School

“

A Career Born of Paradox

Kris Kelly, Abstract Expressionist

by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris photos by John Sheppard

How does a person whose professional career was based on policy and procedure switch to a career where interpretation and point of view may be implied but is ultimately subjective? Kris Kelly is a perfect example of how both the right and left brain, with scientifically proven differences and perspectives can coexist and actually work together, while the at tributes of one side may take the lead at different times.

Kris was one of three children born in Troy, New York. Because of her father’s job, she spent her childhood in a variety of New York locations including Hudson, Claverack, and Fort Plain, as well as Saratoga Springs. Creativity ran in the family with a grandfather who was a watercolorist, cartoonist, and calligrapher, and a mother whose interests included music, interior design, floral arranging, and abstract art. Kris

recalls lots of coloring books, doing lots of drawings, and taking many family trips to art museums. She even worked as a tour guide at Frederic Church’s historic home at Olana in Hudson, New York and translated some of his di aries years later. Yet surprisingly, Kris chose a decidedly different career path from the arts.

In fact, she decided on political science for her major and was in the very first class of women admitted to Colgate University in 1970 during an incredibly historic time in our country. On the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, women were fighting for equal rights and pay equity; there were anti-war protests on college campuses nationwide; President Nixon was re- elected, and then resigned because of the Watergate scandal; and the horrific Munich Olympics Massacre shocked the world to name a few. While all of this was unfolding during her college years, Kris was lucky to be one of the first women participants in a political science study group in Washington D.C. where she interned in the Office of Congressional Affairs for one of the first women bureau heads. She also spent time on Capitol Hill witnessing the Clean Air Act being debated. It was an amazing experience to see firsthand how national policies were conceived, developed, and implemented which ultimately inspired her career choices.

In May of 1974, Kris graduated with a BS in Political Science and later pursued her MA at SUNY Albany majoring in Public Administration. A Ph.D. in Public Administration with a minor in Organizational Behavior followed in 1993.

“Many Brave Hearts” 24 x 18

“Cellophane Dream” 16 x 20

Her 40-year government career began at the Eastern New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in Albany where she served as their Ex ecutive Director. She then moved to New York’s Environmental Conservation Department as a Manager while also teaching management and organizational behavior as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Empire State University in Saratoga. Though hers is a very impressive resume, these positions are not what you’d expect for an artist’s background and begs the question, how does someone with a mind for research, theories, and statistics that equate to concrete applications in business and public policy transition to an entirely different career rooted in a world of subjective interpretation?

“I think it was there all along as I look back. I enjoyed drawing as a kid as most kids do. I started painting off and on at Colgate, and as

an elective, I took a drawing course so I was sort of drawn, no pun intended, to that.”

Not only was she drawn to it, but Kris looked to it years later as a form of relaxation while taking care of her parents who were in their nineties. It wasn’t long before painting became her passion. And with no expec tations, she eventually submitted three small pieces to Saratoga Arts in 2014. To her utter amazement, all three pieces sold and ten years later she is still amazed.

“I am still very full of wonder that people like my art and find something in it. That it brings them joy and a sense of calm…a sense of satisfaction. That’s how I feel when I sell a piece or when someone says something to me about it.”

Though she never set out to make it so, it comes as no surprise that painting has become her third career and one that Kris approaches with the same dedication and commitment that carried her through teaching and management. She is mostly self-taught and admits to doing a great

“Windward” 20 x 20

“Lunar Reflections” 16 x 20

“Navigation” 18 x 24

deal of research and reading about painting styles and techniques; however, she also takes many art classes and workshops.

At Hudson River Valley Art Studio she studied with Jane Davies and Karen Rosasco where she discovered mixed media and abstraction as a way to self-express. She also studied at the Woodstock School of Art where experimentation and self-discovery are encouraged by mentor and instructor, Meredith Rosier.

In fact, all three instructors encourage their students to explore without boundaries and are given support in whatever and however they choose to express their artistic vision. There is no right or wrong way to create art so needless to say, that philosophy and tacit permission to explore was the perfect environment for Kris to grow as an artist. While a large part of her is methodical and process-driven which is attributed to the left brain, the other part of her is organic and inspiration- driven which are traits of the right brain.

“We have two sides to our personality, our right brain and our left brain. And probably one of them is more developed or we use it more than the other. I have somehow managed to hold two paradoxical ideas in my mind at the same time, and I’m very grateful and humble that I’m able to do that.”

Again, given her strong background in process and details, you might expect Kris to be a photorealistic or traditional representational artist, but surprisingly she is an abstract expressionist. By definition, abstract expressionism is a radical departure from traditional art. Instead of presenting an image in accurate detail, it conveys emotion and the subconscious thoughts and feelings of the artist. This is achieved through marks, gestures, colors, and forms. Inspiration often comes from personal experience and the surroundings. According to Kris, she is inspired by nature and the environment but when asked if she ever paints en plein air, her response was quite funny.

“I would probably have to have a U-Haul with everything that I think I might need in order to do a painting!” So, the answer is an unequivocal “no” to en plein air. When you learn how she works, you will understand.

Kris first puts down a mark or maybe a color on her canvas. The mark may come from symbols found in the Inuit language which she loves, a book she just read, or a song that is playing in her head. And the color may come from a walk in nature or a round on the golf course. From there, she might add, subtract, or completely cover over what she initially started with. She trusts the organic nature of the process and responds accordingly. Kris uses brushes, wedges, and even tree branches to apply and move the paint. She may add pastels or create a collage from a painting that she cuts up into pieces and then attaches to the canvas for texture. Because her work is ultimately an expression of what she feels in the moment, what comes next is usually unknown until it’s known. The piece isn’t complete until it’s, well, complete. It can be days, weeks, or even months later, and that’s OK.

She describes it as an intuitive and impulsive process stemming from memories, books, photographs, music, and her travels wrapped in feelings. An example of this is a painting titled Seabird Calling. Kris shares that she had just spent some time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The sounds, colors, and smells of the ocean along with the sand, birds, and wind were tucked away into her subconscious so when she began to paint, a familiar scene slowly emerged.

She applied the Fibonacci Rule of Thirds as she placed her colors and shapes. To explain, the Fibonacci Rule of Thirds for artists suggests that a more pleasing composition results from dividing the canvas into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, then placing focal points where they intersect. Kris placed her shapes and colors accordingly, but as she began to move the paint with a wedge, a bird seemingly emerged in the lower left third and the painting evolved from there. “When it was done, I stepped back and said, this is a seabird taking off from the ocean.”

And that it is. Unsurprisingly, Seabird Calling sold very quickly. Kris’s work continues to be in numerous shows, both juried and non-juried, including shows at the Southern Saratoga Art Society, Colonie Art League, and at The Blooming Artist Gallery in Clifton Park. She is currently working on three solo shows coming up at Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, Saratoga Springs Public Library, and the Voorheesville Public Library. She also will be presenting a fascinating demonstration on asemic writing in art this summer in Clifton Park.

To view and purchase Kris Kelly’s current work please visit www.bethlehemartassociation.com and www.southernsaratogaartist.com.

“Dreams of my Desire” 20 x 20

INSTINCTIVELY

Still On the Corner of E. Genesee and Irving After 1973, The Curtain Never Came Down

by Rona Mann

“A play closes some Saturday night, but a theatre continues on. The theatre must not stand or fall on one play or one season. We can’t sell one play to this community we live in. We sell an institution that a community can be proud of.”

The quote you see above was written more than 50 years ago by Rex Henriot, the then-managing director of the Syracuse Repertory Theatre. At that time, Henriot was at the helm of the first profes sional repertory theatre in the city’s history. Initially, it was housed in the old Regent Theatre, a more-than-1000-seat structure with a generous balcony that had originally served as a movie house in 1914. A year after it closed in 1957, it was sold to Syracuse University and renamed the University Regent Theatre. It was used for the Drama Department mainstage productions, local film festi vals, one-person road shows, and community theatre.

The neighborhood surrounding the venue at East Genesee and Irving Avenue was sketchy at best. Most notable to the locals was the seedy bar, Phoebes, on the opposite corner known famously for its brothel on the second floor. Drama students who took classes and had rehearsals at The Regent Theatre were forewarned never

The marquee of the Regent Theatre advertises The New Playhouse’s production of Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of the Poet. 1961.

to venture into Phoebe’s even for a soda or a beer. For that purpose, there was The Regent Bar on the other side of the theatre, also a bit seedy but a place where the owners kept a watchful eye on the customers and more than a parental eye on the students whom they loved.

From 1964 to ‘74 the theatre’s next incarnation was the Syracuse Repertory Theatre, a professional company started by locals Marlow Burt and Bob D’Angelo who brought in well-known Seattle Repertory and Theatre St. Paul director, Rex Henriot. Henriot, his wife, professional actress Zoaunne Henriot, and a highly acclaimed resident company put the big theatre in the little neighborhood on the map once more.

In 1974, famed director Arthur Storch, who also served on the Department of Drama’s faculty, took over what was presently shuttered, thus bringing Syracuse Stage, a pro fessional non-profit theatre company to Central New York. Now the venue offered classic works, new playwrights, and multiple collaborations between Syracuse Stage and the University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. The old Regent Theatre was demolished in 1980, the Archbold Theatre was built in its place and made way for the first official season of Syracuse Stage.

Today there are three separate theatres within the complex which are jointly administered by Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama: the Archbold Theatre which is a 499-seat proscenium house, the Arthur Storch Theatre, seating up to 250 people and serving as a black box that

may be configured as a proscenium, thrust, or avenue stage sometimes called a traverse stage and seating audiences on either side of the acting area. Additionally, the theatre complex has a smaller space, the 49-seat Loft Theatre perfect for workshops and experimental productions.

Arthur Storch with Jack Lemon

Pictures of the renovation process converting the old Regent movie house into the John D. Archbold Theatre, which opened in time for the 1980 – 1981 season

In the 50 years of bringing nonstop entertainment to the audiences of Central New York and beyond, Syracuse Stage has had several Artistic Directors. When Storch left for Broadway, there was Tazewell Thompson, then Robert Moss, who was succeeded by Timothy Bond. In 2016 Robert Hupp, who had spent 17 years in a similar position with the Arkansas Repertory Company and 15 years previous with the Jean Cocteau Rep Company in New York and wanted a “cooler place to spend summers than Arkansas,” interviewed for the job.“When they offered me the job, they asked, ‘We hope you’ll stay at least a decade.’” To date, Hupp is beginning his 8th year with no plans of going anywhere else.

“I have always had Syracuse Stage on my radar, and we love living here. It’s a great place to live.”

Jean Stapleton was cast in Stage’s production of George Kelly’s “The Show-Off.” Season 1983 – 1984

J. Smith-Cameron in Romeo and Juliet. Season: 1985-1986

Hupp especially loves being attached to a university, something he’s been able to do his entire career. Even though Syracuse Stage has had several Artistic Directors, Hupp is still impressed by the fact that there is a very low turnover among the rest of the staff from front of the house to those who build sets, design, and perform marketing and administrative duties. “When I first began in 2016 I wanted to spend a significant amount of time getting to know peo ple, not just the people at the theatre but the people in the community. I wasn’t looking to make giant changes. I just wanted to ask everyone, “What works? What could we do better?’” That year, there was a turnover in leadership at the board level as the president of the board, managing director, director of development, and general manager all left. “It was unprecedented,” Bob adds but quickly rectified. “Now we knew where we had been and had a plan for where we were going.” Hupp, along with then-Managing

Director, Jill Anderson, instituted what he terms a Strategic Planning Process to “allow everyone to have a voice to help us all collectively.”

And right up until March of 2020 everyone connected with Syracuse Stage knew “where we were going.” Then came the pandemic changing everyone’s plans everywhere. But Bob Hupp, Jill Anderson, the board of trustees, and senior management of the theatre were determined never to shut down nor to lay off any em ployee. “We had Federal money from the Biden Administration which certainly helped, so that year we moved to online, streaming our holiday production of A Christmas Carol. It was a steep learning curve but we learned a lot.”

There was a benefit as well...a huge one. “That year, people in 47 states in the U.S. plus 4 countries saw our productions, and suddenly it seemed everyone knew Syracuse Stage!” Wall Street Journal reporter, Terry Teachout, enthused over their online production of

Jason Alexander and Robert Hupp, Syracuse Stage Artistic Director

“Hairspray” "Clue"

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”

Amadeus, “A triumphant demonstration, the best I’ve seen to date!”

Today, some 50 years later, Syracuse Stage is still on the corner of E. Genesee and Irving Avenue. Phoebe’s is still there, although now totally gentrified and serving up brie en croute, fried tofu, and sophisticated cocktails. Drama students are now allowed to have their mocktails or espresso while studying lines at Phoebe’s.

Today, Syracuse Stage offers a host of diversified entertainment. They still work closely with the University’s Department of Drama now under the leadership of Ralph Zito; additionally, they produce a big familyfriendly musical each year, and when possible, utilize university stu dents and faculty members if available. This summer, they are insti tuting a Summer Musical Theatre Camp for students from 3rd grade to middle school, and Bob Hupp says with pride, “We are proud of two recent Stage productions: Thoughts of a Colored Man and How to Dance in Ohio that originated here and found life on Broadway.” The latter production debuted in Syracuse in September of 2022. In November of 2023 that show transferred to Broadway where it ran for over 100 per formances and will be eligible for Tony Award recognition this year.

So, want to visit? Do the math. Two tickets, a hotel room (and there are plenty nearby as this is the University area), and dinner will cost a lot less than an orchestra seat for one at most Broadway shows.

Rex Henriot has long ago passed on, but his words remain as both a legacy and a testament to what has successfully and joyously emerged as Syracuse Stage. “We sell an institution that a community can be proud of.”

Happy Half-Century, folks! Yours is a rich history indeed and still on the corner of E. Genesee and Irving.

www.syracusestage.org

SIDEBAR FOR THOSE WHO GO

Syracuse Stage is an easy ride on The NYS Thruway of just over 2 hours from anywhere in the Capital Region. For more information, www.syracusestage.org

820 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse (315) 443-3275

UPCOMING

May 1-May 19th “Once” (musical) Tickets from $29. with discounts for veterans, active military, students, & subscribers

June 1st: Cast Party to Celebrate 50th Anniversary and YOU’RE the Star! Dinner, Drinks, Dancing, Surprise Entertainment...Buy tickets online

“Amadeus”

“A Christmas Carol”

"Thoughts of a Colored Man"

Smoke Didn’t Get In Our Eyes, Just Our Teeth

by Karen Richman

They made it look so cool. So sexy. So “with it.”

In truth, it wasn’t cool, was not sexy in the least, and it wasn’t “with it.” It just plain stunk.

Smoking. Long before we ever knew the medical ramifications of smoking, the ad men from Madison Avenue who had an inkling that these could be bad but just wanted to make millions, were shoving their messages down our throats and causing us to have that cough...that ubiquitous badge of adulthood that identified us as smokers.

Some kids thought smoking was very glamorous and very grown-up because beautiful people on TV plus their favorite movie stars smoked, but they quickly found out it made your hair smell, your clothes smell, and that just wasn’t very alluring. Neither was getting punished in school or by your parents, so the “smart kids” simply didn’t go there, and even one-time “experiments” quickly died.

and “The Beverly Hillbillies,” saw commercials for many different brands all aimed at trying to hook them.

Even if smoking didn’t appeal, the slogans and jingles were memorable. “I’d walk a mile for a Camel,” “You can take Salem out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of Salem, “Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch,” the grammatically botched, “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should,” and on it went. It went on to The Marlboro Man, Joe Camel, and those long, slinky ladies who intimated you could have bodies like theirs by smoking Virginia Slims. From 1954 to 1959 sales from cigarettes advertised on TV soared to $20. billion!

Many smokers carried Sen-Sen in their pockets, which also seemed quite sophisticated to us. Sen-Sen, for the uninitiated, was a type of breath fresh ener originally marketed as a “breath perfume” in the late 19th century. They were tiny little nibs, had a licorice sort of flavor, and were available in either small packets or cardboard boxes. Sen-Sen was used by millions as a cover-up to mask any evidence of alcohol or cigarettes. Eventually, the product was discontinued in 2013, probably because by then no one cared any longer what anyone ingested or smoked.

When television was in its infancy its bottom line flourished and essentially kept the medium alive due to advertising from the tobacco companies with many of the most popular shows featuring cigarette brand names as part of their name. There was “Lucky Strike’s Your Hit Parade,” Rod Serling touting Chesterfields just before he promoted the next week’s “Twilight Zone,” and the guys from Route 66 tooling around in their Chevy Corvette as we heard, “You got a lot to like in a Marlboro. Filter, flavor, flip top box.” The most popular show on TV in those years, “I Love Lucy” was sponsored by Philip Morris with Lucille Ball depicted in magazine ads holding one of the smokes, while kids and teens who tuned into “The Flintstones,”

What was more intriguing were candy cigarettes. You could pretend you were smoking, then when you got bored, you could crunch them into a pulverized sweet powder, and not worry about any telltale odor on clothes or hair. Believe it or not, Americans have been enjoying candy cigarettes since the late 1890s when they began as chocolate cigarettes wrapped in a foil wrapper. We loved those, but they were a lot more expensive than the thin, white ones with the red spot on the end making them look as though they were lit. They were all at once crunchy and very sugary, but we had no thought of dentists and just loved them. It wasn’t that they were the best-tasting candy, but they were the perfect accompaniment to “playing adult” with no ramifications and paired perfectly with pretend whiskey bottles, those wax candy bottles filled with sugary, colored water. Add to this assortment of pretend-adulthood my favorite which was bubblegum cigarettes and cigars. While many candies have come and gone over the last century, these have endured and can still be found in penny candy displays, although they hardly sell for a penny any longer.

However, I’m sure you agree that when it comes to sweet nostalgia, you can never put a price on happy memories.

Trends, Skin and Teens

By Crystal Cobert Giddens, LE

My passion in life is figuring out how to “decode” someone’s skin. Is your skin dry? Always red? Sensitive? I ask a lot of questions…Most of the time, skin specialists are trying to correct skin issues: Pigmentation. Acne. Expression lines aka wrinkles.

Our younger clients (20’s - 30’s) have been educated in the world of pre vention or preventative care. Their main concerns are typically preventative. Younger clients want to avoid all the corrective treatments their moms, sisters and aunts have used to repair the damage caused by our sun worshipping lifestyle. They have heard us say…

“Apply your sunscreen”

“Don’t forget to wear a hat”

“Don’t go to sleep before you wash your face”

We learned the hard way. In a world full of chemicals, additives and GMOs, knowledge of how to care for ourselves is essential. Some retail ers and celebrity influencers are turning the prevention aspect of skin health into a “trend” and they are targeting our kids.

Many of my clients are teachers and they’re seeing a skincare “trend” with their 9 and 10 year old students. The trend? Using retinols and aggressive anti-aging products to slow down the effects of aging. I’m not even joking.

An 11 year old saved up her babysitting money to purchase a $120 bottle of serum because someone on Tik Tok said it’s the BEST. A 9 year old brought her moisturizer with retinol to school to show her friends. A 10th grader asked me about an eye cream she got from her college aged sister. Her under-eye area was irritated after using it before school, after school and at bedtime.

Many over the counter topicals used for “age reversal” are strong enough to cause issues with young skin. These products can cause the skin to become overly dry, imbalanced and irritated. It’s hard enough finding the correct skincare for a 40 year old. Skincare for kids should be pretty basic. Hmmm…by basic, I mean simple and Easy.

Cleanse. Moisturize, if needed. Sunscreen. That’s it. Our skin is our largest organ and while it functions very well on its own, there are a few things we can do to make our skin healthy, Balanced and Happy.

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet full of clean protein, vegetables and fruit whenever possible.

• Drink mostly water and avoid sugary drinks like soda and artifi cially sweetened sports drinks.

• Take a multivitamin.

• Wash your face after going to the gym or participating in any sport. The sweat and toxins from the workout will sit on your skin until you physically remove it.

• I’ve had many clients over the years tell me they’re exhausted and just want to go to sleep at night. Moms and daughters ~ please don’t sleep with makeup on your skin!

• Try eliminating toxins from your daily hygiene routine. Clean shampoo, conditioner, body wash, makeup, lotions, sunscreen, toothpaste and hair products. Also, laundry detergent, fabric

sof tener and household cleaning supplies. Sometimes this change is all it takes to help clear up skin issues caused by product sensitivities or unknown allergies.

• Sleep on clean pillow cases. Cotton, bamboo or silk is best. We sleep on our pillow and anything that accumulated on our skin or hair during the day, hangs out on our pillow all night. We get up and get ready for our day and then repeat the process again, and again. Change your pillow cases once a week unless you have acne. If you have acne, 2 or 3 times a week is better.

• Adults, please stay away from harsh scrubs! Gentle exfoliation is key and only once or twice a week. Teens and tweens need it once or twice a month.

Make an appointment to see a licensed esthetician if you need help with caring for your tween/teen’s skin. They will be happy to provide a gentle cleansing, proper exfoliation, calming and hydrating treatments and EDUCATION.

The education part of seeing an esthetician is huge. Especially with a teen/tween. They will probably listen to a professional before listening to you. I worked in orthodontics for almost 20 years. I KNOW you tell your kids the same things I would say:

“Brush your teeth”

“Floss please”

“Where is your retainer? In your bag??? Put it in your mouth please!”

I get it. My teen wouldn’t listen to me and she came to our office for her orthodontic appointments. I would leave the room and let the professionals show her what to do.

She would listen to the orthodontist, the assistant, the treatment coor dinator, anyone…except me. If someone in the office talked about hygiene, it was GOLD. If I said it? I’m just mom. Kids tend not to listen to us when we are the loving, experienced, knowing parent…UGH.

“Wash your face”

“Apply your sunscreen”

“Don’t forget to wear a hat”

FACES of Saratoga

55 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 518-396-7403 faces.of.saratoga

CULINARY DESTINATIONS: The 518 Craft Beer Evolution

By Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

New York State has witnessed a notable flourishing growth of the craft Beer industry, with local br ew eries establishing statewide. This Beer evolution has enchanted the enjoyments of Beer aficionados and fetched forth a new epoch of diverse offerings and brewing techniques. In New York State alone, the breweries quadrupled from 95 to over 528 li censed between 2012-24, with dozens of breweries in the upstate region.

Breweries have adapted to the needs of consumers by expanding their brewing plants into social gath ering places with live music, great food, tours, merchandise, and festivals. Additionally, fluctuations in state laws have made it easier for small-scale breweries to operate, nurturing a milieu advantageous to research and ingenuity.

The Craft Beer scene flourishes on a robust logic of communal and companionship-they serve as get- together places, offering welcoming taprooms and alfresco patios with fire-pits for regulars to mingle.

The official classification for Craft Beer Breweries outlines an annual production of six million barrels of beer or less. Matt Brewing Company, which brews the Saranac line of beers, produces about 350,000 barrels per year, while Cooperstown’s Brewery Ommegang produces just 35,000. In per spective, compare this to non-craft brew giant such as Anheuser Busch which produces 125 million barrels of Beer per year.

Two local breweries in our 518 region I recently visited, encompass the description of the classifications in this article. Heading on 87 north, I exited off 29 North Hudson, home of Frontier Town onto U.S 9. Within minutes you will find Paradox Brewery,

a certified Veteran owned, independent craft brewery. The beautiful brewery complex is nestled in a splendor locale of the Adirondack Mountain.

We visited on Super Bowl Sunday and the brew hall was slowly filling up. A spacious bar, multiple high-top tables, a beautiful mountain view and stone fireplace describes the Beer Hall. For beers we ordered the top-selling Paradox IPA and Para dox Amber. The freshness and crisp taste un derscored the foundation of Paradox beer - a water they use which can only be found in the granite 600 feet below the Adirondack Park. Water that is so pure, it needs no filtering or treatment before brewed with quality malts and hops. This 25,000 square feet brewery can produce 50,000 barrels a year using state of the art

GEA Craft-Star systems along with a German Westphalia centrifuge and a CFT Mfg. canning line.

The menu is typical brew-pub -the pizza here is very popular and served in a black Pizza Pancrispy and generously loaded. A favorite to try is the Paradox Pie - Cauliflower Crust, White Garlic sauce, Bacon, Broccoli, and Tomato. In addition to Wings, try the crispy Brussel Sprouts in a creamy Lemon Garlic sauce. The unique featured brew “Duck”- a 11.03 % Barley Wine was a unique expe rience in terms of taste, encompassing notes of beer, wine and bourbon-very powerful-beware designated drivers.

518 Profiles magazine enjoyed a tour behind the scenes of the brewery by gracious owner Paul Mrocka, who fell in love with Beer and brewing in Germany while stationed as an army pilot. In addition to the Beer hall, a large wedding/party venue has been constructed to assist the demand of venue requests.

Located on the border of Wilton in Saratoga Springs on Maple Avenue is another Craft

If a blueprint for a successful craft brewery was published, Artisanal Brew Works would be the alleged author. They have created a funfilled environment utilizing local musical talent, trivia, and comedy events. Artwork on the cans is mostly created by local Artists. In the summertime, the outside beer garden hosts many events and hiking tours up the adjacent mountain.

After a guided behind the scenes tour by Kurt, we visited the music hall to witness the local band Triple Trouble which entertained. We tried a flight of beers and a large glass Fork Truck Stunt Driver IPA 7.0 ABV which we found delicious and photogenic. The flight included a delicious Irish Stout, G.S.L juice IPA, She Terts Sour Beer and a crisp Italian Intermezzo An interesting observation is that Artisanal produces consistent quality beer styles.

brewery gem. Founded in July of 2016 by Kurt Borchardt & Colin Quinn, Artisanal Brew Works Brewery & Taproom are most well known nationally for having created War heads® Extreme Sour Candy ales and Hard Seltzers and locally known for making a multitude of delicious Beers. Artisanal beer is distributed in 15 states.

Brew-pub offerings are Tacos, Pizza, Burgers, Wings and Sandwiches. The homemade Chili which was rich and on point. The Aunt Mildred's Cottage pie is a flavorful medley of ground Beef, Vegetables, mashed Potatoes with a Cheddar crust. Baked Wings, a healthier alternative was surprising delicious versus fried. The Brioche Bun smash Burger

on a Brioche is spot-on and there are other Burger variations such as the Miami Vice topped w pulled Pork.

Kurt and his partner are planning to expand the brewery with a restaurant soon to keep up with the popularity of this local community driven craft brewery. Craft Breweries of NY State are flourishing - enjoy a local pint while supporting local-a virtuous deed.

Paul Mrocka

Kurt Borchardt & Colin Quinn

Month of April Cohoes

Local award-winning artist Ken Wilson will be hosting palette knife painting workshops at his new stu dio located in Cohoes, NY, every Thursday, from Jan 11th forward. Zooms are 2nd and third Tuesdays each month. You will learn to paint with palette knife (also brushes) to create dynamic paintings with lots of energy and movement. Ken is also available for private in-person, individual instruction. To regis ter, please contact Ken at artbyken.kw@gmail.com, or call 518-419-9290. Ken Wilson Studio, 60 Remsen Street, Cohoes, NY!

April 1 - June 29 Glens Falls

• NCA Gallery #120, The Shirt Factory, 71 Lawrence St., Glens Falls “Don’t Worry, It’s Only Art” featured solo artist: Marti Mariah Coyle. Through April 20. The Betty O’Brien Gallery, Gallery hours: Thurs. - Sat. 12-5pm

• April 1-June 29 Paintings by Rosie Wang Badera. NCA 2nd Fl. Gallery: Show 2: , April 12., 5-7pm Info: northcountryarts.orginfo: northcountryarts.org

•  April 1-June 29 Queensbury Hotel Mezzanine Gallery: NCA Members Art Spring Show Info: northcountryarts.org

April 1 - 21 Troy

April 1 - 18 Queensbury

Bruno LaVerdiere. Rites of Passage chronicles LaVerdiere’s career, beginning with his time as an artist-monk in the 1950s and ’60s, following his career t o artist-bohemian, artist-archae ologian and, finally, artist-mystic. Featuring dozens of works of art, the exhibition highlights sculpture, drawing and print. The Visual Arts Gallery Dearlove Hall, SUNY Adirondack, 640 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804

Piece By Piece: The Art of Collage. Fern

Apfel - Linda Bacon - Sarah BlakemanRegina Capobianco - Linden Eller - Paula Frazell - Niki Haynes - Eve Halloran - Chris Harold - Juliana Haiti - Andrea Hersh - Ali Herrmann - Mara Lefebvre - Channing Lefebvre - Barbara Lennox - Tina LinerAdrian Lee - Elaine Langerman - Chris Murray - Willie Marlowe - Kristine Reynolds - Cornelia Schmitter - MarK Weeks - Mary Pat Wager - Michael Whitney - Leslie Yolen - Rebecca Zeh - Denee Zeigler. March 29April 21, 2024. Reception: Friday March 29, 6-8pm. Curated by Robert Gullie. J.Gernon Picture Framing & Fine Art, LLC, 182 River Street, Troy, NY

April 4 Glens Falls

Mipso's Joseph Terrell & Blue Cactus. Most widely known by music fans as a member of the indie-Americana band Mipso, Terrell is well-accustomed to pushing the boundaries of traditional genres into new musical territory. On his first solo record, Good for Nothing Howl (2023, Sleepy Cat Records), this spirit of artistic exploration and expansion reaches new depths.

Show Time: 8:00 PM. The Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 518-792-1150

APRIL EVENTS

April 05 - June 8 Clifton Park

The Blooming Artist Gallery & Instruction presents Works Big & Small, an exhibit featuring the works of all local artists. We invite you to visit us between April 02 - June 08 to experience this contrasting collection of original fine art featuring various subjects, styles, & mediums. As the exhibit title suggests, expect to find pieces on a spectrum of scales! Please join us for a reception to celebrate our artists and their work on Friday, April 05 from 6-8pm here at The Blooming Artist.  The Blooming Artist, 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065

April 5-27 Colonie

Arlene's Artist Materials and the R Gallery at Arlene’s are thrilled to announce the up coming Member Select Show, a group exhibition featuring artists selected from our esteemed Arlene's Member Show. This exhibition will showcase the talents of local artists and highlights the exceptional work of Kathy Klompas, Laura Scott, Helga Prichard, and Mary Sherwood. The Member Select Show will run from April 5, 2024, through April 27, 2024. The exhibition will kick off with an artist reception on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. This reception offers a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts to meet the talented artists behind the showcased works and engage in insightful conversations about their creative processes. Arlene's Artist Materials, located at 57 Fuller Rd in Colonie, NY.

April

6 Glens Falls

April 6 Saratoga Springs

Local artist Matthew Belskis at Soave Faire!!! Sat urday April 6th. Superman 85th year tribute."Mystery Superman Painting"Acrylic on canvas. A recreation of one of the first paintings of Superman. Promoting the Superman radio show. H.J. Ward was the original artist, known for his pulp covers' artwork. Soave Faire 449 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, New York 518-587-8448

Caña Dulce y Caña Brava. Spreading and recreating the traditional music of Veracruz. Caña Dulce y Caña Brava offers a performance which exhibits the music, poetry, dance and traditional attire of Veracruz, Mexico, inter preted by artists who are beneficiaries of the jarocho culture and noteworthy per formers with years of experience on both national and international stages. The group stands out as an artistic project that highlights feminine poetry and voices. Creating an experience that connects the spectator with distinct emotions, one is taken on a voyage through multiple rhythms, accompanied by traditional string instruments such as the harp and the jarana, percussion and zapateado, poetic improvisation in rhyme and the projection of visual effects. Offering a assortment of colors, textures and images to diverse and multi-generational audiences, the ensemble is defined by an original aesthetic concept that unites the traditional with the vanguard in a contemporary stage proposal.Show Time: 7:30 PMThe Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 518-792-1150

APRIL EVENTS

April 9, 20, 21 Saratoga Springs

Chatham County Line. Americana /Folk/Rock band Chatham County Line has a signature sound that bridges the gap between classic roots and innovative Americana.

Tuesday April 9, 7 p.m.

Kat Wright Trio. Authenticity and emotional honesty shine through in Kat Wright’s American roots-based music, creating a deep connection with her audience.Saturday April 20, 4:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Joe Lo uis Walker. “Legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues” (NPR) Joe Louis Walker once again takes the stage for an evening of extraordinary music. Sunday April 21, 7 p.m.

For the full April events schedule, please visit www.caffelena.org Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 47 Phila St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

April 14 Lake George

Celebrate 30 Years of Chili & Music at Bands N' Beans! Mark your calendars for a sizzling good time! The Lake George Arts Project is hosting the 30th anniversary of Bands N' Beans on Sun day, April 14th, from 2 pm to 7 pm at the Fort William Henry Conference Center. Twenty-two local restaurants will be battling it out for the coveted People's Choice Award with their best chili creations. The heat doesn't stop there, though, nine of your favorite bands will be performing on two stages throughout the day. Early-bird tickets are available for $25 until April 12th. Tickets are $30 at the door. For tickets and more information, visit the Lake George Arts Project website: www. lakegeorgearts.org

April 18 Saratoga Springs

Passport Series: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet.

For 50 years, Two-time Grammy winner BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have been hailed as “the best Cajun band in the world.” Doucet and the band can be credited with taking Cajun music from its regional roots in Louisiana to popularity worldwide. 7:30 Thursday, April 18, 2024. Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

April 22 Saratoga Springs

Community Print Night! Join us for Community Print Night! Evening hours for open studio access with the chance to meet other printmakers and discuss ideas! Ink, newsprint, and cleaning supplies provided. Bring your own plates/blocks and paper. Open to those who are just beginning their printmaking journey and those who have years of experience! Pre-registration required as there is limited space! $4.8 member/$6 non-member covers material cost(sharable consumables like inks, newsprint, cleaning supplies, etc.) Monday, April 22nd 5:00-8:00 PM. Monitor: Ally DeRusso Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. 518.584.4132

April 27 Saratoga Springs

Pint N' Print. Come enjoy a fun evening where you can try out printmaking! This event is an informal activity where you will learn how to carve and print a block print! What is a block print? Block prints or linocuts are a type of relief printmaking. Using carving tools you cut away the linoleum to create your design, what is carved away will be white and the remaining areas will be inked! A brayer is used to roll ink onto the block and can be printed by hand or with a printing press. Saratoga Arts will be supplying beverages, supported by Nine Pin and Walt Whitman Brewery, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Must be 21+ to register. $32 member/$40 non-member. Saturday, April 27th 6:00-8:00 PM with Ally DeRusso. Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. 518.584.4132

April 20 Saratoga Springs

US Army Jazz Ambassadors.

The Jazz Ambassadors is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America’s greatest original art form, jazz. Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are programmed to entertain all types of audiences. The band’s diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the Jazz Ambassadors. 7:30, Saturday, April 20, 2024

Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

April 27 Albany Capital Wine Festival. Wine, Spirits, Food, Music, and Fun! Enjoy un limited samples of wines and spirits from across New York State's fantastic wine regions. The Capital Wine Festival will be held at the Albany Capital Center on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 1pm-9pm. Purchase your favorite bottles for take-home and we will store them in the holding area until you are ready to leave. There will be food to purchase and eat on site as well as to sample. There will also be a few partner vendors selling personal care items or crafts.Saturday, Apr 27, 2024 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Albany Capital Center, 55 Eagle Street Albany, NY 12207

April 27 Saratoga Springs

Impressions of Saratoga is so excited to announce our seventh annual Breyer Fun Day. Open to all Breyer enthusiasts and horse lovers this event is a great activity for children of all ages! This event is free to all! Impressions of Saratoga will be hosting a Breyer Model Show, Paint your own Model Horse craft project, visit with our live miniature Dark Horse mascot UPSET, raffles, prizes and plenty more activities and events. The Dark Horse Mercantile will have Fun Day Specials, a craft, and a giveaway. Upset the Mini Dark Horse will be celebrating his 15th birthday! He will have treats for all his friends and will be making his rounds between Impressions of Saratoga and The Dark Horse Mercantile from 11:30 to 1:30.There will be great raffles and giveaways throughout the day! Prizes include Breyer Models, Breyer Craft Kits, and more! You can only enter the raffles on Breyer Fun Day. Winners will be announced at the end of the day! Create your own Breyer Model Horse right here! Stablemate Models and the supplies you need to paint your own one-of-a-kind horse! These are FREE to each participant while supplies last! Photos will be taken of each model and artist to share before you take them home to show all your friends! (518) 587-0666. Impressions of Saratoga, 368 Broadway Saratoga Springs NY 12866 ImpressionsSaratoga.com