MAY, 2024 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

Get to know the college in “one of America’s best college towns.”

− Travel & Leisure

50 +

MAJORS & MINORS

WORLD-CLASS TEACHING MUSEUM

VARSITY SPORTS 19

STATE-OF-THE-ART PERFORMANCE VENUES

Nestled at the end of North Broadway, just one mile from downtown Saratoga Springs, is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country — a place where Creative Thought Matters.

Here, 2,700 students from around the world gather to learn from a rigorous curriculum, engage in inspirational arts, and prepare for their roles in a global community.

Discover more at skidmore.edu

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

May is known as a month of transition. The fresh cold winds are gone, as are the rains of early spring. The flowers are blooming and birds are chirping. Whether it’s family get-togethers, shopping, dining or festivalgoing, May is the month to enjoy the gorgeous weather.

Preparing each issue is such a pleasure. I am continually amazed at the talented artisans we feature each month. Everyone brings something new and different to the table. We are filled with good things. I also would like to take a moment to recognize my team for their insatiable drive, continued passion, vision and constant diligence to make this pub lication come to life.

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

The 4 Passions of Corina Oberai: Curator of Silver, Semi-Precious Stones, Pups, & Artists

Corina Contemporary Jewelry & Fine Crafts

pg. 8

The Stage and The Dinner Table are Set to

Enjoy at The Lake George Dinner Theatre

pg. 18

Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery

Where Weird, Cute Stuff Meets Curated Curiosity

pg. 28

Mostly Modern Festival

Bravo! Season Number Five is Here!

pg. 36

518 PROFILES

16

The Laffer Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery and custom framing studio showcasing nationally and regionally recognized contemporary artists. Exhibitions ranging from realism to abstraction rotate every 4 to 6 weeks.

518.695.3181 | 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY

The 4 Passions of Corina Oberai: Curator of Silver, Semi-Precious Stones,

Pups, & Artists

Corina Contemporary Jewelry and Fine Crafts

by Rona Mann photos by Stephanie Sittnick

It doesn’t take long once you meet her to rec ognize that Corina Oberai is a woman of many passions, and she feeds each of them generously.

Corina believes deeply, she loves deeply, and is deeply dedicated to her art and strongly supports the work of others with whom she has

surrounded herself. She enjoys sharing these passions with those she comes in contact with and is always generous of her time.

Neither does it take very long before Oberai happily plunges into an animated conversation about her home in the beloved historic village of Ballston Spa, the village she said, “screamed at her to settle here some 18 years ago.” When it comes to singing the praises of the place - of the warmth of the people, the tree-lined streets, the vibrant little shops and restaurants, and just the vibe of simply being here among them all, Corina is a walking, talking Chamber of Commerce and never tires of sharing it all with anyone who’ll listen.

“Ballston Spa is thriving,” Corina begins. “It’s a wonderful place to live, work, and be part of the sense of community here. People come lit erally from 100s of miles around just to be here for a day.

It’s a very special place, a happening place.” Perhaps that’s why the village has been anointed, “The Village of Friends.”

Another strong passion in Oberai’s life is her indisputable love of dogs and her wish to give each one the best life possible. Locals have seen her walking “Luna,” “Star,” and the grand old man of the trio, “Beju,” but what they might not realize is that these lucky animals have been previously rescued from Puerto Rico where once they lived in pitiful squalor. “My best friend

since 8th grade, Marybeth, has a home down there with her sister, and it’s quite common to see stray dogs all along the beach, hungry, dirty, infested. We started a non-profit called Pooches Out of Puerto Rico (or POOPR), and subsequently have brought hundreds of dogs across the border and gotten them placed in forever homes.”

Corina loves to talk about these dogs equally as much as she is proud to brag about how her shop has evolved in the last few years. Housed in a 1930s-era former service station, Oberai completely gutted the inside of the structure and gave life to it with another incarnation. “I love giving new life to old buildings.” Where once it was almost all filled with an inventory of her own beautifully handcrafted jewelry, it is now a very

welcoming and spacious shop on Washington Street that showcases not just Corina’s handicrafts, but also the work of another 60-70 artisans whom she fully supports like a mentor. Corina is quick to add it’s not a flea market or crowded craft shop, but a large, beautiful space that showcases the talents of some of the most skilled and accomplished first-rate artists in the Capital Region. “It’s a large shop, an uncluttered shop, and I’m always adding new people, so those who appreciate creativity and passion can and do come again and again.”It’s never the same ex perience twice. It’s upscale, but there’s nothing pretentious or stuffy

about this gallery of fine jewelry and crafts. Oberai adds, “I believe in giving back. So many people helped me along the way that I feel I want to do the same for other artists. It’s no longer just me and my creations, I want to share this opportunity with others.”

The gallery is also home to Glint Glass owned by artist, Heather Leyh Longacker who creates beautiful treasures from hot glass and offers individual and group classes, workshops, and events. Corina showcases her work along with the individual and distinctive creations of an art quilter, (a multi-media art form of fiber art using both modern and tra ditional quilting techniques); wood and enamel jewelry; pottery; wood carvings, and the absolutely unique “shrinky dinks” (shrink art designed on colored plastic then baked in the oven and worn as jewelry. How about a pair of 3-D printed earrings? Corina says, “It’s fun and funky craft well done, and I love it. That’s how I feel about everything here. If I’m selling it, I have to love it. If people don’t buy what they love, they won’t come here.”

Corina Oberai is an exquisite jewelry designer who favors working with silver and semi-precious stones. “I really specialize in cabochons (pol ished and sometimes faceted gemstones), but I never use prongs, always bezels, little cups that hold the gemstones.)” This marries the fragility of wire with the lasting endurance of stones. She has many favorites among them garnet, amethyst, opals, chalcedony, lapis, azurite, fire agate, prehnite... perhaps you don’t recognize some of these semi- precious stones by name? All the more reason to make that de lightful trip to Washington Street in Ballston Spa and be both dazzled and educated by all that’s within this enchanting gallery.

Corina Oberai is a very special woman with many passions, but four of them are most primary in her life. Her passion for appealing and attractive jewelry design; her passion for the other multi-talented artists with whom she shares her shop and her life while empowering them to innovate and explore by giving them their space, their opportunity, and their permission to grow right along with her; her passion for dogs with a promise to keep bringing animals over from Puerto Rico and into loving homes forever; and her passion for that wondrous little village with just over 5000 friendly people. It’s a walkable village which makes it even more appealing to locals and visitors alike. It has plenty of history (home of Abner Doubleday, the “inventor” of baseball) and unique and exciting little shops. “Every time someone new comes to Ballston Spa and opens another business, the existing shops welcome them and celebrate the fact that they’re here. We’re not in fierce competition, we balance each other out.”

She empowers designers to innovate and explore by giving them their space, their opportunity, and permission to grow, and what a wonderful environment this is in which to grow. Perfect for artist and artisan alike, perfect for dogs rescued from a miserable existence but given new life, and just perfect for Corina Oberai – the place she’s been for 18 years and with no plans to go anywhere else. It’s a perfect fit for this woman of passion...and curator of four of them.

Corina Contemporary Jewelry and Fine Crafts, 10 Washington Street, Ballston Spa (518) 885-0930 www.corinacontemporaryjewelry.com

Interested in adopting, fostering, or contributing to this wonderful ini tiative and bringing an unfortunate animal from the beaches of Puerto Rico to a better life in the United States?

Visit: www.poochesoutofpuertorico.org

The Stage and The Dinner Table are Set to Enjoy at The Lake George Dinner Theatre

by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris

The Lake George Dinner Theatre is a local treasure known for bringing light-hearted comedies to the summer stage at the Holiday Inn and Resort for more than 50 years, how it all began could actually be the plot for a future comedy. But until that day comes, the telling of the story and its inauspicious beginnings will surely bring a smile to your face and perhaps cause a chuckle as well.

Once upon a time, back in 1968, a young David Eastwood loved being a stage actor and part of the Glens Falls Operetta Club. During one particular production, he met Bruce Jordan, a teacher at the local high school who impressed him with his talent. In fact, he was so impressed that Eastwood decided to “reassign” the $700.00 he and his fiancé Vicky had scrimped and saved for their upcoming honeymoon, then informed her by phone of their new investment. Suddenly their honeymoon money was now financing a new production of Barefoot In The Park at the local high school for two weekends in the upcoming summer. One can only imagine the silence on the other end of the line. To her credit, the future Vicky Eastwood was all in.

A lot of hard work followed and some prayer, to be sure, in hopes of a successful run for the fledgling producer/investors. Unfortunately, the show opened with very poor attendance the first weekend. Luckily fo r them, a local newspaper wrote a wonderful review that literally saved the day…and hopefully the honeymoon. In fact, enough people went to the show on the second weekend, boosting their sales significantly and covering their investment. And just like the saying, “the show must go on,” Vicky and David did marry and took that honeymoon after all.

For the next eight summers, Bruce, David, and Vicky successfully produced their own shows under the banner, “The Towers Hall Playhouse” at Fort William Henry. In 1976, their hard work, commitment, and continuing success got the attention of the Veeders, owners of the Lake George Holiday Inn. The Veeders approached the young trio to discuss a joint venture which led to the relocation of the summer theatre to their Holiday Inn. Soon thereafter, the dinner theatre now named The Lake George Dinner Theatre, joined the Actors Equity Association; now 48 years, hundreds of actors, dozens of productions, and thousands of performances later, the theatre is still going strong. In fact, it is the smallest and one of the longestrun ning dinner theatres in the country.

While it may be small, The Lake George Dinner Theatre is a well-oiled machine with many moving parts that shift into high gear long before opening night, just like its larger counterparts. First up, well before the start of the new season, is the long process of viewing and deciding on the comedies to be

per formed. Artistic Director, Jarel Davidow shares that he will read an assortment of plays he’s considering, then submit a list of his selections to the theatre’s board of directors for their input and preferences. Two are chosen from the list that will work well as part of the theme that was already selected for the upcoming year.

The plays are always small acts, small cast plays because space is so limited. Productions with 10 or more actors are just not possible so that significantly limits the number of play options. Big musicals with large choruses are never a consideration either. So they always do comedies with no more than 5-6 actors in all.

“This year is going to be our season of love, and the first show is a musical called I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! The second is called Old Love which is a December/ De cember romance about two older people falling in love. It’s very sweet and very funny.”

Once those decisions are made, Davidow begins auditioning ac tors for each play. The equity actors’ auditions take place in two locations. First in Glens Falls for several days where he’ll see 40-50 actors in a day. Then down to New York City where he’ll see over 100 actors over three days. He also au ditions and hires a small percentage of non-equity actors based on an agreement previously reached with Actors Equity Association, and often the actors are local who only do regional theater.

Vicky and David with their son, David Jordan Eastwood (named after his godfather, Bruce Jordan.)

Celebrating Shear Madness in Boston, 1980

Many parallel activities to casting are also taking place simultaneously in cluding production meetings. Determining the orientation of a piano. Cre ating preliminary set designs. Calculating how and where to set up equipment for optimal sound and lighting. And so much more. According to Davidow, it’s definitely a linear process with lots of things happening at

once but surrounding yourself with good people makes all the difference.

“If you hire really great people around you, they take care of their departments, and it’s the director’s job to make sure that everybody’s moving in the same direction, that we’re all on the same page, and putting on the same show. It’s a big help to be working with really talented people which I’m fortunate enough to do.”

Adding to the complexities of putting on a live production is the necessity of recreating the venue itself before the actual start of each season. As a result, The Lake George Dinner Theatre’s conference room is booked annually in

Baskin Build in Progress

Final Baskin Set

Lunch With Mrs. Baskin by Sam Bobrick (2022) l. to. r Beth Pietrangelo, Tom Patterson, Osborn Focht, Camille West, Devin Funnye

order for the theatre to be set up every summer, literally from the ground up, in the very center. When done, it’s an intimate setting that

fea tures a stage no more than 35 feet from every dinner table so everyone has a view of the show.

“It’s a fun place to work as an actor because that intimacy is rare…to be that close to your audience. It’s really a lot of fun to perform there.”

As you might imagine, there’s very little room for a traditional backstage, so the actors’ dressing room is immediately behind the stage. There is no stage left wing or stage right wing if you will. There’s only one way on and one way off. It definitely creates a lot of challenges when blocking out how the actors must enter, exit, and

move about the stage seamlessly. And what about stage sets? How are those switched out? According to Davidow, most of the plays take

Kooshog Set

The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby by Norm Foster (2017) l. To r. Don Paul Shannon and Anny DeGange

First Night by Jack Neary (2022) l. to r. - Jay DeYonker and Molly Bader

place on one set, so it’s not an issue, but this year is different.

“This year, both plays have multiple locations, so figuring out how to keep the play moving in multiple locations is its own challenge. But we’ve done that before, and figuring that out is a real fun challenge, not just for me but for all the designers who help with that too. It’s all about telling a story to the audience and telling it well, with humor and clarity.”

Casting, set design, music, lights, costumes, blocking, and rehearsals notwithstanding, it all comes down to opening night and how the audience responds to the play as a total experience. For the cast, director, and all those working to put the show together, the audience is considered the last character to be added. Their laughter, spontaneous commentary, and sometimes silence when totally unexpected, along with their oohing and ahhing are their lines and become an important part of the play.

“You can come up with anything in a rehearsal room, but you don’t know how it’s going to work until it’s in front of an audience. And when you’re in front of an audience, all of a sudden, you see some things differently. That’s why shows have previews before they officially open so you can

get that feedback. To know what’s funny and what’s working.”

Let’s not forget that this is a dinner theatre so food is a very important consideration. In the very early days of planning the season, Davidow meets with the board and Holiday Inn chef to discuss the new season’s menu. They offer a special three-course meal served tableside by the resort’s waitstaff. There are four delicious entrees to choose from with the ap propriate sides and beverages to accompany them. Typically, the menu includes a choice of dishes including vegetarian and gluten-free options so there is something for everyone.

Together, both The Lake George Dinner Theatre and The Holiday Inn and Resort work as a team to make the dinner theater experience for thousands of their patrons both entertaining and deli cious. It has been a suc cessful 48-year run so far even with a change in both theater and hotel ownership, but it shows no sign of stopping. The goal is to continue to provide a mem orable culinary and theater experience for many more summer seasons and years to come.

You can’t ask for better than that!

For more information about this year’s plays, dates, performance times, menu options, and to purchase tickets in advance, be sure to visit their website at www.lakegeorgedinnertheatre.org.

Sheer Madness 2023 with audience.

Sheer Madness Curtain Call l. to r. Ryan-Patrick McLaughlin, Benita Zahn, Eldon Hassler, Jarel Davidow, Elizabeth Pietrangelo, Jeff Haffner

Sheer Madness Rehearsal

Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery

Where Weird, Cute Stuff Meets Curated Curiosity

by Rona Mann photos by Stephanie Sittnick

Rocky and Bullwinkle called themselves “Moose and Squirrel,” remem ber? Winnie the Pooh and Piglet called their alliance, “Friends Forever, Even Longer.”

And Amanda Magnetta-Ottati and her husband, Tate call what they have, Bear and Bird while people who visit their eclectic, charming, and pop-art strewn boutique and gallery call it “just plain wonderful weird, cute stuff!”

Yes, this is Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery, a delightful emporium that was born in South Florida in 2007; and because the idea of being reverse snowbirds was more appealing than the intense heat of Florida, worked its way up the highway to Schenectady in 2018 to capture the hearts and whimsy of thousands in the Capital Region and garner even more

lovers of comic and illustration art with their online store established during that least-comic occurrence a few years back called “Covid.”

Amanda and Tate will readily tell you, and with a deep sigh of relief, that “we have never been, nor aspired to be, a tradi tional white walls highbrow gallery. Our goal has always been to show people that art is for everyone, so we try our best to cultivate new collectors.”

With that in mind, their glorious, eclectic, and absolutely one-of-a-kind gallery space at the only all-pedestrian shopping district at 160 Jay Street (Jay Street Marketplace) in Schenectady is as unintimidating as you’ll ever find with an emphasis on welcoming everyone into their world and hoping that the visitor, whether an existing collector or someone brand new at doing so, will feel comfortable and enjoy the journey within. And a journey it is!

You will be positively gobsmacked the moment you walk in the door at Bear and Bird. You are all at once drawn to Barry, the large bear who acts like the concierge of the place. Above his head are two Japanese kites that are birds. Get it? Wonder where that crazy, delicious, fun name came from? Actually, it’s an homage to two wonderful people, Amanda’s parents, who called each other “Bear” and “Bird” forever. Amanda adds, “These were nicknames I heard all my life. It was cute and catchy.

It had familial history, alliteration, and was actually available as a proper dot com. It was the perfect fit.”

Amanda goes on to talk about the influence of her par ents in the shop bringing back not only fond mem ories of childhood but also instilling in those who patronize the gallery a sense of whimsy which is what it’s really all about.

No, you absolutely cannot encapsulate this place. Don’t you dare try to label it either! The closest Amanda will give it is, “a curated curiosity shop,” she being the cu rator and the one who ties it all together. “I fill it with what I think is valuable and of interest and find a place for them. They have to be items that appeal to customers’ sense of curiosity.”

The shop is actually divided into two sections. When you come in and greet Barry and the birds you find all of the merchandise...thousands of things like stickers, pins, socks, vintage postcards, and things you never knew existed as art. Things that might evoke a childhood memory, things that are funny, or something you just want to buy for a friend who “gets it.” They’re everywhere, so don’t think you can just blow through Bear and Bird quickly. This shop beckons you, dares you to spend time, and return again and again as any worthwhile journey dictates.

The back half of Bear and Bird is the gallery itself, but don’t expect the Mona Lisa or Whistler’s Mother unless perhaps she has a whistle in her mouth. Here is art – illustration art, which is a visual representation of an idea or concept. There are many styles in this genre which might take the form of cartoons, caricatures, comic books, or posters. It may be minimalist or bold in style, but above all, as Amanda strongly voices, “It is art. It gets overlooked as a genre, but even the vintage greeting card we sell or postcards or puzzles or kids’ books or coffee table books were done by an artist, so it is most definitely art.”

The dedicated art on display in the back gallery changes every two months, but there are still hundreds of art prints for the curious shopper to peruse to perhaps start their own collection. “That’s what this store is all about,” begins Amanda, “and what I’m all about. A piece of art doesn’t have to be an expensive, museum-quality framed original. Your collection should be you, what makes you unique. Just finding the right art print that grabs your attention at Bird and Bear could be the start of your collection, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not art! Everything here is art-created.”

Amanda bristles when someone who perhaps has never opened the door to greet Barry and actually take the journey calls Bear and Bird a “toy store.” She recounts, “It’s not for everyone, and it doesn’t have to

be either. I think this place is a state of mind for adults, definitely FUN adults.”

Ask Amanda what’s most popular? It’s an unfair question. Can you pick out a favorite child? Can you put front and center one item out of the thousands sold here and online? Of course not, but she does say that one of their biggest sellers and most sought-after items is one she’s been car rying for over 10 years, and they’re the only store in the Capital Region to do so. It’s called Sonny Angel Figures Blind Box, and is a series of collectible pocket mini-figures made in Japan. Wildly popular all over the world, all the figures are sealed in blind boxes. The collector doesn’t know what they’ll get until they open the package so the fun is in trying to amass all the Sonny Angels in any one collection, Each series usually

consists of 12 different figures in blind box packaging and is packed randomly, so the collector doesn’t know until they open the package offering an added note of sur prise. Sonny Angels have been domi nant on Tik Tok making them even more in demand, and Bear and Bird is over-the-moon happy to fill that want.

Amanda and Tate still have their original Bear and Bird in South Florida. It occupies the loft space above TATE’S Comics, a pop culture superstore that has been a Florida icon since 1993 and is still thriv ing. Customers worldwide go online to: www.bearandbird.com, however, lucky read ers of 518 Profiles have only to get in their cars and make the short drive to the Jay Street Marketplace to literally experience this wondrous

journey. If it all seems a bit overwhelming at first, there are well-informed employees throughout the store to steer your curiosity in the proper direction. Then you’re on your own! You’re not here to just walk around once and leave. You’re here to browse and to do so for a long, long time.

Come back often to Be ar and Bird and truly de velop an appreciation for what art is to YOU. S tart a collection, add to an existing one, marvel at all the illustration art, and return again and again.

After all, art is good for the soul.

Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery is located at 160 Jay Street, Schenectady (518) 227-1145

Mostly Modern Festival Bravo! Season Number Five is Here!

by Carol St. Sauveur Ferris

The lazy, hazy days of summer officially ar rive on June 20th, and with that comes a long list of outdoor things to do with friends and family. Swimming, boating, cycling, hik ing, and just enjoying a leisurely day in the sun are some of the activities on almost everyone’s agenda.

And kicking off the summer fun in Saratoga Springs, New York for their fifth season, is the always magical Mostly Modern Festival. The festival is a dream come true for Victoria and Robert Paterson who have made their mark in the music world on so many levels.

Victoria Paterson is General Director of the Mostly Modern Festival. She is also a classically-

trained violinist whose CV (curriculum vitae) is extensive. Over her 20-year career, she held full-time positions as a lead violinist in numerous Broadway productions and has performed at many notable venues including Carnegie Hall. She is also Director of Com munity Arts at Sing for Hope, a New York-based non-profit that provides live music in public spaces, hospitals, parks, and for those unable to attend traditional concert venues. Her driving passion has always been to bring the joy of music, both classical and popular to everyone.

Robert Paterson is Artistic Director of the Mostly Modern Festival. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he is an award-winning

Victoria and Robert Paterson

American composer who once played in a rock band but ulti mately found his calling in modern classical music. His list of achievements are many in cluding teaching, composing, recording, conducting, producing, and performing. In addition, he was named Composer of the Year by the Classical Recording Foundation at Carnegie Hall and has won numerous awards including the Alfred I. Dupont Award and a Grammy for Best Classical Producer of the Year. His driving passion has always been to bring new classical music to audiences worldwide.

Together, the Patersons are a creative force and the genius behind all Mostly Modern endeavors. Their unspoken mission overall is to dispel the notion that classical music is very highbrow and the product of dead composers from long ago. To that end, they have made it their life’s work to present modern pieces composed by living composers and performed by up-and-coming musical talent with world-class musicians. Accordingly, the Patersons’ passion, fresh vision, and

combined talent have created a world-class musical experience in Saratoga Springs for all to enjoy.

This year’s Mostly Modern Festival will take place Thursday, June 6th through Friday, June 21st, and just like years past, the festival will include dedicated students pur suing a musical career and looking to immerse themselves in a festival that invites traditional learning in the classroom. In ad dition, it will provide them with real-time musical experiences as they perform in a variety of venues across the beautiful campus of

Skidmore College and Saratoga Springs. The festival will also feature some of the best and brightest composers, vocalists, musicians, and conductors from around the world, as well as the United States, who will both per form and teach. Included in that stellar lineup are conductors Ankush Kamar Bahl and JoAnn Falletta.

Ankush Kumar Bahl

JoAnn Falletta

Newcomer and San Francisco native, Ankush Kumar Bahl, is an award-winning conductor who currently serves as Music Director of the Omaha Symphony. He attended the University of California at Berkeley where he was a double major earning his BS in Music and Rhetoric. He later earned his Masters in Orchestral Conducting at the Manhattan School of Music. Over the years, Bahl has been the guest conductor for numerous philharmonics and symphonies across the

country and a collaborator with many notable soloists. At the Mostly Modern Festival, he will be conducting the Mostly Modern Orchestra, which will present a diverse program of musical styles including works by Chen YI, Witold Lutoslawski, and Robert Paterson on Saturday, June 15th at the Arthur Zankel Music Center from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM.

Returning for her third year in a row is iconic maestro, JoAnn Falletta, who is recognized worldwide as the first female conductor of a major orchestra. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Mannes School of Music at the New School in New York and later earned her Masters and Doctorate from The Juilliard School. Falletta is a long-standing member of an elite group of conductors.

She is one of only 10% of all conductors worldwide who are women and has achieved many firsts along the way. Beginning with her position as the first woman to become music direc tor of an American regional or chestra, her extensive career of firsts has culminated with her 25-year - long position as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic. At this year’s Mostly Modern Festival, she will be conducting the Mostly Modern Orchestra as they present the 5th

Season Finale program that includes the music of Aaron Copland, Morton Gould, and Robert Paterson. The 5th Season Finale will be presented at the Arthur Zankel Music Center on Friday, June 21st from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM.

Once again, audiences can look for ward to other works written and composed by Robert which will premiere on several stages throughout the festival. Pegasus, a very special piece he composed for the American

The Zankel

Harp Society in 2013 for the harp and flute, will have its Saratoga premiere at the Zankel on Friday, June 7th. The Zankel is a world-class venue not unlike Carnegie Hall in New York City so the musical experience alone will be second to none. Add in the special equestrian theme chosen in acknowledgment of Saratoga's history of horse racing, and as a nod to the legendary Belmont Stakes taking place at the Saratoga Race Course during the Mostly Modern Festival, and you have a recipe for an absolutely Enchanted Equestrian Evening of Song.

Another very special musical treat, also com posed by Robert, will take place on Father’s Day, June 16th from 3 PM to 5 PM. The afternoon show allows for families, young and old, to attend the performance together

and will be held at the Zankel as well. It is called New York Stories, a piece he wrote about writers living in the five boroughs of New York City. There are a total of six stories woven into the piece. One story, Original and Only, is about Houdini’s gravesite and a woman in Queens who is trying to elicit his ghost while having a very strange conversation with it. Another is called Crossing the Hudson and is about two Staten Island ferries crossing the Hudson River. A third, called Ex traordinary, is a peek into a date taking place in the park during COVID. And then there’s Rules and Effect, which is about a person running down the street after a meter maid because they think they’re going to get

Family Father's Day Special ~ Sung Poetry and Songs

Dior String Quartet

a ticket. Paterson is finishing the last two at this writing. One is Shallow Wishes, which is about a vagrant and a businesswoman having a conver sation in the park, and the other is River Park, a story of two people who come back to the Bronx after many years, meet again, and learn how much their lives have changed.

“I'm excited to do this in Saratoga. It'll be the world premiere. We're using all singers from the festival who have applied from all over the world, so I think it's going to be really exciting.”

In addition to all the wonderful musical performances at the Arthur Zankel Music Center, audi ences are in for a real treat. For each concert, all the performers will join patrons in the lobby for refreshments, good conversation, and wonderful chocolates from Saratoga Candy Co. And for fun, there will also be a “Step and Repeat” backdrop for posed selfies and photos just like at the Oscars.

“We try to create an open atmosphere here be cause a lot of times the concert performers kind

of rush off behind the stage, and you never see them. At our concerts, you can meet everybody, ask them questions, and connect.”

Other wonderful performances will take place at the Zankel including an afternoon with the Mostly Modern Orchestra featuring maestro David Amado. In addition, there will be performances at other venues across Saratoga Springs, including Caffe Lena where Mostly Modern Festival actually kicks off on June 6th at 7:00 PM; and just like in years past, there will be pop-up concerts at the gazebo in Congress Park, The Saratoga Vis itor’s Center, The Adelphi Hotel, in front of Northshire Bookstore, and more.

Without a doubt, Saratoga Springs is known for horse racing, but with the Patersons’ continued commitment and dedication to bringing a magical Mostly Modern Festival to the area every summer, it will be on everyone’s list of wonderful summer things to look forward to and do.

“You know, we're really trying to enrich people's lives with this great music we're presenting.” By the looks of it, they are succeeding, and all we can say again and again is “Bravo!”

For more information about the upcoming festival including individual performances and ticket sales, please go to https://mostlymodernfestival.org/concert-calendar.

MOSTLY MODERN FESTIVAL: SEASON FIVE

Mostly Modern Festival Season Five Pass - Fri, Jun 7 • 7:00 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $175.00

Equestrian Evening of Song-Belmont Special - Sat, Jun 8 •

7:30 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $12.51

Mostly Modern Orchestra with David Amado - Sun, Jun 9 •

3:00 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $12.51

Mostly Modern Orchestra with Ankush Kumar Bahl - Sat, Jun 15 • 7:30 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $12.51

Family Father's Day Special ~ Sung Poetry and Songs - Sun, Jun 16 • 3:00 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $12.51

Dior String Quartet - Thu, Jun 20 • 7:30 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $12.51

Mostly Modern Season Finale with JoAnn Falletta - Fri, Jun 21 • 7:30 PM. Arthur Zankel Music Center

From $12.51

It Always Started With a Telltale Thump!

By Karen Richman

It was those glorious pre-digital days when life was simple, and maybe the biggest problem we had was not having someone to play with after school.

Homes in suburbia were springing up due to the post-World War II building boom, with 90% of all new homes built being ranch houses, but absolutely no one in middle-class America had a home security system - no doorbell cam, no sensors, maybe just a barking dog to let you know if someone were nearing the property. But once a year there was “that” thump that seemed as if it would shake the house from its very foundation; yet few were ever unnerved by the sound because we all knew what that telltale thump meant. “The new phone book’s here,” my mother would announce, and I’d run to the front door in happy anticipation to retrieve the unwieldy tome from wherever it had landed.

Yes, the great American phone book, that reliable connection peo ple had to find a plumber when a leak sprung, to find the newest pizza shop, and a way to find numbers for just about anyone in your class. The phone book, a tantalizing compendium of ad dresses and phone numbers for almost everyone who lived in town followed by that treasure trove of businesses, shopping, restaurants, and fun known as The Yellow Pages. They were not alphabetical like the White Pages, but organized by business category which made it easier to find things quickly.

The very first U.S. Phone Directory was printed on a piece of cardboard in 1878 in New Haven, CT. At that time, a single piece of cardboard was all that was needed because it listed just 11 homes, 38 businesses, and the police department. But the idea of having a phone book caught on like wildfire, and by 1921, Manhattan had printed well over a million copies, increasing just five years later to six million printed copies! In the mid-1950s, phone books in Grand Central station had to be replaced with new ones every two days because people were tearing out pages instead of writing down numbers.

As soon as the phone book was delivered each year, I made a mad dash to tear into it, looking up classmates’ names and addresses, finding new, fun places to go, and maybe even coupons to cut out of the Yellow Pages. But that was the charm of the phone book; you may not have needed the information right then, but it was reassuring to know that it would

always be at your fingertips when you did. In fact, it was “fingers” that made the Yellow Pages famous thanks to a New York adman in 1962 who came up with the million- dollar slogan that gave nearly everyone in the country recognition of the Yellow Pages. “Let your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages.” Another bit of trivia: why yellow? Why not blue or pink or orange pages for that matter? That came about in 1883 in Cheyenne, Wyoming when a printer working on a simple tele phone directory ran out of white paper and used yellow instead. Three years later, Reuben H. Donnelley thus created the first Yellow Page Directory.

The slow demise of the phone book began in 2010 when Verizon’s request to stop mass-printing residential phone books was approved, however, Current Pennsylvania Utility regulations require telephone companies in the commonwealth to provide a White Pages book for any customer who requests one, and some Yellow Page directories are still published in rural areas by third-party companies, but in insignificant numbers.

Firefighters are likely to cringe at this next piece of my own per sonal nostalgia, but as soon as I was done pawing through the new phone book, my mother put it in the same place she always did year after year. She put it in the broiler drawer of our stove! When I asked her each year why there, her answer was simple.

“Because that way I’ll always remember where it is.” Fortunately, she did each time before she cooked, baked, or broiled, but what a chance she took, although she never thought so.

Let’s raise a glass in sweet memory to the old phone book with its tattered, worn cover, written on and dog-eared by the time the next one arrived with its telltale thump. They are now all but ob solete, still, they provided a glimpse of our past and a direct connection to so much genealogy and history. Yes, that same phone book that hung on a chain in nearly every phone booth in America.

Wait! Did someone in your household just ask what a “phone BOOTH” was? Please put the magazine down for just a minute and try to explain.Tell them it all began with a thump!

The Roses of New York

The Rose. A symbol of love, passion and beauty, holds a special place in the heart of New Yorkers. The history of roses in New York goes back centuries, with the rose flower forever cherished for its beauty and symbolism.

According to fossil evidence found in Colorado, the rose is 35 million years old. However, garden cultivation didn’t start until the 18th century in China and Europe.

George Washington, the first U.S. President, was the first rose gardener and breeder in the U.S. He loved roses so much that he named a variety in honor of his mother, Mary Washington.

New York school children were asked to vote for a state flower in 1890, but the state legislature never officially proclaimed a winner until 1955. The rose is the national flower of the United States and one of the most well-known flowers in the world. Its extended lifespan and capacity to

Crystal Cobert Giddens, LE

thrive made it an easy choice to represent New York’s spirit. Over the years, roses have become widely cultivated throughout all of New York state. As the state’s official flower, the rose serves as a reminder of the state’s appreciation of grace, charm and elegance.

You would think that caring for cultivated roses, especially in New York, would be extremely dif ficult due to the climate. There are a few dis eases to watch out for, but there are several hardy varieties of wild roses that love our seasons and thrive. We have several cultivated varieties that flourish (with a little care) in our climate as well:

Tea Roses are particularly popular for their large, fragrant blooms and long stems. These roses are ideal for cut flower arrangements. Their intense fragrance and beautiful cream and pink petals have made them a favorite. Among the most popular tea rose varieties in New York are the Iceberg Floribunda Rose, Hybrid Tea Roses and the Heritage Rose.

Miniature Roses are a beautiful ad dition to many New York gardens Their small size and abundant blooms make them a popular choice for smaller, urban spaces. They re quire the same love and attention as larger roses, and are usually found in rose gardens alongside the nine-spotted lady beetle (New York’s official state insect) which helps con trol aphids and other garden pests.

Old or heirloom roses are cherished for their historical significance and unique fragrances. Old roses have a storied past in New York City, Pas sionate rosarian, Stephen Scanniello, has established a collection of old roses that honor the horticultural history of New York City, dating back hundreds of years. These roses provide habitat for birds, insects and other pollinators.

Several species of wild roses can be found in New York. Some thrive in wetlands, while others, like the pas ture rose, thrive alongside the road in ditches and hedgerows. All of them have 5 petals, usually pink, atop 5 pointed, green sepals (leaf-like appendages that grow underneath the petals.) Most species of wild roses are furnished with spicy prickles to keep foragers and hungry wildlife away.

Rose hips are a type of berry shaped fruit that grow on wild or native roses. The fruit comes in a variety of colors, including orange, red, and dark purple. Rose hips retain the remnants of the sepals at the bottom of the fruit. This looks like a dried leaf in the shape of a five-pointed star, like what apples have on their bottoms. (Apples are also in the rose family, which is why they look similar.) They are high in vitamin C and make a fragrant tea when dried. They also contain vitamins A, B and the antioxidant lycopene that’s found in tomatoes. Rose hips can be used in jams, jellies and marmalade. Harvest the larger rose hips and save the smaller ones for the wild birds and other wildlife that eat rose hips during the win ter months.

Rose hips can be pressed or filtered to make rose hip syrup. This syrup is used in food sup plements and has also been found to help reduce inflammation and pain in the body. Rose hips can also reduce the appearance of pores, improve skin tone and texture, ease skin irrita tion, and help maintain moisture and de crease redness associated with acne.

Wild roses (not cultivated) rose petals are edible and can be used to add flavor and color to many dishes (as long as the white part is removed). They can be dehydrated or air dried and added to recipes by layering them with sugar or infus ing them in hot water.

The oil from the rose can be used to promote mental well-being and is extremely popular in aromatherapy. The oil is produced through dis tillation or extraction methods. It can be ap plied topically or it can be inhaled to experience its calming and mellowing properties. Rose oil helps to reduce stress, enhance sleep quality and reduce the chatter in our minds at 2:00 am.

Roses provide diverse uses and advantages… including medicinal benefits and applications in aromatherapy while attracting and enticing the pollinators to your landscape.

FACES of Saratoga

55 Beekman Street Saratoga Springs, NY triliftSaratoga.com

CULINARY DESTINATIONS: Central European Culinary Tour

By Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

The great culinary and brew revolution happening in New York State is exciting and inspiring. Sometimes we must pay homage and gather inspi ration by seeking our immigrant beginnings. A few years back we opened a European inspired restaurant in Saratoga Springs, themed after European countries of origination to great breweries/monasteries and its cuisine culture. A few of these central European countries are featured in this article of a recent a trip, seeking in spi ration to the authenticity of its offerings and food-scene.

When flying to Europe, Ice landic Air and Lot Polish Air offer travelers’ penaltyfree layovers when enroute to other European cities. I de cided to fly into Warsaw, Poland enroute to Amsterdam and explore the city I found fascinating as a history buff. The cuisine of Poland is in my opinion profoundly underrated. The Polish are excellent agriculturists and foodies, as seen when you explore the foodmarkets in downtown Warsaw. It starts already when staying at a hotel, even an international affiliate. The Polish are very serious and demanding about their food. You will not find typical rubber eggs, frozen bread, and processed food at the breakfast buffet. At a Hilton, the offerings were brimming with beautiful fresh big orchard apples, baked artisanal bread, hand-whipped scrambled eggs, real bacon, sautéed mushrooms and

plat ters of local butcher cold-cuts. After such a typical Polish breakfast buffet, one can easily skip lunch.

Warsaw is a bustling city, which proudly after World War 2 was built back up from the ground after it was razed after the heroic Warsaw Rising in August 1944. In Warsaw “Old Town,” the buildings were exactly replicated as before the war and an oblivious visitor would never catch on to this fact. The bakeries and butcher shops operate at a high artistry level producing exceptional delicacies. The restaurants offer just more than Stuffed Cabbage and Pierogies. One will find deli cious choices of game, freshwater fish, and varieties of seafood from the Baltic Sea such as Herring, Cod and Flounder. The dollar goes a long way in terms of exchange! A traveling foodie can indulge to hearts content on delicious meals and Polish Beer such as Zywiec and Okocim. Poland also produces fantastic Vodka such as Chopin, Luksusowa and Belvedere. On a historic note, I made sure to visit the historic yet evocative Warsaw Rising Museum and the Warsaw Zoo, famous after the award-winning movie “The Zookeepers Wife.” Poland and its friendly artisanal food-scene exceeded my expectations as a culinary professional.

Amsterdam is my home away from home, having lived there for a decade. When arriving at the airport, the culinary treats such as Syrup Waffles (Stroop Waffles), Herring, Croquettes, smoked Eel, and hearty Sausages await the hungry arrivals. I always like to rent a car di rectly at the airport, so the small country can be traversed including Belgium.

The best time to visit the Netherlands is late August/September, especially the green heart also known at the Veluwe. Located in the center of the country are little quaint villages in densely pine forest areas. Rent a bicycle, ride the bicycle paths in the forest towns such as Epe, Vierhouten and Putten, they will lead you into vast fields of purple Heather fields blooming in late August. Foodies will love the local honey sold here that is derived from bees feast ing on the organic purple flowers. In the nearby large cities of Kampen, Apeldoorn and

Zwolle, I always love to visit the French Fry vendors, who hand-cut the unique Dutch “Bintje” Potatoes into the large wells of oil and scoop them fried/salted into a large sugar bag with a generous topping of mayonnaise. The bakeries feature sensational baked goods, since bakery proprietary standards required by government regulations require many years of bakery school and apprenticeship. The Dutch, originators of the Dutch East India spice trade, ingeniously use spices such as all-spice, nutmeg, curries and cardamon in their baking and cuisine. A must-try is visiting one of the many Indonesian Restaurants in the country. It is a Dutch staple alike our Chinese take-out, featuring dishes such as skewered Sate in Peanut sauce, Lumpia Spring rolls, Shrimp Crackers and Beef Rendang-aromatic Beef slowly cooked in Coconut Lemongrass sauce. A famous family outing is “The Rice Table” which features 20 different dishes on a lazy Susan with Jasmine rice. Homemade gourmet Ice-cream shops are in every town and outdoor cafes are sprawling with folks enjoying Dutch Heineken/Grolsch Beer a c companied by fried snacks such as Croquettes and Bitterballen.

Driving south to Belgium is quick. It is unquestionably home of the best beers in the world, where along with Germany, they are the gold standard beer-makers, encompassing ales, sours, triples, dubbels, saisons and blondes, to name a few styles. Make sure to visit downtown cities

of Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. These archi tectural stunning cities are a foodies /beer-lover paradise, sprawling with outdoor terrace beer cafes, amazing street foods, Bel gium chocolate retailers, street-side Belgian Waffle merchants, Belgium frites vendors, Oyster bars, award winning Bakeries and fresh Escargot. Foodie connoisseurs who have, will or plan to visit, will have a gastronomic reawakening.

MAY EVENTS

May 9, 14 & 24 Glens Falls

May 1 - 25 Troy

Persephone Arises - works by Susan Story & Barbara’s Lennox. Show runs through Saturday May 25. J. Gernon Picture Framing & Fine Art, 182 River Street, Troy, NY.

May 1 - 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 02June 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! The Blooming Artist, 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065

May 3 - 25 Albany

May 1 - 26 Kingdom Plantae: Work by Seven Women

Artists Honoring the Plant Kingdom. On exhibit through May 26, 2024. This exhibition features original paintings and drawings taking inspiration from the diverse plant world all around us. Ranging from very small 4x4" to very large 36x48" in size! Bear an Bird Gallery, 160 Jay Street M • Schenectady, New York

Form & Function. Arlene's Artist Mate rials is delighted to present "Form and Function," a curated group exhibition that delves into the captivating interplay between artistry and functionality in ce ramics. Showcasing the works of tal ented local potters and ceramicists, this exhibition offers a unique exploration of the aesthetic and practical aspects of ceramic art. "Form And Function" will run from May 3, 2024, to May 25, 2024. The exhibition will kick off with an artist reception on May 3, 2024, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. This reception provides art enthusiasts with the opportunity to engage with the featured artists and gain insight into their creative processes. Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd Albany, NY 12205

May 4 - May 5 Saratoga Springs

May 4 -June 15 Glens Falls Expressions 2024 Juried Art Exhibition. Opening Reception and Awards: Saturday, May 4th 5 to 7 p.m. AWARDS Gold: $500, Silver: $350, Bronze: $250, Honorable Mention $100 - JUROR: SUSAN HOFFER. info: northcountryarts.org NCA Gallery #120 in the Shirt Factory 71 Lawrence St., Glens Falls, NY

Saratoga Comic Con. Celebrating its 10th year, Saratoga Comic Con returns to Saratoga Springs, NY on May 4-5, 2024! Expect over 15 celebrities and 250 ex hibitors and artists tables, bringing up state NY the best of the best for pop culture to one location at the Saratoga Springs City Center! Join us for our largest event to date creating memories that last a lifetime with your friends and family! Saturday, May 4, 2024 until Sunday, May 5, 2024. Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Among Friends; Show and Share at LARAC Lapham Gallery. Artists are invited to bring in pieces of their work, either completed or in process, to be constructively critiqued by their peers in a supportive, encouraging envi ronment. Peer art critiques help bring different perspectives to an artist's work, enhancing understanding of where a piece or series might be going, what might be working well, or what might need a little more work. This event is free and open to all artists and art enthusiasts. May 9th | 4pm - 6pm

Gouache Workshop with Eden Compton. May 14th | 10am – 12pm. To register for a workshop, please visit our website at www.larac.org/workshop-calendar

Opening Reception for SHOW IV May 24th | 5pm: Where We Are, featuring Zena Verda Pesta and Susan Hoffer, at LARAC Lapham Gallery. Show Dates: May 24th – June 26th

Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC), 7 Lapham Place | Glens Falls, NY 12801

May 16 Glens Falls

Little Saints Indie-Folk with Soul! Little Saints' genre-bending combo is made up of singer/songwriter Natalie Santini, guitarist Andy Arnold, bassist Ian Dingman, pianist John Alecci and drummer Joseph Woodul. The band was founded by Natalie’s devotion to powerful singing, and honest, mature songwriting with Andy’s love for raw-yetrefined guitar playing. Little Saints crafts a style they call their own somewhere between Americana, Indie-Folk, and Modern Soul.

Thu, May 30, 2024. SHOW TIME: 8:00 PM The Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY

May 18 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 create a drypoint! What is a drypoint? Drypoint is an etching technique, where you directly draw into your plate using an etching needle. We will work on plexiglass making it easy to translate our images onto the plate. Then we will have fun inking up and rolling through the press! Saratoga Arts will be supplying beverages, supported by Nine Pin and Walt Whitman Brewery, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Saturday, May 18th 6:00-8:00 PM with Ally DeRusso. Must be 21+ to register. $32 member/$40 non-member. Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. 518.584.4132

May 23, 25 & 30 Saratoga Springs

Cassandra Kubinski - Continuing to gain momentum beyond the Cap ital District, singer songwriter Cas sandra Kubinski returns to Lena’s st age with her exquisitely passionate music. Thursday May 23, 7 p.m. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3Su7GME

Sawyer Fredericks - Sawyer Fredericks’ honest and elegantly stripped down Americana “free range folk” style incorporates elements of blues, roots, rock and jazz. Saturday May 25, 8 p.m. Sunday May 26, 7 p.m. Tickets: https://bit.ly/4aHGCzD

Bright Series: Abigail Lapell - “Abigail Lapell may be the best folk artist you haven't yet discovered.” – KUTX. Canadian Folk Music Awards Song writer of the Year Abigail Lapell is currently enjoying a staggering 23 million+ Spotify streams. Thursday May 30, 7 p.m. Tickets: https://bit.ly/428luzB

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

CELEBRATING OUR 5 th SEASON

FEATURING BROADWAY, POP & CLASSICAL MUSICIANS

Cash bar opens 1/2 hour before showtime

JUNE 6 - 2 1 Arthur Zankel Music Center | Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, New York BUY TICKETS