AUGUST, 2020 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2020 Complimentary

CENTER STAGE

AUGUST 2020

Not Just a Restaurant, But a Valued Tradition

When You Say, “Panza’s,” You’re Saying a Mouthful!

PUBLISHER / FOUNDER

pg. 4

Stephanie Sittnick

COPY EDITOR Elisabeth Allen

WEBMASTER Tony Rivera

“If You Follow Your Passion, You Can Make It”

Tom Myott’s Art Comes Thundering At You

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

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CONTRIBUTORS Carol St.Sauveur Ferris, Karen Richman, Rona Mann Chandler Stevens, Lawrence White, Kirsten Ferguson, Susan Brink, Vanessa G. Ahern, Joseph Raucci, Adirondack Winery, Crystal Cobert Giddens

A Heritage of Vision

COVER PHOTO

The Schenectady Photo Society

“Saratoga Color" by Tom Myott

pg. 22 It’s hard to believe how fast time has gone by and that we are already into the month of August. Although time seems to be going by very quickly, there is still plenty of warm weather left for each of us to enjoy.

We live in a beautiful area filled creative people and endless places to explore.

This issue is chock full of inspiring and positive editorial for you to sit back and enjoy. Their stories of strength to push forward and preserver through this unknown time is an inspiration to us all. 518 PROFILES would like to say “HATS OFF!” to everyone within these pages from cover to cover.

Dancing Through Tough Times How NYC Ballet Dancers Supported SPAC During this Dark Season. pg. 32

As always, our goal is to deliver authentic, and unique content about creative people and interesting places. 518 PROFILES is the place to connect with your favorite artisans and small businesses throughout New York and abroad. We are so excited to deliver this issue to you and hope everyone is having a safe summer season.

ENCORE

Enjoy!

Upstate Beat

pg. 28

Pandemic Rock Architrave’s New Album “This Perfect Day” Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher

Guest Writer

pg. 40

Summer Beauty - A Delicious Way to Glow this Summer

518 PROFILES 587 Grand Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518 Profiles LLC All rights reserved. All content of this publication including but not limited to text, graphics, and photos may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent from the publisher. 518 Profiles is not held responsible for graphics or images submitted for contribution to this publication. Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink.

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Sweet Nostalgia

pg. 44

Vintage Stamp Collecting - The S & H Green Stamp Books

The Adirondack Vines Six Tips for Wine Tasting at Home

pg. 46

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Not Just a Restaurant, But a Valued Tradition When You Say, “Panza’s,” You’re Saying a Mouthful!

by Rona Mann Food & Beverage photos by Restaurant Tek Interior & Exterior photos by Stephanie Sittnick

It’s here.

It’s still here.

It’s been here for the last 82 years, and it’s not going anywhere. But you should be here as well. YOU should be going to Panza’s.

Don’t wait for someone’s birthday. Your anniversary is still months away.

So are Thanksgiving and the holidays. While the pandemic is certainly not over, we’ve learned a lot in the last half year, and now it’s time to get out, take a deep breath, and do something delicious for yourself and your family. It’s time to start living again! It’s time to go back where you know the people, love the place, and have always enjoyed the food. But don’t just go out to a restaurant. Celebrate a new tradition by honoring an old one...at Panza’s.

They took a heck of a beating these last long, hard months. Everyone did.

But it was perhaps the restaurant and hospitality industry that got hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic worse than any other. Months of shuttered spaces and darkened rooms. Months where no delicious aromas wafted in the air, where there was no music, where no professional waitstaff was attentive, ready to take care of their customers, where patrons could not enjoy the shared experience of dining with friends, family, loved ones.

It was five months ago that Panza’s, not a restaurant, but a family tradition in the Capital District, was forced to close their doors. When Tony Panza put the key in the lock that day in March, he was locking away some 82 years of good food, of family, of laughter and music and memories made. But he knew eventually it would all be back...and now it is!

Tony is 4th generation in the long line of the Panza tradition. His great-grandparents opened the original Panza’s on Saratoga Lake in 1938.

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From its modest beginnings, it soon became a landmark of fine dining in the Capital District and is still in operation, albeit more casual than the lavish venue, Panza’s Restaurant moved to in 2019.

“Our restaurant at the lake is now known for pizza, pasta, banquets, and catering and is being run by the 6th generation of the Panza family. Can you imagine that?” says Chef/Owner Tony Panza, proud to carry on the tradition of this venerable family. The tradition that began with his great-grandparents was then handed down to his grandparents who were later joined after WWII by Tony’s father. Now Tony

and his brother Michael, event planner and well known popular entertainer, are in charge of this gastronomic empire that brings people from all over the state, and during the summer, from all over the world.

The Panza family has also earned a strong and enviable reputation in the Capital District for 40 years of off-premise catering. They have provided everything from casual cuisine to classic dinner parties and receptions. Among those notables who have enjoyed their food over the last 82 years were giants of industry, politicians, notable sports figures, and Hollywood legends, a more than enviable list of personalities from every corner of the globe. But every guest in the restaurant has always been equally important to the Panza family, always given star treatment every time they dined.

“When we found this locale last April, the former home of the very popular Trade Winds Restaurant, we were originally only going to stay here a year while we remodeled the restaurant at the lake,” says Tony, “but we quickly fell in love with this location and our business absolutely exploded.”

Chicken Parmesan - Mozzarella and marinara with pasta

Linguini with clams, scallops and red sauce

Chicken Piccata - Shallots, capers, mushrooms, lemon wine sauce over angel hair

Lobster Ravioli - Sundried tomato, basil cream sauce

Ma Panza’s Pork Chop -Vinegar peppers, balsamic reduction, potato & vegetable

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Michael Panza and The Tyler Giroux Trio With a culinary degree and over 40 years in the kitchen, Chef Tony has the hands-on, irreplaceable experience that only comes with learning to cook at the elbow of his grandparents, father, uncles, etc.

It is this experience that few can rival. Panza also holds the title of Certified Executive Chef bestowed upon him by the American Culinary Federation and has served as a two-time President of the Restaurant Association in addition to being named Restaurateur of the Year. But nothing is as important to him as looking out at the dining room and seeing his guests enjoying the total Panza experience of food, wine, and quality entertainment.

“We are in complete compliance with the CDC,” he says. “We are taking every precaution to make the experience a safe one as well as a memorable one for all our guests. Our tables are positioned six feet apart, our menus and wine lists are fully disposable, we use hand sanitizer, and every one of our employees wears a mask. We

change the linen tablecloths after every party because we have always been a white tablecloth restaurant, and that is not going to change. It’s part of the total Panza’s experience.”

Tony continued, “We’re still trying to find out what the ‘new normal’ is exactly, and we’re always trying to improve.” To that end, Panza’s has a brand new wine list and has engaged their employees in training sessions presented by the prestigious Deutsch family, experts in fine wines from around the world. They were further complimented when the CEO of this world renown company, Peter Deutsch himself, came to Saratoga Springs for the privilege of working with Panza’s staff.

When Panza’s moved to their new South Broadway location in 2019, Tony and Michael took on a new partner, contractor Chris Marchand, who did all the interior remodeling and intricate work on the

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and romantic seating; then we have our wine cellar, our spacious lounge where we present our entertainment nightclub style, and then the main dining room. It’s the place you want to go. It’s just magnificent.”

Art Buchwald was a well known American humorist, Washington Post columnist, and oft-quoted personality. When it came to dining well – something Buchwald valued immensely - his is perhaps the most memorable quote ever penned and one that perfect fits the Panza’s experience. “Dinner is not what you do in the evening before something else. Dinner is the evening.”

What a perfect sentiment to define celebrating at Panza’s.

Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, or just celebrating being healthy, getting out, and getting together once again with friends and family, it never disappoints. And when you’re back eating the food that has pleased so many diners for so many generations, put down your fork for a moment, take a long sip of wine, and close your eyes.

You may just hear those sounds of long ago - sounds of laughter and music and glasses clinking from so many years gone by.

Now open your eyes, savor the incomparable cuisine, start your own conversation, add in a bit of laughter, and you’ll be back making your own memories at Panza’s, preserving your traditions with the family who started them...and never stopped.

Panza’s is open for your tradition at 129 S. Broadway in Saratoga Springs www.panzasrestaurant.com Make your reservation: (518) 584-6882 building, fully restoring it to its classic beauty, while brother Michael was responsible for all the accoutrements, adding his impeccable taste and eye for color and design to every last detail.

“It’s a journey back to the glory days of Panza’s,” Tony says with enviable pride. “We have a comfortable and spacious bar, the Cove area off the bar with very intimate

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“If You Follow Your Passion, You Can Make It”

Tom Myott’s Art Comes Thundering At You

by Rona Mann “I’ll take it!”

Just three simple words, but those three words fueled a passion, pointed a career squarely at the future, and took an artist down the track just as surely as though he were a thoroughbred horse himself coming right out of the gate.

“I am very fortunate,” begins Tom Myott, the artist who has seemingly been on a fast track since his school days.

Geographically, Myott didn’t travel very far. Creatively he has amassed many furlongs. Growing up in South Glens Falls, Tom became intrigued with art from the first time he made a clay pinch pot in elementary school, pinching and working the clay with thumb and forefinger to create a childish vessel, popular in introductory art classes for the very young.

At South Glens Falls High School he found and forged a lifelong relationship with teacher, Bill McCarthy who both taught and empowered the young man to explore his art further. After receiving a degree in Art Education from Buffalo State, Myott came home to South Glens Falls and began teaching at the same high school from

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which he had graduated. Now he was working side by side with now-colleague, Bill McCarthy, and the two formed a fast friendship that exists to this day.

“I’ve always been lucky in everything I did in life,” echoes Myott, who still appreciates being able to get a job immediately upon returning to South Glens Falls. It’s now been 27 years, and still Myott is on faculty at the same school, sharing his passion with his students. “I tell them, ‘if you follow your passion, you can make it. Perseverance is the most important element in an art career because as an artist you will experience the lowest of lows so you have to maintain a firm belief in yourself.’”

Here is a man who does not take himself seriously, but he takes his art very seriously. “I often ask myself, if I were not making money at this, would I still have the passion? The answer is simple: passion drives what I do.”

It is not enough to read this story and look at the images on these pages. You must see the man’s work for yourself. If you cannot immediately get to a show in Congress Park or at the Silverwood Gallery, then by all means visit his website at: www.tmyottart.com.

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The moment the first paintings appear on your screen it is as though you can hear the reverberating of hoofs in the background as the magnificent thoroughbreds thunder toward you, kicking up the dust of champions.

Although living in an area where racing is paramount, it was not Myott’s first foray after the pinch pots of elementary school.

“Horses are a niche I developed empowering me to sell artwork.”

Shortly after 2002, Myott decided to try it as it fit nicely with his signature style, a post-impressionist style using circles, dots, and dashes, over many years of developing techniques. He was inspired by Seurat’s pontillist work as well as attracted to the grid system of Chuck Close in addition to other ideas from both impressionist and contemporary artists; but one thing is abundantly clear - Tom Myott is his own man, one of a kind.

While he may emulate others whom he admires and respects, he does not copy.

It is Myott’s use of vibrant colors that fairly pop off the canvas combined with his light brushstrokes that create the movement and action of his now-famous horses. Exactly how he got into painting horses is one of those stories of which is made the stuff of legend in the art world. Shortly after graduating from Buffalo State and painting in a variety of

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mediums, Myott decided that since he lived in the Saratoga area he should paint what best related to Saratoga – thoroughbred horses.

He began by finding a discarded door frame at his parents’ home that was roughly 7’ x 3’ on which he stretched his canvas. He then proceeded to “paint a bunch of horses coming at you” and brought his creation to the second show he was in that summer.

“I was just sitting there painting when a guy on a bike rode by, stopped, and looked at the painting, and asked, ‘How much?’

Up until now I was selling my work for $20. or $30 dollars and had absolutely no idea what to say, so I blurted out, ‘$800.’” Without missing a beat, the man on the bike retorted, “I’ll take it. Can you deliver it?” Myott laughed at the memory, “I would have walked it to his house!”

Turns out the man on the bike was a horse trainer, and the painting spoke to him. “That was the beginning, the aha moment as it were,”

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Myott said. “Then I couldn’t paint fast enough!

I started painting horses and more horses, but not just to sell. If you paint just to sell, you lose something, I tell that to my students all the time.”

That aha moment and the sale of that first painting are now 18 years in the past, but Myott still hasn’t stopped the colorful horses racing toward the observer, the steam fairly coming out of their nostrils. He paints what he terms “gestural scenes” and monochromatic drawings of racing and continues to show in local galleries where his popularity is soaring.

Right now his magnificent work is hanging

in the Saratoga Olive Oil Company and Silverwood Gallery (both on Broadway, right in the heart of Saratoga Springs) and will remain there into September, while Tom Myott, artist, will continue to tell anyone who will listen how lucky he is. It appears he’s always been in the right place at the right time with everything lining up in perfect order; yet he realizes, “Each of us has a hand in our own path.”

Myott’s path never took him very far from Glens Falls, but his art has and will continue to take him a long way. All along that path, from the time he was a child and allowed

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plenty of freedom to roam and dream, he has had unconditional support. He especially is grateful for the support from his wife, Trish and says of that gift, “If you have a spouse or supportive person, it makes your life so much easier.”

Tom Myott is still teaching at the high school where he also coaches both indoor and outdoor track and cross country and shares a studio with an old friend and mentor – Bill McCarthy, his former high school art teacher and a talented ceramicist in his own

right. Myott has indeed come full circle and continues to build relationships with galleries and thoroughbred racing around the country.

“I want to make a mark with my brush and movement. I want to develop subtle nuances, and I’ll keep creating artwork until I can’t,” Myott says simply.

A short track to the winner’s circle indeed.

Tom Myott, artist is stabled at The Shirt Factory, 71 Lawrence Street in Glens Falls.

(518) 798-8431 www.tmyottart.com

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The Laffer Gallery 518.695.3181 | 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY

8th Annual Upstate Invitational August 8th - September 6 This dynamic exhibition features the work of Cheryl Horning, T. Klacsmann and Doretta Miller, last years “Best in Show” recipients from The Laffer Gallery’s 8th Annual Upstate Artists Juried Group Show, genersouly juried by Jon Christopher Gernon.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

THELAFFERGALLERY.COM

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Linda Tommasulo Photography

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A Heritage of Vision The Schenectady Photo Society

By Lawrence White Everyone from this part of Upstate New York is fully aware of how fortunate we are to live in such a stunningly beautiful environment.

Throughout our history, the artistic community has been inspired to create magnificent works of art that reflect the allure in the quality of light and the broad spectrum of the ecology of our area.

equipment including the enlarger, lens, chemicals, easels, lights, and the cost of water to wash prints. That has been replaced by digital darkroom costs of software on a computer. It is difficult to keep up with all of the changes these days. Yet, great advantages are being offered at the same time and it appears the SPS is going to focus on them.

The NY Historical Society points out that the legendary “Hudson River School “of painters that emerged around 1850 was the first school of truly American art to garner worldwide recognition and fame. Artists, poets, and writers forged the first self-consciously “American” landscape vision and literary voice, grounded in the exploration of the natural world as a source of spiritual renewal and as an expression of national identity, first expressed through the scenery of the Hudson River Valley.

Currently, the SPS is the oldest photo society in New York and one of the oldest continuing photo groups in the nation. SPS has certainly come a long way since its early years. As of this writing, there are over 70 enthusiastic and knowledgeable members who have met regularly and held competitions and other events throughout the years.

photo by Lawrence White At that same time, photography was just being born in Europe. Over the next 100 years, photography spread worldwide and continued to evolve in technique and technology as it became an established art form.

In 1932, the Schenectady Photo Society (SPS) was created by local photographers who felt a kinship in their art. The first meetings were in the now-demolished Schenectady Museum, and the members were primarily engineers from GE who had a love for black and white still images plus the necessary funds to afford photo and darkroom equipment.

Anyone familiar with the history of photography is aware that this has been an evolving technological art form that is never dormant.

Cameras have gone from huge, heavy boxes to light hand-held devices.

Innovations like the zoom lens, in-camera metering, anti-shake, hi-ISO sensitivity are among the innovations that have made photography more accessible.

Of course, photography has never been cheap. For instance, in traditional film photography, some of the costs were comprised of darkroom

SPS also developed a Facebook page where they constantly post events, learning opportunities, and new photographs. For instance, over the last few days, their FB page features posts with information about regional photo contests, a webinar on the use of a telephoto lens, instruction into precise control in photo editing suites, a link to an amazing collection of images by photo-artist Neil Hamamoto, plus some of the outstanding new work by members.

A visit to the attractive and highly functioning Schenectady Photo Society website reveals a very active and vibrant community of photographers with varied creative interests and expressions. They’re monthly newsletter, “Focus” is over 30 pages of interesting topics and imagery that cover all aspects of photography for the person who is just starting, to those who have a strong working knowledge of photography.

One section of a recent newsletter titled “Live and Learn” is particularly informative and provides tips for online workshops, new apps. You will also find a calendar with all of the events listed for easy planning.

Overall, the SPS online media provides a plethora of truly interesting

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whether it is a photographic genre I am interested in or not. And I have even been able to share some of my interests by presenting to the members.”

SPS member Connie Frisbee Houde captured a series of images in the La Laguna Mountains of Honduras northwest of San Pedro Sula.

“I work with an organization called New York/Help. We have been developing a sewing cooperative for the women on the mountain.”

With some sadness she explains, "Unfortunately, with COVID-19 things seem to be on hold now, but I learn a lot by sharing my photos with the members of SPS. I always find out something new during critiques and the frequent competitions."

Linda Tommasulo photography information discussed in a clear and informative manner.

When not limited by COVID restrictions, SPS holds monthly meetings where members have an opportunity to hear and meet guest speakers. After the speakers and various announcements, members display their work in print and projected image presentations and competitions. The group also offers photo day trips so that techniques and methods can be shared online and during meetings.

I spoke with board member and editor of the newsletter, Linda Tommasulo, who is passionate about photography and SPS. When I asked how she first heard of SPS, Linda tells me, “I moved up to the Capital District in 2012. Since I had been very active in two photo clubs downstate, the Westchester Photographic Society and what is now the Bronx Photography Club, I wanted to be sure there was a photo club in my new location, so before moving I did some research and found the Schenectady Photographic Society. I joined within a couple of months of relocating and have been an active member since. In the summer of 2014, the newsletter editor retired from the club, and I volunteered.

I have been doing it ever since, as well as being an active member of the board.”

Linda continues, “I am a great proponent of photography clubs for those who have a passion for the art. I learn something new from every presentation we have,

Sean Sullivan joined SPS in 2008 and is now the webmaster. As with all the members, he has a very strong connection to SPS. “The club means a lot to me. I enjoy photography and the club, and its members have taught me a lot. I've made what I hope are a lot of friends while I've been in the club and hopefully, that will continue.

I am worried about how the club will fair during the current Covid-19 situation though. The field trips the club sponsors have also been a great outlet that allowed me to expand photography opportunities that I may not otherwise have the chance to experience.

And, as the webmaster, I am constantly tinkering with the website to try and improve it for our members. I think if the club were to go away (which I am confident it won't), I would be extremely sad.”

Of course, Sean is referring to the dramatic changes caused by dealing with the COVID pandemic. The SPS has been forced to cancel their entire season this year including meetings and Connie Frisbee Houde photography

“Into The Fog” by Alan Wiggins

Sonya Ward ”Sunrise”

“Galway Bay Boats” Phil Olivo

Doug Mitchell “Megan”

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“Albany” Carol Bell

“Glow In The Dark” Dan Steen

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Jeana Caywood Photography field trips. This occurred at a time when the SPS was picking up steam and gaining new members; however, this new challenge has not stopped them.

Photographers are uniquely positioned to remain relevant in these times due to the internet, social media, and website presence. Even some of the old school film photographers are grudgingly taking advantage Joan Heffler Photography “Broom Doorway” Kim M Koza of the digital era. Max Tiller who has been a member of SPS for 67 years recently bumped his knee this tempest-tossed time diverting them from that passion. My guess is and is not able to navigate very smoothly while it heals. Even though we will weather this and eagerly return. The word gets out, and SPS Max is not a fan of digital photography (“too expensive”), he was able continues to attract new members who bring new energy and invigorate to scan and email a few of his images so that they could be included in the veterans. I’ve seen that in the three years I’ve been a member. We this article. That illustrates the uncommon position photographers are started a well-received mentoring program last season, and I see that continuing; one of our goals is helping members improve their skills. in for sharing their work, particularly now in COVID isolation.

Photographers love to talk shop and pick up a few pointers, and there When I ask SPS President Rich Schreibstein, how digital photography is no better place to do that than with the Schenectady Photo Society.” and online communication factor into SPS plans at this time, he responds, “We are launching a new Facebook page we’re calling SPS https://spsphoto.org Summer School. We are already beta testing it to work out any kinks.

This is not the current FB page you are familiar with. We’re limiting it to current members only, and we intend to use it as a tool to offer constructive criticism. If a member has a photograph they want help with, we’ll ask them to use #HELP when posting. We have members who attend but don’t participate in our competitions. We think that might be because they are not comfortable with their skill level and may be hesitant to enter work for judging. This site will be a good opportunity for them to get some pointers to improve.”

Schreibstein continues, “Our emergency backup plan for next season is to segue from this SPS Summer School and use it with some modification, to continue our twice-monthly competitions. Because it is online, that would mean we would have two digital competitions monthly rather than one digital and one print.”

I ask Schreibstein a final question concerning his thoughts about the future of the SPS in a digital world, and he responded, “I do envision a bright future for SPS. We have a congenial, involved membership, many with a lot of tenure and all with a passion for photography. I don’t see

“I think Your Lens Is Dirty” Tom Whittemore

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Pandemic Rock Architrave’s moody new album “This Perfect Day” is a perfect encapsulation of the moment.

By Kirsten Ferguson An uneasy mood—driven by atmospheric synthesizer and tense lyrics— runs through the debut album by Ballston Spa duo Architrave. Although “This Perfect Day” was written and recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic fully hit America, the album’s apprehensive, dark tenor struck a chord upon its release for capturing the current collective mood.

“I tend to write music that’s dystopian and science fiction based. It worked out to be very appropriate,” says Jennifer Maher Coleman, the vocalist, keyboardist and creative force behind the duo with her husband, Paul Coleman, who plays guitar and bass. The pair also

perform together in synth-rock outfit Haley Moley, and Paul Coleman has his own indie-rock project, Sinkcharmer.

Architrave celebrated the album’s Bandcamp release on April 2 with a live YouTube performance, which doubled as Jennifer Coleman’s birthday party. The release came at a time when people were hungry for live music, and live streams were really taking off. “It wasn’t a bad time to promote an album, because people were shut in and ready to receive entertainment,” Coleman says.

A painter with an MFA from SUNY Albany, Coleman has a business painting commissioned pieces that remind people of treasured things: childhood homes, favorite toys, beloved pets. Her love of architecture— especially modern, futuristic and “somewhat alienating” architecture like Brutalism—came into play when naming the duo Architrave after a cool-sounding architectural term that no one had yet claimed for a band.

“This Perfect Day” combines the dark new wave of ‘80s bands like Joy Division and New Order with the sleek, futuristic sounds of modern indie-dance rock.

The on-edge vibe of the album took on added meaning after its release, when the pandemic fueled feelings of uncertainty, fear and disintegration. In a time of social distancing and quarantining, many people find themselves alone too much or not enough.

“A lot of the album is about isolation and our complicated relationship with the need for isolation,” Coleman says.

“I really like my alone time, and I don’t get it very often. I long for periods of solitude.”

The song “Yellow Lines”—a tune awash with a dystopian feel, a hiccupping beat and a haunting vocal—references Coleman’s hobby of running on the road, which provides welcome escape.

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photo by Sandra Velasquez.

The eerie song “Elevation” was written about today’s divisive political climate, when politicians gaslight the public and manipulate the truth. The song also draws inspiration from an Ursula K. Le Guin science fiction novel, “The Lathe of Heaven,” written in 1971 about a character whose dreams alter past and present reality. “Day after day, it’s like a new reality in the book, and that’s what things feel like now,” Coleman says.

The churning album closer “Anonymous” draws upon Coleman’s love for music in a live setting—something hard to come by these days. “’Anonymous’ is about losing yourself in a crowd and how that can be a solitude of many— the blissful sense of being alone and bonding with others around you,” says Coleman, who has performed as a house and techno DJ under the name DJ Jennifer Haley for 25 years.

“I love to be an absolute no one dancing in a crowd,” she says.

“Right now, the idea of going to see shows is out of reach and frightening. When I wrote the song, it was something I longed for in a more uncomplicated way.”

To download the album, visit www.architrave.bandcamp.com.

For more information and upcoming events or live streams: www.facebook.com/architraveband.

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Dancing Through Tough Times How NYC Ballet Dancers Supported SPAC During this Dark Season.

By Lawrence White During a torrential rainstorm that lingered over Geneva Switzerland in 1816, Mary Shelley, her poet husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Lord Byron’s doctor, John Polidori passed the time writing and sharing scary ghost stories. This period of isolation turned out to be the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, and Dr. Polidori's The Vampyre. Great art created in tough times.

That image kept popping into my mind as I photographed NYC Ballet dancers Emily Kikta, Peter Walker, and a small group of fellow NYC Ballet dancers as they were filming on the grounds of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in late June.

The effort to make these short promotional films for SPAC would be remarkable enough in ordinary times, but in the season of the COVID virus, it is much more so. Every industry, small business, and individual citizen has been experiencing the negative effects of this unique time in our history.

Emily and Peter were planning to be married in Saratoga this year just before the NYC Ballet residency and had allowed their NYC apartment lease to expire. Then the virus hit like a hammer, and SPAC was forced to cancel the entire season, as did the NYC Ballet as well.

Life just delivered a triple whammy to Emily and Peter in a most unexpected manner.

However, anyone who knows this couple is fully aware that sitting back and falling into depression is not their style.

“The negatives started to pile up on us, and we needed something to look forward to so that this time in our lives was not marked by everything going wrong,” Emily recalls.

“The fact that the ballet residency at SPAC was canceled and that we would not be creating

promotional dance films this year as we had been doing for the three previous years was just too sad. We decided to call Elizabeth Sobol at SPAC and offer to donate our time to get a new film project rolling. As soon as Elizabeth said “yes,” we felt so much more positive and so much more hopeful.”

Peter adds, “When we first proposed the idea of making this new series of films, we knew it was kind of risky. This was well before any kind of re-opening, so the idea was to do it as safely as possible. We also wanted to be sure that SPAC as an institution could even support the idea. That was the first hurdle.”

Peter continues, “We have been making these promotional films for SPAC to increase the visibility of the company’s residency in Saratoga and to get people involved and coming to the theatre to see performances. As this year’s new project developed, we decided we would change that theme. This year we decided that the focus would be on SPAC itself and what could have been if the 2020 classical season had gone forward. In this way, we thought we could fill a small portion of the immense void that was created by the pandemic. With that in mind, we collaborated with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to choreograph pieces to the music that they would have performed this year.”

SPAC President and CEO, Elizabeth Sobo with Emily Kikta

Dancer Uma Deming

Dancing in the historic architectural arches at the rear of SPAC grounds.

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Dancer Anthony Huxley “However, once we all tested negative and were in the rented house and working at SPAC, everything felt so normal that we're able to just go to work and start dancing.

It was great.”

Choreography on the main lawn by the Hall of Springs Emily interjects, “Our motivation was to remind people how special SPAC is and what it has to offer. We had the resources of the dancers and the wonderful music from these fantastic musicians plus the gorgeous background of the Performing Arts Center, with the classic architecture and new buildings being constructed. It is a way to show the community why they need to continue to support SPAC and why they are going to want to come back at the first opportunity it can be done safely.”

When I ask Emily to explain the first steps of the project, she tells me, “Once we got the go-ahead from Elizabeth, we set about to contact our previous donors to gain the funding to make this idea possible. We sent out an email explaining the project, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. These folks are also at a loss without the dance season, so the idea that we could still be creative and share new work during this dark time was very attractive to them.”

When I ask what experience stands out for them, Emily responds, “That first day when we were all together and dancing, it felt so right and good.”

Peter recollects being in the SPAC studio as the first piece by Emily was being choreographed. “I got pretty emotional watching it happen. This was the first time in a very long time I had seen people together dancing in front of me. It was so beautiful, and the music is so beautiful and what Emily created within the first hour, I thought wow, this moment we all shared was truly special.”

“The SPAC grounds are currently under construction,” Peter explains,” so going to SPAC during this new time and being in the new spaces was really fascinating. We tried to capture some of that feeling in our films. We used the pavilion and the veranda on the new building for two of our locations. We also wanted to show the classic views of SPAC, something that is known and recalled with

“All of the dancers were tested for the virus, so we were confident everyone was negative. We were able to rent a house near Stillwater so that all of the dancers would have separate rooms. The requirements for the dancers was that they were here in New York already so that they would not be forced to travel. We used our own personal cars so we would not be exposed in a rental. At first, it was overwhelming because we have done these film projects for three years but never in a pandemic, so it was uncharted territory for us.”

Under the new pavilion

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Elizabeth Sobel explaining the dynamics of the new construction at SPAC

Dancing on the apron of the amphitheater fondness by the audiences, so they had familiar images as a foundation when they view our new work.”

When I ask what it was like coordinating with the staff at SPAC, Peter tells me, “Everyone at SPAC was terrific and totally accommodating. However, the heat during some of the video sessions was excessive.”

Emily added, “On one 90-degree day the camera kept overheating. We did not have time to allow it to cool; and let’s face it, in 90-degree heat it was not going to happen.

So, I put the camera in a refrigerator to chill it down a little bit so we could continue.” Then with a laugh, she adds, “It worked!”

Observing the dancers as they worked was quite amazing. They were tireless. From early morning when the light arrived until the evening when the light diminished, they worked with only short breaks to eat fruit, drink liquids and catch a breath. Even though I was not dancing, it was a real challenge to keep up.

The title of the film series is “SPAC Reimagined.” I questioned SPAC President and CEO, Elizabeth Sobol what that title means to her and she responds” It signifies the spirit of SPAC – its underlying essence. SPAC is not just an amphitheater where great performances happen. It is a place on Earth, lovingly enveloped by Nature. It is a place where 53 years of communitygathering have taken place – a locus of memory and interconnectedness. That’s what we have tried to evoke here.”

When asked how she feels about the efforts of the dancers and their sacrifice to create this new body of work, Ms. Sobol states, “We were indeed so touched

by Peter and Emily’s gesture and the generosity of all the dancers to put their time towards creating something unique for SPAC. It just speaks to the mutual love and respect that exists between SPAC, the dancers, the musicians and all artists! The reaction to the films has been unbelievably positive. People are hurting. The enormous void in their lives created by the cancellation of the SPAC season is a manifestation of just how hard our lives have been hit by the pandemic.

These little bits of beauty and joy remind us of past experiences of deep connection – and give us hope for the future.”

When I ask Ms. Sobol about the other artists who have stepped forward to help SPAC at this time, she thoughtfully responds, “We have been overwhelmed by all the artists reaching out and offering to do things for us including our resident companies as well as local artists and organizations. We here at SPAC are doing the same. Though it is a time of fear and uncertainty for artists and arts organizations, it’s also a time of tremendous mutual support and care and collaboration. We are all having to reinvent ourselves every day.”

When discussing the new construction which is currently finishing up at SPAC, Ms. Sobol states with pride, “We are incredibly lucky to have the Pines Plaza almost done now. Once SPAC goes back to something akin to “normal” next summer, the Pines Plaza will provide for brand new, greatly augmented restroom facilities and concessions bays within a beautiful new, aesthetically pleasing setting that will be much more open and airy. For the first time in SPAC history, it will give us a year-round education and community gathering space.”

Ms. Sobol concludes, “As the time of COVID ebbs, this space will provide intimate, protected outdoor venues, allowing us to begin to make plans for small, in-person gatherings around art and artists and wellness.”

While talking with Peter and Emily about what their plans for the future hold, Peter says, “We are incredibly fortunate to be in a position where we can continue to create art. We have cultivated skills that are useful in this digital age of separation and isolation, and we do not have to be beholden to any other person to make it work for us. We are delighted that SPAC finds it purposeful to utilize our skills and that we can help keep dance visible and available through such a highly recognizable institution.” Then in reflection Peter states, “In the end, we are just very,

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very grateful to have this work to do and to be able to continue dancing and filming during this period.”

Emily adds. “Peter and I talk about this a lot. Not everyone can do what we are doing, therefore we have a responsibility to do it now. We have been training ourselves for five years, so we can’t just sit back and wait for the theatres to open. We want to fill in the gaps with something consequential for everyone, not just for ourselves. Sure, we love the work, but our goal is for people to remember dance and to have something to enjoy right now.

Of course we want to get back to dancing with the company, we are certainly

not ready to retire. In the meantime, we want to feel like we are doing something creative, something positive, something helpful, something meaningful.”

Practicing choreography in the backstage rehearsal space at SPAC

Yes, I thought. Great art in tough times.

Films can be views on the SPAC website and Facebook page.

Bravo to the dancers from the NYC Ballet who took part in this project: (in alphabetical order) Devin Alberda, Christina Clark, Uma Deming, Meaghan Dutton-O’Hara, Anthony Huxley, Emily Kikta, Peter Walker

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12/18/17

1:30 PM

INSTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT>>

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It’s my favorite time of year. Longer days, lots of sunshine, farmer’s markets, CSAs (community supported agriculture), and farmstands everywhere! A tomato that smells and tastes like a tomato and the most decadent strawberries. Watermelon and cantaloupe and cherries!

Fresh, sweet cherries…one of my summer favorites.

Did you know that summer fruit is actually very good for your skin and hair? High in nutrients and antioxidants, locally grown fresh fruit should be consumed daily. Summer fruit provides a wealth of rejuvenating nutrients and fiber. In fact, when we crave sweets, we are actually craving the nutrients found in fruit. The mental craving comes from the serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that gives us a sense of well being, moderates our moods, sleep cycles, and our appetite, which is released after we consume a sweet food. In prehistoric times, vegetables were the most abundant foods, and fruit was scarce. Picking an apple was difficult while eating wild greens was easy…they were growing just about everywhere, and we could easily pick or harvest them. Fruit meant climbing trees, and so it was much more difficult to get enough.

Did you know that an avocado is considered a fruit and a true super food? This fruit contains healthy monounsaturated fats and fat soluble nutrients, including vitamins A and E that are essential for skin and eyes. This combines with vitamins C, B, and copper which support the production of collagen. High levels of the carotenoid nutrient, lutein, protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration and the skin from the wrinkles and pigment changes caused by sun damage.

Raspberries are bursting with vitamin C and contains the antioxidant, proanthocyanidin. They actually have one of the highest antioxidant, anti-aging profiles of any fruit. Proanthocyanidins support circulation and aid memory and heart function. Studies suggest that this antioxidant contributes to the health and vitality of your veins, skin, and hair. Raspberries also have high levels of the antioxidant ellagic acid which supports liver detoxification along with fiber to rid the body of aging toxins.

Like most orange fruit and vegetables, peaches are abundant in carotenoid nutrients, the antioxidants that protect the fatty areas of the body in our liver, skin, heart, and other organs. Carotenoids help to slow down degeneration and aging. Peaches are also rich in potassium, vitamin C, and iron which are important for circulation and taking oxygen around the body to help renew and revitalize skin.

Strawberries are phytoestrogens, foods that help balance female hormones by binding excess estrogens to a protein in the blood. This reduces the amount of estrogen in sensitive tissue and helps the skin from becoming dry and losing elasticity.

Strawberries also contain lignans which bind with bile acids in the liver to help regulate cholesterol and ellagic acid to help in the removal of toxins from the body.

High in the orange spectrum of antioxidants, passion fruit gives skin a youthful boost and can help protect your skin from the aging effects of the sun. Many fruits, especially tropical ones like passion fruit, contain vitamin A and carotenoid antioxidants to protect themselves from the intense UV rays as they ripen.

Papaya contains papain, a protein digesting enzyme that counteracts digestive disorders and inflammation, helping to reduce aging.

Papaya is an anti-aging, rejuvenating food because of its ability to help the body receive the maximum level of nutrients by aiding digestion and absorption.

Olives have the same health benefits as olive oil, but with extra phytosterols, lutein, and vitamins A and E for an anti-aging boost.They are a fantastic carrier of the fat soluble nutrients that are so important for forming and protecting cell membranes in the body.

The host of antioxidants contained in prunes ensures that they are very high on the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) index. Most of these protective and disease-preventing antioxidants are phenolic compounds, or water soluble antioxidants, such as vitamin C, and rutin both help keep your veins healthy and help prevent bruising and varicose veins.

Watermelon has beneficial effects on the body’s fluid balance, helping prevent water retention and promoting well-hydrated skin.

Watermelon is 92% water, its 6% sugar stays well diluted, and does not negatively affect blood sugar levels, but instead helps pull water into the cells. This action keeps skin and organs well hydrated. It can actually help the body shed excess fluid in the face, hands, ankles, and feet.

Purple grape varieties are one of the healthiest fruits you can eat and offer potent anti-aging benefits for the heart and skin. The skin and seeds of the purple grape are the best source of resveratrol, a potent bioflavonoid also found in peanuts and red wine. Purple grapes rank with blueberries and blackberries as sources of proanthocyanidins, found in the red/blue pigmentation of the skin, along with ellagic acid which promotes detoxification.

Purple grapes also contain malic acid, which assists in energy production to revitalize cells and repair damage and oils that are natural antibiotics that work to protect the structure of the skin and veins.

Red and black currants are even higher on the ORAC index as are strawberries and raspberries. They are a good source of vitamin B5 which is essential for humans to make energy from plant food for repair and renewal. Vitamin B5 and vitamin C also support adrenal function to help us cope with the aging effects of stress.

Remember when Mom told you to eat your fruit and veggies? Moms are pretty smart, huh?

Crystal Cobert Giddens, LE and owner of FACES on Beekman Street ~ Organic Skin Therapy Studio 30 Beekman St, Saratoga Springs, NY www.facesonbeekman.com

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VINTAGE STAMP COLLECTING

by Karen Richman I hate to ever go out of the house anymore without makeup.

Yet I tell myself, “I’m only going to the supermarket for two things. I’m in and out. I won’t see anyone I know.”

And voila, I always do. Just a few weeks ago I was steering my cart around the corner of an aisle, hell-bent on just getting potato chips, when a cute little redhead piped up, “Hi, I know you, you’re Karen aren’t you?”

Nailed! I muttered my thanks, cursing myself for the pale face, pale eyebrows, hair stuffed into an elastic sitting unceremoniously on top of my head, and vowing I wouldn’t do it again.

So a couple of days thereafter when I needed something and ran out, I made sure I had makeup, clean clothes, and nicely arranged hair.

The affable woman behind me in the checkout line was one of “those.”

You could just tell she was dying to start up a chatty conversation. She smiled, gave me the once-over, and then asked brightly, “You look like you’re old enough to remember. Remember Green Stamps? I wish they still had them.”

Okay, so I’m no spring chicken, but I do remember them. That’s when supermarkets, department stores, and gas stations paid you to shop at their establishments…they were probably the precursor to loyalty programs. Today we get gas points which knocks a few cents off the already ridiculously over-taxed petrol in this state. Big deal.

Actually Green Stamps go a lot farther back than I do. They were popular from the 1930s until the late 1980s, introduced by the Sperry and Hutchinson Company whose rewards catalog bragged it was the largest publication in the United States, issuing three times as many stamps as the U.S. Postal Service.

My dear mother bought right into it all. She shopped every store that gave Green Stamps, bringing them home to be licked and affixed to the S & H Green Stamp collectors’ books. And guess who was recruited to do the licking? I hated those things, the sheets seemed endless, the taste was awful.

Why we didn’t get smart and use a sponge is beyond me, but it wasn’t for me to ask. I was just a kid, and kids didn’t question things

in those days, so I just kept licking, and my mother just kept stockpiling the books, bribing me with the reward that “when we have enough, we’ll go to the Green Stamp store.” I was never sure what “enough” was, but one day when my mother proclaimed it, off we went to the Green Stamp Store, that wondrous place of appliances, toys, furniture, and rows and rows of brand new gleaming stuff that people thought they needed. The Green Stamp Store was actually akin to one of those game arcades at the beach. You spend a fortune playing skeeball, throwing darts, or executing some other game of skill, carefully amassing piles and piles of prize tickets. Then when you go to redeem them, you get a Spiderman toothbrush for 525 tickets or perhaps a cheesy lamp for 2500 tickets. Well, the Green Stamp Store played the same game. I can’t remember any of the “stuff” my mother got “for free,” but I do remember her handing me a big pile of filled books and telling me they were mine to spend for helping with all that licking.

I looked and looked throughout the store, scouring each shelf, but anything that even looked halfway appealing was way beyond my pathetic little stash. So I settled for a basketball. I didn’t play basketball, I wasn’t more than four and a half feet tall, and we didn’t have a basketball hoop in our driveway, but I got it nevertheless. It bounced, it was the trophy I had earned for all my licking, and it gave me that sense of, “Gotta get more stamps. Gotta lick ‘em. Gotta get something bigger next time.”

Aha! Just what the S & H people envisioned when they pitched their idea to the retail world, and just what the retail world hoped would happen. So I kept licking till I went away to college and Green Stamps lost their cache´.

As for that cute redhead who saw me on that makeup-less Sunday, forgive me, but after more than 50 years of foundation, powder, eye shadow, blush, mascara, and theatrical makeup when I perform, I like to give my wrinkles a rest now and then. And as for the woman at the checkout who just knew I was “old enough to remember,” thank God I do. Thank God I have a mind that still fires on all cylinders, and thank God I still have memories upon which I can still reflect. Like Green Stamps.

There! Got my licks in.

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;OL

(KPYVUKHJR

9LQHV

Six Tips for Wine Tasting at Home

By Roberto Cruz - Photos by Adirondack Winery When New York closed its bars, restaurants, and gyms earlier this year, I had to improvise.

From March to May, I was cooking up three-course shrimp and pasta dinners, mixing up cocktails like a Prohibition bartender, and doing squats in my living room every morning (well, maybe not every morning). The reason I bring this up is that if you have always wanted to learn about wine, this time of social distancing in the Empire State is as great a time as any to fill up your glass and learn.

Contrary to what some people think, drinking wine doesn’t have to be a stuffy, snooty experience. In fact, New York wineries like Adirondack Winery in Lake George, New York prefer when it’s not. “We love that our wines are approachable, whether you are a wine lover or someone new to wine altogether,” said Sasha Pardy, co-owner and president of Adirondack Winery in upstate New York’s Warren County. “For us, we want to make a wine that you can enjoy around a campfire, relaxing in the backyard, or doing whatever it is you love to do.”

But as is the case with any alcoholic beverage, there are some tips and tricks that will help make your experience a more enjoyable one.

Keep reading to learn six tips for wine tasting at home in this time of social distancing.

Drink Dry to Sweet Wine comes in different styles and flavors. Most people know about red wines and white wines, but not everyone knows there are sweet wines and semi-sweet wines too. If you are tasting a variety of wines at one time, you should start with the dry wines first and then move into the sweet wines near the end; the reason being, if you drink them in the opposite way, the dry wines will taste very acidic (and possibly unpleasant).

Drink White to Red To the same end as the previous tip, it is also suggested that you drink lighter bodied wines – like a light Pinot Gris or Chardonnay – before a bold, robust red wine. If you were to drink a bold Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon before a light white wine, it might not wow you the way it would have if you had the lighter, crisper wine first.

Choose Your Glass Wisely Like with craft beer or cocktails, different glass shapes are available to enhance your experience. There are three parts to every wine glass: the bowl, the stem, and the foot; and while the latter two are pretty similar on most glasses, the bowl can come in many different options, designed for different wines. Red wine glasses typically have a wider bowl, and there are flutes and tulips for sparkling wines. Of course, we don’t all have different styles of glasses, so use what you have!

The Six S’s of Wine Tasting We start our six tips article with the basics of wine tasting – the 6 S’s!

In order, they are: 1) See – Observe the color of the wine and whether you can see through it (over time, white wines gain color, while red wines lose color).

2) Swirl – Swirling the wine can help air get into it, releasing its aromas (you can also tell how much alcohol and/or sugar a wine has in it by how slowly it drips down the side of the glass).

3) Smell – It’s not only the taste of wine that will put a smile on your face, it’s the smell too!

4) Sip – Take a tiny sip first and see what you notice on the tip of your tongue. (It takes more than one sip to catch everything in a great wine)!

5) Swish – Take a bigger sip and see if you pick up on more subtle flavors in your wine.

6) Savor – Enjoy every last bit of it. You’ll likely notice something new in every sip as it hits different spots on your tongue and mouth.

Find the Perfect Pairing It’s pretty common knowledge that cheese and chocolates are go-to pairings with wine. But how do you pick which cheese and chocolates to pair? You don’t want the food to overpower the wines or vice versa.

For example, a soft goat cheese would likely pair well with a lighter white wine like Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Sauvignon would pair well with cheddar or gouda. For chocolate, the darker the chocolate, the darker the wine. Also, a bitter chocolate will only accentuate the bitterness of the wine, so steer clear of that too.

Do It Your Way In the end, tasting your wine doesn’t have to be defined by a set of rules; it’s about what you like and what you enjoy. These are meant to be suggestions to make your experience better, but if you like dry reds with white chocolate, go for it! Remember, it’s about enjoying it on your terms – who knows, you might even forget you’re stuck at home.

Wish I could say the same for working out in my living room.

Enjoy!

Roberto Cruz, Adirondack Winery TASTING ROOMS: 285 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845 4971 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 2, Bolton Landing, NY 12814