I S I N G S A L E S Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Sales ( 860) 227-8199 adver tising@518mag.com
CO N T R I B U TO R S Carol St Sauveur Ferris, K aren Richman, Rona Mann
n , Joseph Raucci, Adirondack Winer y, Cr ystal Cober t Giddens
CO V E R P H OTO “Later" by Maggie Taylor
Summer has arrived and the doors are slowly reopening for business Although it can feel like we are stepping into the unk nown it is all
e x c i t i n g t o k n o w t h a t o u r t o w n s a r e m o v i n g f o r w a r d t o w a r d s a
p o s i tive goal I ts a time to really appreciate what this area has to offer and to be grateful that once again we will be able to stop in and say hello to our friends, family and local business owners To again enjoy your favorite coffee house, eat a meal at your local restaurant or shop at your favorite boutique
I would like to personally thank all the 518 Profile advertisers for coming to g e t h e r a s a gro u p, co l l a b o rat i n g o n
a
times. I look for ward to work ing with each and ever y one of you through these next phases.
As always, our goal is to deliver authentic, and unique content about c re at i
co n nect with your favorite ar tisans and small businesses throughout New York and abroad July we go back to print!!
Enjoy the issue!
Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher
Coming to Saratoga
How one Man’s Dream of a New Life for his Family in America Became Par t of the Fabric of S aratoga’s Life Today
pg. 6
Take A Walk on the Wild Side “Escape” to The Wild Center... You Won’t Believe the View!
pg. 14
“Ar t Keeps Calling Me” A Sit-Down with Chameleon
Anthony Richichi
pg. 24
A Great Place to “ Visit”….Strings Attached The Center for Puppetr y Ar ts
pg. 38
518.695.3181 | 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY
Located just minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs. The Laffer Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery and full-service custom frame shop. Exhibitions ranging from realism to abstraction rotate every 4 – 6 weeks, with opening receptions for each exhibit.
Coming to Saratoga
How one Man’s Dream of a New Life for his Family in America Became Part of the Fabric of Saratoga’s Life Today
By Lawrence White in collaboration with Larry DeVivo
When Pasquale “Patsy” DeVivo first stepped on American soil in 1904 it was not the end of his journey He was headed straight towards Saratoga Springs, New York
Pasquale left his wife, Maria Felicia, daughter, Maddalena, and son, Paolo behind in Bari, Italy to start a new life for all of them in Upstate NY
He had friends from Italy who preceded him to Saratoga who could help him transition into the new world, and he was anxious to get started
Pasquale once performed on famed European stages as a tenor in the Austrian opera, but he was prepared to sell vegetables from a cart that he pushed around Saratoga Lake each day,
eventually led to him garnering a loan from the infamous mobster, Louis J “Doc” Farone to open his own store In those days, a poor Italian immigrant could not get a loan from a bank; therefore, it was necessary to go to a fellow "pisone” to be able to invest in your business
RMS Cedric , the boat that Pasquale arrived on.
Doc Farone operated three gambling houses in Saratoga Springs Riley's Lake House, The Meadowbrook, and Smith's Interlaken The clubs were open during the summer months during track season until the end of August and featured entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Xavier Cugat, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Durante, Dean Martin, etc
Doc loaned Pasquale the money to open DeVivo’s Grocery on the corner of Beekman and Ash Street in the heart of the Irish area of Saratoga Springs known as Dublin. With the loan money, he also bought one of the first motorized vehicles in Saratoga Springs. During the depression, the store policy was to extend credit to anyone who needed it They kept a l e d g e r, a n d w h e n p e o p
A c cording to family members, not one person ever stiffed them
T h e l o a n t o
p r o h i bition, Doc would have his illicit alcohol flown down from Canada and stored in the barns attached to the store One story details how Pasquale heard a loud noise in the barn late at night Alarmed, he
grabbed his pistol and flung open the door to the barn only to be greeted by the chief of police who told him not to shoot as they were only loading up cases of the illicit alcohol in the back of the police cars, their payment for protection to watch over the stash
Patsy successfully operated the store with his wife, Maria, and they went o n t o h a v e t h
U n f o r tunately, Maria would develop Alzheimer ’ s in her late 40’s and was institutionalized in a mental health facility in Utica for the remainder of her life
Back in those days, just about everybody in the part of Saratoga known as “Dublin” ended up with a nickname Patsy’s son, Frank became known as “Tarzan ” As a child he had three ropes hanging at various s
man in the jungle
From the time he was a small child, Frank would be known as what we now call a “foodie ” He loved great cooking and, in fact, everyone in the family were expert Italian chefs He eventually ended up with recipes from Delmonico’s steakhouse in New York City to Hattie’s chicken shack in Saratoga. Hattie always welcomed Frank into the kitchen, and the recipes he acquired from Delmonico’s came right from the chefs who worked in the Saratoga gambling houses during the summer season.
d
r ing the gambling years. He could count cards. This led him to being
o c c a sionally at Arrowhead as their professional card counter playing for the house He made $1000 00 a day counting cards, a large amount today but a huge sum in the late 30s, early 40s Frank was also a professional pool player with exceptional skill and won quite a bit of money back in those days as a hustler
Frank once told his son Larry that his “friends” from the casinos went on to start Las Vegas, and they almost ended up moving there Of course, h
b e came a center for investment by organized crime starts in 1919 with opening of The Brook, an upscale establishment that served as a casino, cabaret, and restaurant Tuxedos were required for the men and fine dress for the women It was in the upscale Brook Club on Church Street
t
L a n sky and “Lucky” Luciano studied their profession and honed their skills. Rothstein and Luciano became partners in the notorious Chicago Club on Woodlawn Avenue in Saratoga.
By 1936, the only casinos in Saratoga Springs were under the umbrella of the Luciano family, and when Luciano was labeled Public Enemy No. 1
Frank operating the Wheel of Fortune at St. Michael’s Annual Italian festival in Dublin
Hustling a game of pool
DeVivo’s Grocery on the corner of Beekman and Ash Street
and subsequently i m prisoned i n u pstate New York, J o e A d o nis took over operations, and all proceeded as usual
Local lore has it that the casinos in town operated during the day from 8am to 8pm and were required to make under the table payments to a local
make
r
Democratic “representative ” In other words, e
and Saratoga remained peaceful
In 1950, The United States Senate Special Committee to Investigate
C
i n t r o duced and investigated organized crime
This included the many operations in Saratoga and put a huge damper on the casinos and their operations This, in turn, forced Frank to find a different line of work, and he became a numbers runner in NYC On Sundays his kids would dress in their Sunday best and drive downstate to meet their “Uncle Paulie, and Aunt Lotty ” However, this soon turned sour f o r F r a n k w h e n t o o m u c h v i o l e n c e b e c a m e i n volved Due to the fact that he was not a
“made man ” and only worked as an employee, he was able to walk away freely and not look b a c k O
b e came what to do next
Growing up in 1930’s Mechanicville, Anne “Butch” Amodeo radiated a wholesome charm that belied her tremendous athletic ability She was known to dominate the boys i n m o s t s p o r t s a n d h a d g a i n
r e spect that only a few young people ever achieve, hence the nickname “Butch.” By 1943, Anne reached young womanhood and had flowered into a knockout. In 1942 when Frank
A
a l o c a l
c l u b , h e i m m e diately turned to his best friend a n d c o n f i d e n t l y d e clared that he was going to m a r r y h
s ex actly what happened
back to the old country Her uncle, Frederick Amodeo, studied music a t t h e c o n s e r v a t o r y i n N a p l e s a n d h a d e m igrated to America where he became a highly respected music teacher and gig musician in Troy Frederick’s s o n , O r i e A m o d e o , b e c a m e k n o w n a s “ T h e Pride of Mechanicville” when he played clarinet and alto saxophone with t h e Lawrence Welk Orchestra for 24 years; in fact, Welk was godfather to all four of his children Two of Orie’s children are still in the business today Rusty is an audio engineer and John is a producer who has been involved with TV shows like Last Man Standing I n 1 9 4 3
b u s i ness on Ash Street where Anne helped her in-laws work the store and where she gave birth to her first child, Pat. Anne also found
Anne’s youth was spent in Mechanicville, but her roots go way
Arnold Rothstein
Anne “Butch” DeVivo on Beekman Street
Frank and Anne tying the knot
Bill Page and Orie Amodeo on the Lawrence Welk Show
w o r k a t a l l t h e L a k e H o u s e g a m b l i n g e s t a b lishments. She and some of her friends were employed as “shills” as they were called back in the day They would be given house money to gamble with and then asked to make a lot of noise when they won The idea was that this display of unbridled joy would attract the male patrons to their table For their efforts, each one made $300 00 a night which was a huge sum in the 1940s
When the Kefauver Commission on Gambling
f o r c e d t h e c a s i n o s t o c l o s e , F r a n k q u i c k l y r e a l ized he was in a jam He had no other s k i l l s , a n d t h e s t o r e h i s f a t h e r o w n e d w a s s o l d off after Pasquale died Fortunately, Anne’s b r o t h e r - i n - l a w t o o k h i m u n d e r h i s w i n g a n d taught him carpentry and house framing skills
B y t h e m i d
Construction Company and remodeled many of
Saratoga’s historic houses He converted s e v eral carriage houses into real homes and apartments Frank and s o n P a
ration t o b u i l d n
m e s i n S a r a t
g a S p r i n g s This includes several homes on Washington
tain Estates
e l e gant home at 149 Union Avenue that once was the Kathrine E. Bush Guest H o u s e . E
and taxes, Frank and Anne would rent out ro o m
s e a son. The roomers consisted of many colorful characters from New York City that included socialites like Leo Decorn and gangsters like Joe Cusamono and
E n forcement Organization and his wife were also guests This process continued
fondness
w e n t to work for the State Parks and Recreation Department out at the Geysers in Saratoga
Frank, Anne and their son Pat
The casino girls 149 Union Ave in Saratoga Springs
A n n e a n d F r a n k e v e n t u a l l y h a d f o u r m o re c h i l dren...a daughter, Toni, and three more sons, Frank JR , John (JJ), and the youngest, Lawrence (Larry) Most of the children would develop strong musical talents
Frank Jr would be the first to display a musical flair He got his first guitar at age 12 and quickly discovered he was a natural who could play anything by ear, a gift he maintains to this day By the time Frank turned 14, he acquired his first
e l e c t r i c g u i t a r, a n d b y 1 5 h e f o r m e d h i s f i r s t
e l e c tric rock band, “Oxmix Incorporated ” They performed at local dances at Saratoga High and at St Peter ’ s Congress Park was also a favorite place to play on a Saturday or a Sunday when the weather cooperated. The band would go on t o p l a y S t . M i c h a e l ’ s F e s t i v a l a n d t h e a n n u a l I t a l ian block party festival held in Dublin every year just off Beekman Street.
Larry, who started on drums at age 5, switched over to bass guitar at age 12 with his brother Frank's coaching. Little did Larry know that Frank Jr. was grooming him to go on the road on a national tour, which he did at age 14 Anne and Frank Sr approved of this adventure as l o n g a s L
like to be a kid in Rock and Roll at the time.
“After playing many clubs, sheds, and concert h
school
So, at age14 Larry became the official bass player for the band named Mantraz They were on tour w
B l a c k hearts, Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Freddie Fender, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Orleans, Commander Cody For a 14-year-old kid, this w
ting in his studio, Larry recalled what it was
c i r cus life,” Larry says with a smile.” “You had to love being on the road away from friends and family and also be willing to give up a normal life This turned out to be a little too much for
rd ing studio That realization evolved into
e
i neer and finally owning a professional recording studio in the San Francisco Bay Area called Odditure Audio Productions I went on to record everything from national bands for major labels to voice-over talent for national commercials, to eventually handling custom audio and voiceovers for corporate video in the Bay Area ”
Frank Jr
The Mantraz Band
Larry’s seminar at the famous Millbrook Sound Studios with Eddie Kramer (white shirt on right) who built Electric Lady Studio for “Jimi” Hendrix and recorded platinum albums for the Rolling Stones , Peter Frampton and Led Zeppelin among others .
In 1992, Anne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and Larry decided it was time to return t o S a r a t o g a t o b e c l o s e r t o h i s f a t h e r a n d s i b lings “Upon returning to Saratoga, I brought a whole major recording studio with m e . I t h e n b u i l t a d e d i c a t e d s t u d i o i n m y
h o m e a n d s e t o u t t o r e c o r d l o c a l a c t s . We w o u l d f i n ish recording and mixing, and the artists, m a n a g e m e n t , o r l a b e l w o u l d p u t o u t a c o m pact disc totally unaware of the mastering process. No one knew what mastering was back then ”
In fact, mastering is the final stage of record production, it’s done just before the project
goes in for replication Without this p r o c e s s , r e c o r d s w o u l d n o t s o u n d f i n i s h e d and could not compete sonically w i t h w h a t w a s b e i n g p u t o u t o n t h e n a t i o n a l / i n t e r national level.
Sitting by his console, Larry describes his transition “I saw a business niche in the i n d u s t r y t h a t n e e d e d t o b e f i l l e d I w a s a l ways interested in mastering, having witnessed the craft at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley California where George Horn was my mastering engineer Once back in Saratoga, I saw my opportunity and in 1994, Silvertone Mastering was launched and then incorporated in 1996 ”
With skills he learned from his father, Larry built a beautiful home and studio in Wilton w h
i n ception, Larry has worked on recordings for b
and production companies. Currently, Larry is working with major film studios, mastering their trailer soundtracks and on commercials for the major motion pictures seen on television
With a deep sigh, he concludes, “What a long, great trip it’s been, but you know, I believe the best is yet to come ”
Research Source: Maria McBride Bucciferro “The Mob In Saratoga Springs”
Larry Devivo, Tony Levin and Pete Levin
Larry at his Silvertone Mastering studio console in Wilton
Take A Walk on the Wild Side
“Escape” to The Wild Center...You Won’t Believe the View!
By Rona Mann
Like caged animals, we have prowled our space the last couple of months
Whether at home, in an apartment, or mobile home, we have all trolled from one room to another looking for something to stave off the boredom, whether that be with Netflix, a trashy novel, or a
s o u venir beer glass you got at the ballpark last year
Well, it’s time to escape, to get out! Out in the fresh air, out in the car, out for some much-needed exercise Time for a road trip w
h o n oring the majesty and grandeur of the Adirondacks
For too long we have taken things for granted like being able to g o w h e r e
m o u n tains in the Northeast Well, a mere 126 miles from Saratoga, maybe even closer for you, is the beautiful town of Tupper Lake, home to The Wild Center; and lest you think “wild” means crazy, you ’ re wrong In this case, “wild” means n a t u r a l , u n t o u c h e d
e x actly where you want to be after weeks and months of being entombed in your own home
The Wild Center was known years ago as the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, but changed its name in 2006 when i t w a s f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d a s a s c i e n c
e d ifice, this is a 115-acre campus which skillfully blends both the indoors and outdoors with trails, b r i d g e s , a
f o r e s t , a w a t e r f a l l , a n d l i v e a n i m a l e x h i b i t s . A s
p a r t o f t h e Tr i - Lakes r e g i o n
L a k e , a n d L a k e P l a c i d , i t a f f o rd s t h e v i s i t o r m a n y
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r h i k i n g , b i k i n g , b o a t ing, canoeing,
a n d s h e e r u n b r i d l e d e x p l o r a t i o n T h e Wi l d C e n t e r
o f f e r s a w i d e v a r i e t y o f o p tions and choices to an even wider demographic, w h e t h e r t h e i n d i v i d u a l , f a m i l y ,
o r g r o u p i s s e e k i n g a d v e n ture, or just a quieter and informative sightseeing e x p e r i e n c e N o m a t t e r w h a t you ’ re seeking, Marketing Director, Nick Gunn, assures, “You will always see something new or learn something new every time you come ”
G u n n a l l o w s t h a t m a n y p e o p l e h a v e a p re c o n c e i v e d no tion of The Wild Center being a “stuffy old museum, ” the kind of place that’s dark, musty, boring, and sports signs at every turn a d m o n i s h i n g p a trons not to touch anything “Well, we ’ re different!” Nick enthuses “We are super hands-on, very t a n g i b l e , a n d we encourage our guests to touch, to get i n volved, and to get up close and personal with all our exhibits and all our live animals.”
Q u i t e a d i ff e re n c e , h u h ? We l l , t h a t ’ s w h a t
m a k e s a n e x c u r s i o n t o T h e Wi l d C e n t e r, n o t
a journey, but a true destination It’s a great
d a y t r i p ; a w o n d e r f u l t w o - d a y a d v e n t u re
s i n c e your admission ticket is good for two consecutive days, and there’s a host of lodging options in the area in every price point; or you
m i g h t w a n t t o c o u p l e i t w i t h a n e x t e n d e d
v a cation to include nearby Lake Placid and
S a r a n a c L a k e W h a t a s t a r t t o o n e o f t h e
m o s t memorable holidays your family will ever take!
Conceived and created to be situated smack in the middle of the Adirondack Park, it is the perfect place to meld nature with people, and t h u s t o c a re f u l l y t e a c h t h o s e p e o p l e h o w t o re spect, enjoy, and live in concert with the wilds of a place.
There’s much to see here, much to learn, much to appreciate, much to astound, and much to
touch “It’s part aquarium, part waterfront, part outdoors,” Nick Gunn says, “ a perfect d
w i t h kids, a great way to spend a day ” But Gunn is also quick to add, “It’s not just for families It’s for i
e v e r y one can enjoy If someone needs a walker or scooter and hasn’t brought their own, we rent them here at The Wild Center ” No one is exempt from the fun!
Home to more than 900 animals, you can meet them without bars and cages during the daily animal encounter in Big Wolf Hall, also home to a glacial ice wall. Snakes, turtles, porcupines, owls, and more will be
n
t uralists who will astound you with their body o
questions; and encourage you to explore every area of their habitat at the Center.
b e hind-the-scenes tour and watch them play in trees and on hammocks Learn their n
The Trout Stream Exhibit
delight. They’ll be having fun while receiving a science lesson at the very same time. There’s also the Pataki Hall with a Living River Trail, filled with animal exhibits and a waterfall; the Flammer Panoramas Theatre presenting ongoing screenings; and Planet Adirondacks, an installation with shows which focus on the relationship between the Adirondacks and the rest of the earth
P e r h a p s t h e c e n t e r p i e c e o f T h e Wi l d C e n t
a n d a r guably the most popular venue in the Adirondacks i s T h e Wi l d Wa l k , a w a l k w a y t h a t t a k e s w i d e - e y e d v i s itors up and over the Adirondack forest for a view unequaled anywhere else in the state It was designed in three stages: first with a 3-D computer model which ensured it could be wheelchair accessible, then built o n t h e s i t e
d i s mantled and reconstructed at The Wild Center
Beginning the trek, visitors who climb to the top of the Wi l d Wa l k w i l l h a v e a v i e w m o re l i k e f l y i n g t h a n h i k ing! There’s an unexpected surprise at nearly every turn like the model of a spider ’ s nest 24 feet above the g ro u n d w h e re b o t h c h i l d re n , a s w e l l a s a d u l t s , w i l l d e light in jumping right onto the center of it, like a trampoline...talk about your photo op! T
b r e a t h taking view of the Adirondack v i s t a . T h e re ’ s a s w i n g i n g
b r i d g e , a t re e h o u s e o v e r l o o k i
the forest, and
I n s t a gram-worthy
On a clear day
Rise and look around you, And you see who you are
On a clear day, How it will astound you
That the glow of your being Outshines every star
You feel part of
then there’s the Snag a model of a dead Eastern White Pine you ’ re encouraged to explore from the inside out So come walk among the trees, over the forests, over the mountains, and experience New York State as you ’ ve never seen it before!
T h e Wi l d C e n t e r, a c c o rd i n g t o Gunn, “is a way of experiencing nature in a different light.” Paramount to this is the center ’ s mission that the experience be fun for everyone; to that end, they want to inform the public that upon reopening following the pandemic, it will be safe and comfortable for all “We
h
e n ergy on our reopening plans, and no one should feel reticent
Every mountain, sea, and shore, You can hear from far and near A world you’ve never heard before. And on a clear day, On that clear day You can see forever and ever more!” ...Alan Jay Lerner
Take a walk on the Wild side and plan your visit to The Wild Center, 45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake www.wildcenter.org (518) 359-7800
A trail across the treetops
424 Broadway * Saratoga Springs, NY
“Art Keeps Calling Me” A Sit-Down with Chameleon Anthony Richichi
by Rona Mann
He never went to school to be an artist It never seemed to matter
Anthony Richichi, successful illustrator, painter, visual artist, art d i re c t o r, c o m i c b o o k a n d
i m presario, and gallery curator is quick to tell you that Matter o f f a c t , d u r i n g
t i m e s t h a t h e n e v e r w
y o u r self everything ”
He’s not bragging, it’s just who he is. And who Anthony R i c h i c h i i s , i s a k i n d o f c h
c o l ors, finding new ways to do things, new directions in which to go. Actually, “ go ” is the wrong word, for Anthony Richichi doesn’t “ go ” anywhere – he dives in, head first, most of the time without checking the water first, because Anthony Richichi is not afraid of what life holds for him He doesn’t tiptoe ever!
H e j u m p s r i g h t i n ; a n d t h u s f a r t h a t ’ s w o r k e d o u t q u i t e w e l l i n deed, both for the artist and for the art community of which he is a proud member
Born and raised in Glens Falls, there is no native son with any greater pride “I’ve been asked many times about moving to the City, moving to the West Coast, “but why bother?” Richichi asks “Opportunities were always here in this community, so there w a s n e v e r a n y n e e d t o m o v e I l o v e i t h e re G l e n s F a l l s i s a wonderful arts community ”
t
a s e l e m e n tary school that I would draw the cartoons I had watched on television I also loved hockey, so I would spend hours drawing and redrawing my favorite players And I loved the New York Yankees, so I drew them as well. I had notebooks filled with Yankees,” he laughs.
Once Richichi got to high school, the drawings took on yet another genre, that of favorite rock bands to w h i c h h e w a s a t t r a c t e d T h e D o o r s , T h e W h o , L e d Zeppelin Anthony sketched those musicians over and over While still in high school, one of his teachers suggested he enter his work in a juried show at the Hyde Art Museum in downtown Glens F
i t u n usual, but he complied nevertheless No one was
more surprised than Richichi himself, when as just a sophomore, one of his works was accepted The following year, he entered two paintings, and both were once again accepted Here he was just a decade and a half old, not yet old enough to drive nor celebrate his success with a beer, and his work was hanging at a prestigious art museum
This is not an artist who “suffers,” spending long hours pouring disconsolately over his drawing boards and easels Not at all This is a happy man, perfectly content in his own skin and always looking ahead to whatever new opportunity might just be around the next corner “Art always came naturally to me, ” Anthony says, “I have never had to work at it.”
Live Painting “Face In The Clouds” “Playing With my Doppelganger on Jones Beach”28x20 - acrylic
Of course it always helps to have support, and R i c h i c h i r e a d i l y o f f e r s t h a t h i s f a m i l y h a s a l ways been tremendously supportive of his work. You can’t really call art his “chosen field,” because in Anthony’s words, “I didn’t choose it; it chose me. ” But he also admits that although supportive of his choices, his family a l s o a d v i s e d h i m t o “ s t a y i n t h e w o r k f o rc e b e cause you gotta pay your bills,” he laughed
Although the recent pandemic threw more than the proverbial wet blanket onto the galleries he c u r a t e s , o p e n i n g s t h a t w e r e p l a n n e d , a n d f e s t i vals he had orchestrated to showcase the talents of the community, this multi-tasking, m u l t i - a c c o m p l i s h e d a r t i s t s , s t i l l o n l y i n h i s
t h i r ties, has not let anger, boredom, nor lethargy get to him “I’m doing collabs,” he states brightly, referring to “social distance digital collaborations” created in tandem w i t h l o c a l a r t i s t a n d i l l u s t r a t o r, K a y l a
A l bano. Albano, a Queensbury multimedia designer and photographer, engages with Anthony via emails in which he uses his iPad to design. “I send the beginning of a design digitally to Kayla, then she adds her work to it, and sends it back Sometimes I add more, sometimes she adds more, but the end results come out great ”
Both Richichi and Albano are fans of the M C Escher style, and their work emulates that of this foremost graphic designer When asked if there’s ever a disagreement when it comes to style or what one or the other of them has added, Richichi is quick to say, “There is never a disagreement We feed off the art, not the ego ”
Richichi has also been part of theatre festivals and film festivals where, as the person running t
d d i r e c tors filming in the area, illustrating many of their movie stills “I get to meet some really famous people. I’m having the time of my life, I barely consider it work.”
Right now, an enterprise Anthony has grown u p w
c a n cellations and postponements Gallery 99 showcases artists of all stripes “We have 40 a
p r o f e s sors – it will eventually be our biggest yet ” It’s an event where everything that’s for sale is for sale at $99 or less, so artists both new and old can put a few dollars in their pocket w
community-at-large
Richichi is also a frequent vendor at Comic Con conventions around the country where he showcases his comic illustrations. He also has served as a recent judge at The Hyde Museum, the very place where a 15 year old boy got his start so many years ago. Down the road will be the popular Gem Fest in downtown Glens Falls, an entertainment and music festival with
“Pack Forest” - 30x20 - acrylic
C
e x press himself There are no airs here, just an openess to fuel his many talents and perpetuate the successful career he built when art chose him His is a
good “I’m constantly saying, ‘Did I really get paid to do that?’ I’m just having such a good time doing it all Art has taken me by the hand so far The more I take on, the more I know what I want I choose now ”
This is Anthony Richichi, He never went to school to be an artist and it looks like it didn’t make a damned bit of difference!
a large block party, theatre, and live art curated by Richichi
Like a chameleon, Anthony Richichi embraces c h a n g e H e i s a l w a y s l o o k i n g
p
feeding their souls and exciting their communities
p a i n t ings, graphic design, collabs with Kayla, galleries and festivals j u s t down the road a few months, this is the bright future o f t h
made
Check out his incredible website: tonykillustrator com (518) 232-2868
“Frozen Hudson” - 36x20 - acrylic
Ramblin’ Band
Bluegrass
group Ramblers Home harvests the roots of old-time American music
Ryan Sullivan spent much of the past decade
o n t h e r o a d , s h u t t l i n g b e t w e e n u p s t a t e N e w York and musical hotspots like Austin, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. During that time, his band Ramblers Home, a grooving collective that melds elements of traditional A m e r i c a n m u s i c , f o l l o w e d h i m f ro m p l a c e t o place.
“Ramblers Home is a name I’ve been carrying around the country with me for seven years, ” Sullivan says The 27-year-old guitarist and mandolin player launched the loose collective in Colorado, where he ended up after hitching a ride across the country on a repurposed school bus
Sullivan was an avid skateboarder growing up in Queensbury, New York, and he always w a n t e d t o t r a v e
r l d “ W h e n I w a s 1 8 , I met this kid with a school bus who was d r i v i n g t h r o u g h t o w n o n h i s w a y t o P o r t land,” Sullivan says. “So, I got on the bus, and that’s when I learned how to busk. We ran out of money real quick.”
Sullivan found that he could support himself as a street performer, and he busked his way from Portland, Oregon, to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and then back west to Austin, Texas, where he stayed for a while
“Busking taught me so much and forced me to learn enough songs to play my first gigs,”
to yell and be really loud That’s been something I’ve had to un-learn when I step up t o a m i c ro p h o n
m y voice. Busking gives me a sense of total freedom. If my life crumbles, I know I can go somewhere warm and make enough money to buy food.”
Ramblers Home was influenced by the varied
v els from the dusty honky-tonk of Austin t
S u l livan learned to love bluegrass a genre he admits he once thought of as “boring old
people music ” He was drawn to groups like Railroad Earth, Elephant Revival and Leftover Salmon that combined Americana music with the improvisation of jam bands
The last few years, Sullivan has been rooted in Saratoga Springs, where Ramblers Home evolved from a revolving cast into a steady band of players including musicians from popular area acts like Let’s Be Leonard, Candy
Ambulance, the North & South Dakotas
a
i n cludes guitarist David Rabinowicz, drummer Jon Cantiello, bassist Kevin
Before the pandemic hit, they played often around the area, performing original songs at places like Caffe Lena, Putnam Place and Desperate Annie’s Ramblers Home members also have a covers outfit called The Saratoga Strings Band, which played regular two-set gigs veering from psychedelic country to Grateful Dead and Phish
Now living in relative isolation for the time being due to COVID-19, Sullivan and the Ramblers home crew make the most of live stream performances Every Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon, the group plays on the back porch or in the living room of their Saratoga Springs house shows streamed online for Venmo “tips ” They are also working on a debut album in the group ’ s basement home studio
But Sullivan admits the travel bug hasn’t g o
t i
g n o t i f i cations from my calendar that I was leaving for tour,” he says of a planned trip to England now scuttled. “Saving enough money to start traveling the world again is my goal.”
Visit ramblershome.bandcamp.com or facebook.com/ramblershome8.
A Great Place to “Visit”….Strings Attached The Center for Puppetry Arts
by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris
From 1 to 100 years old, and on just about every continent in the world, adults and children have found joy and comfort in puppets In fact, puppets have been a big part of world culture
d
A r i s totle and Plato referenced puppets in their writings and teachings, and puppets were used to communicate political and religious beliefs as well as entertain before the advent of human actors. As the art of puppetry evolved, many
different regions of the world developed their own forms of puppetry Japan had Bunraku puppetry based on rites performed in Shinto
ionettes in Christian morality plays,
pets in their rituals, and Shakespearean plays were sometimes performed with puppets in Britain.
In the early 20th century both Europe and America used puppets to entertain adults and often combined them with masked actors in their productions Today
n tertainment Educators will use puppets to address serious issues with young children, like bullying, in a non-threatening way and to sensitively convey messages
of morality Therapists and law enforcement also use puppets to comfort young children in
express themselves and share their fears
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
In the United States, puppetry is traditionally viewed as children’s entertainment Every parent and grandparent can recall a puppet t h a t w a s a b i g p a r t o f t h e i r c h i l d h o o d
C e r tainly The Velveteen Rabbit, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and Gumby are a few of the iconic and memorable puppets from those times, but who could have imagined that a puppeteer from Greenville, Mississippi would be creating multi-generations of memorable puppets From the start, Jim Henson’s Sesame
S t r e e t p u p p e t s a n d T h e M u p p e t s ( 1 9 5 5 -
p re sent) became a part of our lives Then came Fraggle Rock (1983-87) and the movies, The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986). E
r
flecting on their simple words of wisdom.
P u p petry is without a doubt, a timeless and universal language that speaks to everyone
“Bad days happen to everyone, but when one happens to you, just keep doing your best and never let a bad day make you feel bad about yourself ” - Big Bird
So look no further than midtown Atlanta, Georgia to reconnect with these and many more puppet memories of your childhood and plan a visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts Once an elementary school and now a magical cultural destination, the center was founded in 1978, by Vincent Anthony and opened to the public September 23, 1978 It is the largest
The Labyrinth “Didymus” The Muppets “Pigs in Space” Fraggle Rock “ Mokey, Green Swim and Gobo”
The Dark Crystal collection
“Sprocket” with Gerald Parkes
non-profit museum dedicated to puppetry in the United States and one of only a few in the world Though Anthony initially studied acting at Herbert Berghof Studio in New York, early in his career he auditioned for a role as a puppeteer for Nicolo Marionettes in 1964, was hired, and spent the next two years on tour in the United States with the company ’ s production of Pinocchio In 1966, he moved back to the Southeast where he was originally from and launched the Vagabond Marionettes with M i t c
s u c cessful touring company traveled extensively in the Southeast and performed over a number of seasons at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.
“If life were easy, it wouldn’t be difficult.” – Kermit
When the former Spring Street Elementary School in Atlanta became available, Anthony acted quickly to acquire the building and moved Vagabond Marionettes to its permanent location The 54,200 square foot building was renamed the Center for Puppetry Arts and has fostered t
e x hibitions for over 40 years Tremendous program growth created a
A t lanta The unusually shaped building with its sharp angles and slanted windows added 9,500 square feet on the inside and provided a p
h a r l e quin pattern on the outside It is recognized as a world-class puppetry museum and a center for puppetry performance and education
At the grand opening of the original building, renowned puppeteer Jim Henson and his buddy Kermit the Frog cut the Opening Day ribbon. Years earlier, Anthony met Henson during the early planning stages of a World Puppet Festival he was working on, as president of the National Association of Puppeteers of America A true visionary, Anthony shared his dream of opening a puppetry center with him, a n d i m m e d i a t e l y, H e n s o n b e came a strong supporter
In early September of 1978, Anthony flew out to California to extend a personal invitation to Henson to attend the opening He accepted and as they say, the rest is history
The Center for Puppetry Arts celebrates all forms of puppetry In 1978, N a n
established a permanent museum at the center, and in 1980, she donated her major collection of 150 international puppets to launch the museum ’ s own permanent collection Today the center houses an extraordinary re search library, rededicated in 2009, and named the Nancy Lohman Staub Puppetry Research Library in Staub’s honor A special gift of two r a re J a p a n
o c c a sion by master puppeteer Kiritake Kanjuro III
P u p p e t r y i s t y p i c a l l y b r o k e n d o w n i n t o f o u r m a i n c a t e g o r i e s t h a t i n clude hand puppets, which are slipped over the hand; rod puppets, w h i c h a re c o n t ro l l e d b y s l e n d e r ro d
p u p p e t s , w h i c h a r e f l a t a n d g l i d e b e h
m a r i onettes, which are controlled by strings from above. There are many hybrids of these main categories such as Bunraku puppets which are manipulated in full view of the audience by the puppeteer; finger p u p p e t s t h a t f i t o n i n d i v i d u a l f i n g e r s ; v e n t r i l o q u i s t s ’ d u m
Jim Henson and Kermit at the grand opening in 1978
Jim Henson with Ernie and Kermit
body puppet are that of the puppeteer.
“…almost anything could become a puppet.” – Nancy Lohman Staub
Every puppet needs a puppeteer They make their puppets come alive and imbue them with unique personalities
Lamb Chop had puppeteer Shari Lewis
Elmo had Kevin Clash Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Grover, and Bert had Frank Oz And Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg, and Marjory the Trash Heap had Jerry Nelson Unfortunately, puppeteers are not as well-known as their puppets, but that is the nature of puppetry unless of course you ’ re Jim Henson
“If you keep practicing, you can do anything ” Elmo
Henson founded the Jim Henson Foundation in 1982 to promote and develop puppetry in the United States. His life was cut short i n 1 9 9 2 b u t h i s f a m i l y c o n tinues his legacy. In
ter for Puppetry Arts, to house and exhibit the most extensive collection of Henson a
F r aggle Rock plus Cookie Monster, Elmo, Kermit, and many of t h e i r f r i e n d s To d a y, t h e center ’ s Worlds of Puppetry Museum has two gallery wings One
C o l lection and features a n e x hibit that takes you t
Henson puppet collection is so expansive that only 20% of the collection is on display at any one time and is rotated every six months.
“My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here.”
– Jim Henson
A t the museum ’ s Global Collection
w i n g , p u p p e t r y f r o m d i v e r s e
c u l tures of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas is celebrated, some g o i n g b a c k c e n t u r i e s T h e w i n g
a l s o p ro v i d e s v i s i t o r s w i t h s e v e r a l
i n t e r active experiences including shadow puppet production and a f u n o p p o r t u n i t y t o l e a r n h o w
t o m a n i p u l a t e t h r e e S i c i l i a n
m a r i onettes as w e l l A m o n g m a n y
o t her displays, there is a fascinating
r a n g e o f p u p p e t s from Africa who share space with the p ro t o t y p e
m a s k s o f S c a r a n d M u f a s a f ro m
“ T h e Lion King”
With Emmy-nominated, artistic director Jon L u d w i g a t t h e h e l
of the center is in good hands. Over 600 puppetry performances are held at their two theatres every year and include The New Direction Series for Adults and Teens, a Family series, and many experimental works. Nine of his productions have received Citations
t h e P u p peteers of America President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Art of Puppetry
Filming The Dark Crystal (1982) Behind the Scenes
Fiberglass skull of the Skeksis
The Jim Henson Collection
The Global Collection
Jim Henson’s Office
“ … t h e w o n d
u
h
n g a b o u t p u p petry, you can do everything. Nobody’s gonna tell you no.”
– Jon Ludwig
Education is the third component of the center ’ s mission and is as important as its museum and theatres The center ’ s roster of fun, educational opportunities provides for all ages and covers most every aspect of puppetry The extensive list of fun includes Puppet C a m p w h e re c h i l d re n l
,
l d , and perform their own puppet shows; adult Puppet and Team Building Wo r k s h
e m ployees to lead and collaborate; and the A
c
s tomized opportunity for schools to bring the world of puppetry to their classrooms. And we
can’t forget Wi g gle Wednesdays for two to four y e a r- olds who are puppeteers-in-training!
There is so much to see and experience t h a t w i l l m
,
t i f
n - person visit is not possible, you can always visit the Center for Puppetry Arts online at www puppet org Their broad range of topics and ever-expanding digital programs will inspire, teach, and take you on virtual tours of the center ’ s museum and special exhibitions It’s an excellent way to BE there when you CAN’T be there, no strings attached!
“We each lead ourselves , and we all lead each other ” - Mokey Fraggle
The Center for Puppetry Arts , 1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 www.puppet.org
Center for Puppetry Arts founder Vincent Anthony, on left, and artistic director Jon Ludwig
W h a t sApp or Messenger because its convenient and free Our topic centered around the changes in our lives since New York and Canada have hit the pause button due to Covid-19
While New York seems to be the hot spot for this nasty little bug, the rest of the continent has had its own issues with social distancing, lack of toilet paper and the disappearance of all bleach and Lysol products
We talked about her work, my lack of essential work, the n e e d f o r P P E , t h e c l o s i n g o f schools and daycare and the f a c t t h a t i t w a s g e
i n g r i d i c u lously hard to find chicken I gave her a recipe for a soup full of garlic, lemon and ginger and told her to swap the chicken for pork or fish She mumbled “metanoia” wait what?
Metanoia she explained, is the changing of one ’ s mind, heart, self or way of life I wanted to know what this had to do with chicken, but she just laughed at me and said that it was a good way to look at life right now We are changing minute by minute based on our current
c i rc u m s t a
h e r toddler
c h i l d r e n and parents are learning about homeschooling and no one can get a haircut The world, as we know it, changed It changed and we weren’t ready
We ’ re t o l d t h a t i n o rd
“Shelter in Place” is what it’s called First, we stocked up on toilet paper and canned goods. Then we wiped out all of the flour, sugar and yeast and became bakers. Now we ’ re baking our own bread, making cookies for our neighbors, and trying to be part of a community while staying completely distant.
We’re calling more than texting and we are obsessed with TikTok. We don’t touch our faces and we ’ re not allowed to stand too close to others or go places where too many people can congregate Graduations are online and weddings have been postponed The majority of us are not leaving our homes unless we ’ re out walking our dogs, riding bikes with our kids or running a necessary errand
Could this be a radical change of heart for all of us? Maybe, but I bet we pick and choose I’ve always been a bit of a germaphobe Not a bad thing when you take care of clients all day and want to make sure there is no cross contamination between appointments I’m a different person when I walk out the door of FACES everyday I’m much more relaxed
I, of course, needed to do a little more digging Changing my mind, heart, self or way of life. I remembered the word from religious studies in college, but I thought it had something to do with repentance, not changing your mind. I found myself lost in a word for the first time since I was in my twenties. I change my mind all the time when it comes to certain things and I am incredibly stubborn and won’t change my mind when it comes to other things Metanoia is more than a momentary epiphany, more than an intellectual revelation and it’s certainly more than a definition found on Google Metanoia is a RADICAL change of heart, forcing one to dig deeply and make a lifelong change
It sounds so simple but it’s actually quite complex
Our lives have been t
I
Am I experiencing a radical change of heart? I don’t think so because I don’t see a change yet. I’m openly expressing my views and beliefs that I’ve always had regarding safe practices Before this
nutty Now they
fection Control
Will this historical event cause us to dig deeply and make a few life long changes? I would certainly hope so and I think it has already started All hands must be washed the minute we come in the door Or before touching food Shoes off, then hands washed We are no longer allowed to wear shoes in the
What about socially?
A friend that hasn’t spoken to another friend in almost 10 months is actively working on their friendship via FaceTime. She told me that life is too short and she doesn’t want to carry the burden of anger anymore. More importantly, she doesn’t want to lose TIME. If anything positive comes from this, I hope people make the time for the things that truly matter more.
Getting Your Licks In
by Karen Richman
In my town it was called Strubbes In yours it might have been Mike’s or Wolf ’ s or O'Leary’s, but it didn't matter what it was called It's what it was that was important, and what it was, was pure heaven It was that marvelous sanctuary known as the old-fashioned ice cream parlor Not a pre-fabricated stand, not a truck driving through the neighborhood playing"Pop Goes the Weasel" ad nauseum, but a parlor
Just thinking about that wonderful word now I get the shivers not out of emotion, but because I remember the cold Ice cream parlors were always dark and cold back then that was part of their glorious, delicious mystery and charm
It all started at the front door of Strubbes It was a heavy door rimmed in dark wood with a big pane of glass and blinds over the glass to keep out the hot New Jersey summer sun It took a lot to push that door open, but the re
gleaming and spotless The counter seemed a mile long, as if it would go on forever, with an all black marble counter top supported by a rich looking mahogany base Behind the counter the soda jerks lined up in a row, and they were absolutely perfect! They wore snow white uniforms with black and white aprons, and every one of them had a freshly starched hat with precise points both front and back However their uniforms were eclipsed only by their talent in concocting milk shakes, malteds, floats, sundaes, frappes, and scooping fresh ice cream into giant sugar cones and stainless steel dishes that had little pedestals attached
That's what I remember so well all the stainless steel behind the counter The pumps, the levers, the bins where they kept the fresh ice cream...all gleaming stainless steel.When one of the Strubbes soda jerks opened one, he would practically fall in getting the scoop of ice cream out. I always thought those people had the longest arms in the world, and watching them work so hard to prepare my ice cream cone
was almost as good as the ice cream itself. Ultimately the prized scoop was retrieved and placed just-so atop the sugar cone. It never cracked, it was never off-center. It seemed perfect. And then they a d d e d c h o c o l a t e j i m m i e s ( y o u m i g h
" s p r i n kles"), handed it across the counter, and now the responsibility was all yours to keep that cone upright, to keep that fragile ball from slipping off-center, to work your tongue just one step ahead of the drips that was hard work when you were a kid That was perhaps one of the first lessons in responsibility of accepting consequences for actions
Ice cream in the 1950’s didn't involve a lot of choice There was vanilla Chocolate Strawberry And everyone had their favorite As the years went on, Strubbes added coffee, black cherry, butter pecan, chocolate chip Maybe a few after that, but really, that was all That's all an ice cream lover needed the wonderful, pure taste of the cold ice cream and a favorite flavor
The days of the simple ice cream cone and the much anticipated visits to Strubbes seem long ago now; and keeping an ice cream cone from dripping or breaking may indeed be inconsequential given all the problems of our world, but it was those precious afternoons in Strubbes that prepared me for what was to come and taught me how t o c o p e . I t t a u g h t m e t h a t s
a n d s o m e times you don't. That things don't always fit perfectly in the spaces we create for them. That sometimes the cone may break, and the ice cream you worked so hard for and looked forward to splats right on the sidewalk in front of you; and when that happens it's okay to cry, because at that moment your whole world has indeed fallen apart So, yes, it's okay to cry and kick a stone and curse at the world because you realize it's only one small cone on one small day in a whole life filled with flavors and toppings and many more chances to experience them once you learn how to push open heavy doors and take your licks
Making a Charcuterie Board
By Roberto Cruz - Photos by Adirondack Winery
c h a r c u t e r i e board
In fact, the most difficult aspect of creating this assortment of meats, cheeses and other bites of deliciousness might be pronouncing its name (Say it with me: Shar – koo – tuh – ree Very good!)
Translated from French, charcuterie means “cooked flesh” – and if done right, your board will not resemble this term in the slightest
It is important, however, to know where your food comes from, and this particular appetizer originates from a time long before refrigeration, w h e n c u r i n g m
N o w a days, building a charcuterie board is a chance to play with your food with mouthwatering results. You can build a charcuterie board that focuses on a specific region of the world, such as Italy or Spain Or you can organize your items based on color, with purples, greens or yellows that pop off the plate
Whichever way you decide to do it, I encourage you to have fun and try something new every time And don’t forget the wine – and plenty of it Here are some charcuterie board tips for beginners and pros alike
Pick Your Plate
A charcuterie board can be as visually appealing as it is tasty. One way to get started in the right direction is to choose a serving dish that is pleasing to the eyes. A large wooden cutting board will certainly do the trick. Another option is a dark-colored slate board. These have become increasingly popular for their look, but also because they do not absorb flavors and smells from the foods you serve on them
Mix Your Meats
When you think of a charcuterie board, as opposed to a cheese plate, you think meats This is your board, and you can choose what you want, but it’s always a plus to offer some thinly sliced meats and others with a thicker cut. The Italian dry-cured ham known as Prosciutto is a great choice, offering salt and fat that melts when it hits your tongue. Often used to wrap pretzels, figs or melon, Prosciutto is great when paired with white wine. For your Cabernet Franc or Merlot drinkers, c o n s i d e r h a rd s a l a m i , s o p re s s a t a o r c a p i c
s m o k iness that will taste great with their vintage of choice.
Pro tip: If you ’ re serving a charcuterie board as an appetizer, about 2 ounces per person will do just fine If it’s your dinner, you may want to up the ante to about 5 ounces per person
Cheese Please
Choosing your cheeses may be among the most daunting tasks of building a charcuterie board – but it doesn’t have to be! Embrace all your choices
S a u v i gnon or another popular red wine style? Then aged cheddar or manchego is a good fit.
Like with the meats, it’s good to have different options when it comes to texture In addition to chopping up a cheddar cheese block, add creamy, spreadable goat cheeses that pair perfectly with Seyval Blanc or Pinot Gris
No Carb Counting Today!
A charcuterie board is an eat with your hands endeavor and your breads and crackers serve as the vessel for getting the foods from the plate to y o u r t a s t e
C
d re s s ing up these little crispy bread bites in everything from avocado to mushrooms and artichokes and even sweet potatoes If you want to skip the bread, veggies like celery and carrots are a nice alternative
Pile on the Extras
The best part about a charcuterie board is that there are no rules Add on your favorite fruits and vegetables and don’t forget the dips like hummus, mustard and jams Baby pickles and olives are great if you
D a r k chocolate pairs great with red wine and berries are wonderful, especially if you ’ re drinking a berry-infused sweet wine. L
y o u want The same goes for your beverage choice: if you like it, that’s all that matters Good luck and good eating! Need wine to pair with y
3 0 + New York fruit-infused and traditional varietal wines! Learn more at adkwinery com
Enjoy!
Roberto Cruz, Adirondack Winery
Tasting Rooms: 285 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845
4971 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 2 Bolton Landing , NY 12814
