Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Sales ( 860) 227-8199 adver tising@518mag com
Carol St Sauveur Ferris, K aren Richman, Rona Mann
, Joseph Raucci, Adirondack Winer y, Cr ystal Cober t Giddens, Nellie Ackerman-Vellano
We l co m e to o u r 1 -Ye a r A n n i ve r s a
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i e ve a year has gone by already Cr isp days, comfor t food and coz y sweater s e a s o n h a s a r r i ve d
Th e m o n t h o f N
b a s i s, t h e re
f r i e n d s d u r i n g a h o l i d
a b o u t gi v i n g t h a n k s I t i s t h e t i m e o f ye a r
w h e n r i t u a l s s u r f a ce a n d b r i n g u s i n
Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher
James Paterson: The Making of the Man, the Ar tist, and his Prayer Machines
“ The Town Was Screaming ‘Come Here!’ So I Did” Corina Contemporar y Jewelr y and Fine Craf ts
pg. 12
pg. 4 Do -it-Yourself Good Health At Bowled YOU are the Menu! pg. 34
The Palmer town Range Saratoga’s Corridor Through Nature pg 20
every 4 – 6 weeks, with opening receptions for each exhibit.
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
James Paterson: The Making of the Man, the Artist, and his Prayer Machines
by Carol St Sauveur Ferris
Be it emotion, different cultures, politics, health, religion, humanity at its best and worst, or life itself, artists are inspired by these and many more seen and unseen forces that surround us every day They take it all in and filter it through their lens and let it speak to them Eventually, it escapes onto all types of surfaces that the artist w illfully chooses or is led to; taking shape on canvas, paper, fabric, wood, metal, stone, and more. Even the sides of buildings and bridges provide a place to express what bubbles to the surface of their awareness
James Paterson, a Canadian artist, has led a most interesting life And this most interesting life has inspired him to create his art and heal his soul He has absorbed, examined, deconstructed, reassembled, and expressed it through a number of mediums over the years, like chapters in the book of his life His body of work includes oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, and painted sculptures that his brother carved out of wood He has done folk art, illustrations, and wearable art He has also explored surrealism, realism, conceptual, and abstract art According to his wife, Lynn Paterson,
someone commented that James “could do a group show, all by himself, with all the styles he’s worked in ”
James was born in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1957, but spent his early y
To
w h i c h was an Anglican Evangelistic Mission to the immigrant Jewish p o p u l a t i o
A
K e n s ington Market, the name was changed to St Stephen’s Community House, and his Dad was then named Director
He and his family lived in the apartment above the Community House James recalls immigrant families with children, young adults, and their
The New Frontier - 27 x 35 5 x 2 Inches (69 x 90 x 5 cm) steel wire and mixed media
elders taking English classes, attending after-school activities, d a n c i n g , a n d p l a
w a s part of his normal daily life, and he loved listening to the vibrant sounds below To him, it was quite magical
Just a short walk from the house was St Stephen’s in the Fields, an Anglican Church where James served as an altar boy and member of the choir Many Jamaican immigrants attended the church as well and sang in the choir alongside him He loved their joyful voices and expressions of kindness and affection for each other There was lots of hugging, and they always made sure to hug him As a result and unlike many other children, church was a lot of fun for James He claims that it was “ a real slice of charismatic humanity” anchored by a “rich liturgy ”
In his teens, the family moved from the big city of Toronto to a rural town in Southern Ontario which was quite traumatic for James; however, his growing interest in art helped him through the high school years He would immerse himself in a variety of art projects rather than do his real homework When faced with needing an extra credit in his senior year of high school, he took Grade 9 Art, loved it, and was then allowed to go
h i s Fine Arts degree at the University of Waterloo. There he also met Lynn, a lovely young woman, whom he later married 37 years ago
W hile the degree was a wonderful achievement, James really needed a job. He heard of a n e w l y l a u n c h e d C h r i s t i a n S c h o o l a n d s u b m i t ted his resume in hopes that they needed an art teacher It was a most unusual resume Handwritten with an illustration of h i m s e l f h o l d i n g a b ru s h a n d p a i n t c a n , i t immediately caught the eye of the principal He was hired on the spot and went on to found their Art Program
In 1987, James and Lynn took a much needed six-month leave of absence from their respective jobs to recharge and reflect
They travelled the world for three months, ending up at L’Abri in England, which is one of many Christian Study Centres located across the globe Here they explored many issues related to their religions, including baptism Lynn was Mennonite and James was Anglican It also allowed James some t i m e t o re f l e c t a n d l o o k a t a r t f ro m h i s C h r i s tian perspective
It was back in Canada and after the birth of their first child in 1989 when both Lynn and James officially left their teaching positions James became a full-time artist while Lynn was a stay-at-home mom who also managed
the business side of his art career Over the next 20 years, he achieved peer recognition and financial success It was a great run, but by early 2008 he found himself somewhat lost and a bit burnt out He needed a break to find his spark again Soon serendipity
c o n v e r s a t i o n e n sued, and by Monday Lynn and James were applying for a teaching job at the Academy
James Paterson and Erik Laffer at the Laffer Gallery in Schuylerville, New York
It was September 2008 when they landed in Germany and began their next life chapter at the German school dormitory filled with 22 teenage “daughters ” Their two youngest children were with them as well while the two oldest were off to college and working It turned out to be quite t h e u p h e a
b e c a m e a real struggle Having worked on h is own for so many years, it was a huge adjustment
r e sponsibility of 22 teenagers in addition to his own family James was exhausted
He admits that he had a breakdown He simply could not pray anymore and had lost his ability to communicate with God It was devastating As he struggled through this challenging time, James finally realized he was far more visual
p
e t ing prayer in a medium to which he could relate. He asked himself, what would his prayers look like? He began to tinker with wire and twisted coat hangers, inserting them into scrap blocks of wood Through this therapeutic
r a c ulously returned Wood and wire became his medium A medium that lent itself to visual storytelling James explains that he realized when you pass through life, all the influences you were exposed to in the past become embedded in your subconscious only to emerge later on “through the filters of who YOU are ” and no one else It was in that moment his wood and wire storytelling became Prayer Machines
The Prayer Machines have since evolved into intricate stories made of wire, wood, metal, and painted polymer paste They are equal parts fascinating, whimsical, musical, and colorful. All are 3-dimensional with some freestanding
To Be Able To Wait You Must Make Friends With Time 40 x 20 x 8 inches (102 x 51 x 20 cm) steel wire and mixed media moving parts
and others that attach to the wall. The whirligigs and cranks are intentional and beckon you to touch and personally experience the piece you are viewing In fact, James will personally encourage people to turn the crank on a piece to trigger all of its moving parts Many are surprised at his suggestion and shy away from it, fearful that something will break
But for James, the magic is in watching people engage, light up, and perhaps reminisce about something deeply personal to them. Something that comes to their mind while playing with his art. It also fulfills his desire to show people that prayer takes many forms and share his way of praying.
O v e r t h e l a s t 1 0 p l u s y e a r s , J a m e s h a s c re a t e d m a n y t h e m e d machine collections that are expressed in many different ways within each collection They are all named, as is each machine, and evoke the intended theme or sometimes ask a question. The titles are as creative as his work In fact, James has been told that people often purchase his pieces because of their name alone For instance, there’s “Our Ornamented Love” part of the Circuit Boards for a Civil Society Series; ”I Have My Own Face At Last” from the Whimsies Series; “I Search For You In The Light And Found You There” from Play Machines; and “The Sun Is Mine” from the Sunshine Series All are colorful, lively, and guaranteed to make you smile and perhaps reflect
One of his favorite collections is the “Carnival” series Each piece stands on individual wooden bases and fits on a shelf James states that, “in the Carnival series pieces, I’ll often include a piece of tightrope with someone walking on it, representing how, as Christians, we ’ re not just called to walk that fine line of the tightrope and stay safe – we ’ re actually called to dance on it!”
James also shares that “at the core of my art is a desire to show God’s redemptive qualities and reveal His redemptive nature. I’m hoping to bring a smile to people’s faces, and at the same time cause them to ask deeper questions.” That he has.
And we all pray that James will continue to create and share his prayerful stories for many more years
The James Paterson Studio 158523 7th Line RR#1 Meaford, Ontario N4L1W5 Website: http://jdpaterson com
James Paterson’s Prayer Machines currently on exhibit at: The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad Street, Schuylerville, New York
“The Town Was Screaming ‘Come Here!’ So I Did”
Corina Contemporary Jewelry and Fine Crafts
by Rona Mann
photos by Stephanie Sittnick
A true artist is never content, but Corina Oberai comes as close as any to achieving a state of contentment and joy
When you speak with her, you are immediately enveloped by an upbeat, delightful non-stop personality Not once does she pepper her conversation with the words, “Pandemic” or “virus,” for she has more than made her peace doing what she does despite any negatives in her environment.
If you insist we use labels, then Corina Oberai is a jewelry craftsperson, but she really had no choice whatsoever in the matter Her genes and her DNA had a l ready been well established by a British mother “who can do every kind of craft” and an Indian father “who could build radios
and do mechanical things Oberai was born in London, but when her father was offered a lucrative position with IBM, the family moved to the Poughkeepsie area
Shakira, Corina and Beju
“I was a miserable teenager,” Corina laughs, “ so without telling me, my mother signed me up for a jewelry-making class involving silver smithing ” Because she was the oldest, O b e r a i ’ s f a t h e r t re a t e d h e r l i k e a s o n , t e a c h ing her to do oil changes and fix the lawnmower. “At one point, my parents bought
a house, and my father had me assist him with the electrical work which was very boring Each time he dropped a piece of copper wiring, I would pick it up, take needle nose pliers and twist it into different shapes Eventually, I had decorated the workspace ”
Oberai pauses for a minute, then ads, “As far back as first and second grade when I d re a m e d a t n i g h t I w o u l d d re a m a b o u t
f i n d ings” (an old world jewelry term that refers to the components that go into the making of jewelry) So Corina’s fate was
abetted by her parents’ DNA
After spending two years at Boston University in a program for artisanry, she found herself packing up her babies and landing in Burlington, Vermont “doing the hippie dippy thing,” she laughs Corina at first did the craft show circuit and was even a founding member of the Farmers’ Market, then she got
Azurite and Iolite rings
m a r k e t , t r a v eling all over the country until more than 100 stores were representing her work. Thinking back on those days, the artists reflects, “I used to fly to the West Coast, drive, here, drive there. I miss being on the road.”
After those 25 years in Burlington, her husband took a job in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Oberai spent five years there raising her family The next move was the final one “We were circling around, trying to decide where to l i v e , and when I found Ballston Spa, I immediately fell in love Everything just fell into place here and clicked for me Ballston Spa spoke to me, screaming, ‘Come here! Come here!’”
And so they did Although Oberai misses the road, she loves where she is now, not just in Ballston Spa, but running her own
S h a r i n g a s
H e a t h e r L o n gacker, Corina is a one-woman powerhouse: artist, craftsperson, salesperson, and Ballston Spa enthusiast all rolled
i n t o o n e “ W h e
since I
o v e r a n y one ’ s shoulder but my own I have complete control over everything in my shop...well, maybe.
S e e m s t h a t O b e r a i
a c c o m p
p i n scher and “Shakira,” a Puerto Rican “street dog.” These happy companions not only delight in greeting those who come to buy, to browse, or just to admire, but they also closely make sure their “mother” is working hard!
Corina Contemporary Jewelry specializes in cabochons which are smooth stones set into a bezel (a little cup that holds a gemstone in its setting) Sometimes Corina will use faceted stones as well, but always her first love is the color and energy of the stones with which she works
Most of all, Oberai loves silver loves working with silver, loves the color and energy of stones set in silver. While every new piece
e n e r g i z e
e a r rings on a French wire, examples of which are prominently displayed on her website.
Custom work is a specialty, and Corina likes nothing better than when a customer brings in a vintage piece and asks for her to rework it “I love taking someone ’ s memory and making it into something new and sweet ”
Ruby Zoisite
Carnelian
Rainbow Moonstone
Turquoise ring
Corina Contemporary Jewelry also features the work of other craftspeople, for Oberai is a champion of other artists and currently represents the work of 30-40 local artisans, of whom she is most proud
Down the line, Corina plans to hold classes a t t h e s h o p , p a s s
h a n d Indian genes that enabled her to be the artist she is today “My parents are in their 80s now and live in Texas, but they are most proud of that little girl whom they forced to take a jewelry-making class, to learn to do oil changes and fix lawnmowers, and who picked up the dropped pieces of copper wire and saw the glorious possibilities that lay beyond these seeming pieces of refuse
E l i z a b e t h Ta y l o r o n c e s a i d , “ J e w
t h e power to be the one little thing that makes you unique.” Although they never
p h i losophy which is why every piece she creates is a reflection of both the artist and
e v e n tually wear it. Her shop isn’t typical, i t ’ s a n
e n ergy and the fragility of wire right alongside the lasting endurance of stones. It is a journey one must take to not only see the simple beauty of artistry, but to meet the happy artist who creates joy in every piece the one who picked up the discarded copper wire and fashioned it into a life of art and beauty
Take a look at the Corina Contemporary Jewelry website, and you’ll find these words prominently written:
“Handcrafted items made from the heart”
I t ’
m a r keting person, but it’s the way Corina Oberai lives her life – why she works, how she works, and how happy she is to meet you and draw you into her world of beauty and joy
So, make a visit!
Corina Contemporary Jewelry and Fine Crafts is located in that town that screamed to her: 10 Washington Street in Ballston Spa (518) 885-0930 www corinacontemporaryjewelry com
THE GRANDEST OF GRAND OPENINGS!
R I B B O N C U T T I N G 1st Friday, Nov 6th 5:00 to 9:00
Co r i n
gallery/educational facility at 10 Washington Street in Ballston Spa right at the site of the old National Bottle Museum. Corina and her contractor husband did all the renovations on the “sad old building,” and now it ’s one ver y happy place of ar t and learning and laughter. Come visit her where you see the big pane of glass that used to be a garage door. It’s light, it’s air y, it’s where you’ll want to be for holiday shopping...and beyond!
The Palmertown Range Saratoga’s Corridor Through Nature
By Lawrence White
Imagine a network of multi-use nature trails and paths that extend from Saratoga Springs to Moreau and beyond Imagine being part of creating and maintaining this wonderful resource That project is in place now for the Palmertown Range, and it is being spearheaded by Saratoga Plan.
Casey Holtzworth, Natural Resource Steward for New York Parks tells me, “Palmertown is to go from Saratoga Springs to Moreau. North it could eventually connect to Glens Falls and from there go up to Lake George on the existing path or head over to Lake Champlain Canal path, which would go up to Lake Champlain ”
This amazing project was made possible when Saratoga Plan received a $500,000 grant from the Sarah B Faulk Foundation Ms Faulk was a S k i d m o re g r a d u a t e a n d a n a t t o r n
d walking in the woods around Saratoga, so this project is a perfect fit
The area in the project encompasses 40,500 acres within the southern portion of the Palmertown Mountain range This beautiful and unique natural asset contains approximately 8,000 acres of protected lands that include Moreau Lake State Park, Daniels Road State Forest, and Lincoln Mountain State Forest.
Saratoga Plan’s official statement reads, “The vision for the Palmertown Range is to establish the area as a regional recreation destination and bolster its economic development while conserving critically important natural resources and migrating animal corridors The Southern Palmertown Range is an ecologically intact landscape with extensive, unfragmented, diverse forests and wetlands Furthermore, the area i s c l o s e
G
n s Falls, and Wilton ”
The Open Space Institute is a national organization that has protected over 151,000 acres of open space in the Adirondacks, Hudson River
Valley, Shawangunks, and Catskills since 1974 They state, “the Palmertown R
w o r k i n g together with thoughtful, cooperative planning and action that will result i n re
n a t u r a l re sources while simultaneously stimulating compatible economic development activities.”
Saratoga Springs Mayor, Meg Kelly explains it this way, “The Palmertown Range Project and Sarah B. Foulke Friendship Trails are legacy projects and will be a treasure for generations to come. Since 2014, over 2050 acres have been conserved through public and private partnerships, and the Southern Palmertown Guidance Committee is continuing to do outreach to conserve more properties in this area ”
I ask the Mayor how she feels that this project would affect the business community in our area, and she responds, “Saratoga County will need to stay competitive to attract new workers and businesses to our region Research h a s s h o w
t h e local tax base, attract residents and businesses, encourage economic development, boost the economy of surrounding areas, and attract retirees whilst also attracting millennials Young workers and families prefer places with a diverse range of outdoor recreational activities and the ability to get out and enjoy themselves Spenser Trask and other leaders recognized the importance of conservation of our natural and cultural resources over 100 years ago The Palmertown project builds upon this history ”
Lake Bonita
Mayor Meg Kelly and Deputy Mayor Lisa Shields walking in Skidmore Woods
Todd Shimkus, head of the Saratoga Springs Chamber of Commerce agrees that the plan will help businesses in the area “The whole t r a i l s y s t e m i n o u r a
b y the people who live here The ability for local b
is based upon the quality of life in the community and outdoor recreation is key for people who are looking for great places to live and to work
xample
tunities
will attract the best workforce ”
When I comment that the system is proposed to extend to Albany, Shimkus notes, “We just
Trail which goes all the way from Ballston Spa
E
pire State Trail, which then goes to Albany and South The Palmertown Range trails will
world
meeting at Lake Bonita with the trail committee,
which includes some of the top trail designers in America During the conversation, it became clear that the overall design would include paths for multiple uses including hiking, climbing, biking, cross-country skiing, dirt b
there must be access for those with physical challenges and families with small children
p r i marily serve as a benefit for local people to use as their daily resource and to provide a gateway to some of the most splendid natural assets on earth
Todd Shimkus
Overlooking Lake Moreau
Trail Design Team: Steve Ovitt, Wilderness Prop Mngmt, Maria Trabka, Saratoga PLA, Judy Anderson, Community Consultants, Ted Kolankowski, Barton & LoGuidice, Larry Knutson, Penn Trails , Karen Strong, Strong Outcomes , Sarah Walter, Penn Trails , Eddie Walsh, Tahawus Trails , Bob Vittengl, Palmertown
When I spoke to the lead designer, Larry K n u t s o n o f P e n n Tr a i l s , h e m a d e i t c l e a r t h a t i t d e p e n d e d u p o n t w o t h i n g s c o m i n g together. This includes the existing trails, and the design of the new trails, plus the public’s enthusiasm and willingness to get involved.
“ T h e re a re t w o t r a j e c t o r i e s h e re , ” K n u t s o n explains “One is that we look at existing trails,
facilities, and other assets. Another i s t h e p e o p l e . T h e c o m m u n i t y e n gagement component is critical
We can talk about trail designs and how they are used, but in the end, a trail is a b o u t a user ’ s experience There is a broad diversity of users here who are known, but there is probably going to be a lot who are not known We want to look into that and hear from all parts of the public ”
Knutson continues, “Then you factor the m o re t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f n e w t r a i l d e s i g n plus
the logistics involved including restructuring or rerouting older trails for a varied number of uses Those two facets have a trajectory to meet, and where they meet, this project exists “
To i n t e r v i e w N Y P a r k s C o n s e r v a t i o n C o o r d i nator, Philip Corney about public participation it was necessary to transverse several different new stretches of the Moreau O v e r l o o k Tr a i l t o w h e re h e a n d h i s c re w w e re m o v i n g a h u g e s t o n e f ro m a c l i ff t o a position where it would support the wall of a new trail
New Stone Steps
Trail Crew moving a boulder, on a steep incline, to create a path
p ro j e c t , ” C o r ney explained during a break “Level one is the type of tough and challenging work my crew is doing now. For obvious reasons, we do not want the public involved at this level. In level two the volunteers help create parts of some trails, cut overgrowth, and maintain the trails. Level three is trail hikers and observers who may do some light pruning but more importantly, they would keep their eyes on the trails for downed trees or other issues, so they could be reported ”
I mention that the Palmerton plan includes horse, snowmobile, and dirt bike areas and ask if this presents a difficult challenge Corney replies, “Not really We want those who wish to use the trails for these and other purposes to work with us during the planning and later during maintenance so that their enjoyment of these natural resources does not interfere with others and that the environment is considered first and foremost ”
One important resource that is not part of the current plan but is on everyone ’ s mind is a large amount of land strategically located at t h e e d
M c Gregor Correction Facility and the Ulysses S Grant Historical Site that sits adjacent to it Common sense would dictate that using
Mount McGregor Correction Facility
Jamie Sesselman and Kathleen Corlew riding their horses on a trail near the Hudson River
areas of the prison grounds as a parking area for hikers and opening the road behind the prison down to Lake Bonita for handicapped access
w o u l d b e h
i t s e l f could serve as a sort of Adirondack Center that would draw a desirable demographic
I meet with Wilton Supervisor John Lant
M a n ager Ben Kemp on the stunning Grant overlook to discuss the possibilities
S
ro a d to Lake Bonita should be opened and repaved, Technically, the road area
i
b e e n working on this with Supervisor Kusnierz to negotiate with the Department of Corrections about it ”
t h e past, but the issues of finance and security have been difficult to overcome However, the idea of the prison becoming a hub for hiking and outdoor activity would be a big positive for the historical site if these other issues could be resolved ”
It should be noted that when I spoke to officials from the Department of Corrections they seemed interested but have not responded officially as of this writing
I discussed the Palmertown Range project with a neighbor who was born and raised in Wilton. She was surprised and delighted to learn of it and responded by saying, “How cool! I am going to look into the Saratoga Plan. How do I get involved?”
That has been the overwhelming response I have received every time I bring up the Palmertown Range The answer is to contact the Saratoga Plan in the following ways:
Wilton Supervisor - John Lant, Dir of Planning - Ryan Riper, Manager Grant Cottage - Ben Kemp on the Grant Overlook, Mt. McGregor
Culinary Creativity Shares the Stage with History
Doc’s Restaurant in Glens Falls
By Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Feed Me 518™
The glass elevator carries you down to the lower level of the one hundred and eleven year old Park Theater Building, leading you into a handsome
d
c e i l ings; and once you are seated, you are introduced to the stars of the show: the creative and original gastronomic dishes created by Executive Chef, Matthew J. Delos.
Doc's Restaurant, 14 Park Street, located on the lower level in the Park Theater building, opened in 2018 The owner, wanting to keep the theater
a
re n o vations they focused on keeping the history of the building intact while adding a part of themselves into the building
When you walk through the front door, the stage of the quaint theater still welcomes you from across the other side of the entryway The ornate cast iron railing along the stairs winds down to the entrance of Doc's Restaurant Mahogany wood embellishes the front and the back wall of the bar and frames the sections around the dining room where guests are seated
The restaurant itself is new to the theater building When remodeling, in order to keep the theater and stage intact and for it to remain a part of the building, Doc's was located on the lower level of the Park Theater
Chef's Bolognese sauce is delicious and tastes like something my mother in-law has served at my Italian husband's weekly family dinner
However, I've never been a big fan of restaurant gnocchi until I met Chef Matt I was served a dish of beautiful golden crusted hand-rolled gnocchi with the Chef's homemade Bolognese sauce and fresh cheeses on top T
What I loved the most was the nice light brown crust on the outside of the gnocchi, that added a nice texture to the dish.
building I enjoyed touring the building and learning about its history, but I was even more delighted to learn about the beautiful entrees served at Doc's Restaurant
Chef Matthew joined Doc's in September 2019 The Operations Manager sent me an email to express that "Matt has brought a huge amount to the table since he has joined the team His culinary vision and his technical prowess in the kitchen are second to none ”
In every dish that Doc's Restaurant serves to their guests, Chef Matt utilizes fresh seasonal ingredients like squash, apples, pears, and hard herbs in the Fall. When I asked Chef Matt to share with our readers what inspired his original and creative concoctions, he shared that many of the dishes he creates draw influence from French and Italian dishes in more rustic countryside regions and from meals made with his family while he was growing up.
One of the dishes that I really enjoyed eating was Chef Matt's homemade Ricotta Gnocchi Bolognese, inspired from memories of Chef Matt’s mother and grandmother rolling gnocchi on an old ironing board on Sunday afternoons with a large pot of meat ragú simmering on the stove
Chef Matt now serves this family meal to all of his guests
Chef Matt's Wild Mushroom Ravioli was one of my favorite dishes - not only to eat - but to photograph as well It's a stunning plate to have set before you, and this dish will visually impress any guest you bring with you to dine here Duck confit, fennel, and chanterelle truffle cream sauce layered on top of each other, compliments this ravioli dish garnished with an amazing full-sized wild mushroom as the centerpiece on the plate The Seared Sea Scallops on spaghetti squash with house- made A d
i n credible dish I recommend ordering.
I p l a n t o c o m
Bolognese and hand-rolled gnocchi. Next time, with my in-laws.
Happy Eating!
Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Feed Me 518™ Instagram: @FeedMe518 FB: www.facebook.com/FeedMe518 Website: www FeedMe518 com
Seared Sea Scallops
Ricotta Gnocchi Bolognese
Wild Mushroom Ravioli
Do-it-Yourself Good Health
At Bowled YOU are the Menu!
by Rona Mann
Ye a r s a g o , a n y t h i n g t h a t w a s g o o d f o r y o u generally tasted terrible.
Matter of fact, anything that was good for you or termed, “health food” just didn’t have any taste - or if it did, it was bland, uninteresting, and tasted like a piece of cardboard That is u n
B
C a p ital District last year, and the entire profile of the dining landscape has now been changed, maybe forever
One year ago, four partners: Roberto Sgueglia, Kyle Bartling, Mariah Fortune, and Kyle Tassone got together and decided that healthy food could indeed be delicious food It could be tasty, have vibrant colors, and most of all, offer you choices So last year, Bowled was born in the Crosstown Plaza in Schenectady An instant and immediate success, Glenville’s Socha Plaza became home to a second location. This month, a third Bowled will cut the ribbons in Ellsworth Commons in Malta, and by the time the holidays arrive, those in Troy who love good food and prize their good health, will w e l c o m e y e t a n o t h e r B o w l e d l
t i o n t o H u d son River Commons
W h y i s t h i
e n j o y ing food and good health moving so quickly? The answer is simple YOU You are the menu, and at Bowled YOU always have a choice According to Mariah Fortune, the quartet’s marketing partner, “Our menu is vast with great variety Some people think w
Bowled! We are also grain bowls, smoothies, a c
b re a k f
t s o f do-it-yourself gourmet waffles and artisan toast We are healthy, fast, casual food that’s affordable ”
Offering both inside dining and takeout options, every choice you make at Bowled they make fresh and to order A l t h o u g h t h e re a re l i
y h u n d re
f c o m binations, here’s just a peek at what you’ll find at your neighborhood Bowled location which can be your choice for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a healthy snack.
Mariah tells us that the most popular toast is Capri Toast featuring an avocado mashed base,
p
r m e san, and a drizzle of balsamic It’s not necessarily a breakfast item, but it beats the heck out of Cocoa Puffs, doesn’t it? Want a complete do-it-yourself breakfast? Then start with your choice of either artisan toast or a gourmet Belgian waffle, then choose a spread o f e i t h
butter, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, or
Capri Toast
Kyle Bartling, Mariah Fortune, Kyle Tassone and Roberto Sgueglia
Photo by Stephanie Sittnick
B u t you ’ re not done yet! The price includes your selection of three toppings ranging from avocado slices, bacon, blueberries, dried cranberries, and feta cheese to cucumbers, broccoli, blue cheese
c r u m b l e s , b l a c k b e a n s a n d t h a t ’
c u s tomers just have to add a few more!
Any hour of the day grain bowls and salads begin with your choice of brown rice, quinoa, or a five-grain blend Now top it with cheese, black beans, avocado, peppers, fire-roasted corn, granola, mandarin oranges, real bacon bits, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas and those are just some of the 22 toppings offered at Bowled Add some unique
t o r tilla strips, nuts, and more, then finish it off with a protein, if you choose, and look what you have to choose from! Salmon, ahi tuna, grass-fed sirloin, regular chicken, or spicy chicken Vegetarians and vegans (“We can accommodate any dietary lifestyle or restriction,” Fortune proudly asserts) will enjoy knowing an organic tofu choice is as available as real bacon for those who just want to live it up
If you ’ re having a tough day at work and just don’t feel like taxing your brain to make yet another choice, why not go with some of the
Cocoa Bowl
Avocado Toast
Vegan Bowl
Photo by Stephanie Sittnick
i n g r e d i ents will be delighted with The Protein Bowl, Salmon Bowl, Farm Bowl, Vegan Bowl, and the most popular choice, the La Fiesta Bowl (sounds like a football game, but it’s actually a combination of romaine and arugula, black beans, avocado, grape tomatoes, fire roasted corn, topped with tortilla chips, shredded white cheddar and dressing can’t get that at a football stadium)!
With cold days already here, loyal customers (and they are, coming in several times each week) also have the option of Warm Bowls warm
c i n namon, or perhaps an Oatmeal Bowl beginning with an oatmeal base and chockablock with healthy agave, bananas, blueberries and drizzled with peanut butter, coconut, and shaved Callebaut chocolate.
“The most popular item on our menu is Bowled Acai´”Mariah says. “
b l u e berries, peanut butter, and shaved coconut...everyone loves it! It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.” Once again, it’s YOUR choice.
by
La Fiesta Bowl
Oatmeal Bowl
Photo
Stephanie Sittnick
Who doesn’t love a great Smoothie? Bowled has gone over and above i n t u r n i n
f o r - ya with names like Turmeric Sunrise, Protein Recovery, Pitaya Smoothie, Matcha Man, PB to the J, Acai´ Smoothie, Coco Smoothie, and Rise and Grind Wanna know what’s in them? Then get over to your nearest Bowled location and sip for yourself...you’re just gonna love them!
There isn’t enough space to tell you all about every other choice, so let’s talk about the special people who staff the Bowled locations, the ones the four partners chose as carefully as they did their ingredients.
“ We h a v e a
environment, a great group They are mostly young people, so we always tell them that school should be number one, then their family So if they have to take some time off, we ’ re here for them when they return ”
The recent Pandemic hit Bowled hard, as it did every other business “We wondered, how do we stay and grow being so new?” Mariah said With another brilliant marketing initiative they came up with “Fueling the Frontlines,” in which Bowled offered free delivery and a 25% discount t o a l l f ro
t h e public was constantly thanking them with trays of cookies, boxes of donuts, and pizzas, they appreciated some good healthy food to keep t h eir minds alert and their energy up “People in the community j u s t j u mped on this,” Fortune added, “and started donating meals We wound up feeding more than 2000 front line workers over the Pandemic ”
Bowled also reminds their growing legion of fans that they can cater company and corporate events to f u r t h e r f u e l
keep their workers healthy
There’s been a lot of talk
P a n demic about “the new normal.” Well, this is the
a
fordably, in maintaining vibrant good health, and in having a choice, not from a menu someone else has made up, but a choice that you yourself craft to your own tastes Be the choice you can make for good eating at breakfast, lunch, or dinner Be the choice you make for maintaining your good health and when you find Bowled, you’ll be thoroughly Bowled over by the difference you will have in dining!
H
a n other one opening before you know it!
Schenectady – Crosstown Plaza Glenville – Socha Plaza Malta – Ellsworth Commons Opening in days: Troy – Hudson River Commons www.bowledco.com
Acai Bowl
Photo by Stephanie Sittnick
Harvest Bowl
Photo by Stephanie Sittnick
SIRSY Strikes Back
By Kirsten Ferguson
A f t e r t h e p a n d e m i c h i t , S I R S Y s h
l v e d t h
u r i n
, b u t t h e p o p ular Saratoga duo still connects with fans through their live streams which they’ve turned into an art form
The new music video from Saratoga pop-rock duo SIRSY for “Sweet Dreams” is a throwback to more care-free times The song itself is a charming 1960s-inspired number that kicks off with bubbly Doo-wop vocals The video splices together dashboard footage of singer-drummer Melanie Krahmer and guitarist Rich Libutti in their van as the couple hit the road in 2019 a year of touring encapsulated in two-and-a-half minutes
The video’s free-spirited mood now feels like a relic of a far-away time After the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, SIRSY canceled two West C o a s t t o u r s
C
t o u r ing was a major blow for a band that like most musical acts these days depends on live gigs for financial sustenance
SIRSY has a large and loyal following, and it’s obvious when talking to K r a h m e r a n d L i b u t t i
performance emotionally as well “We’re people-people We’ve always been very appreciative of the people who come to see us, ” Libutti says. “We have fans who have been coming to see us for many years, almost two decades. It’s really cool that people have made us a part of their l i v e s f o r s u c h
been an important part of our lives in the band. It’s something that we all share together.”
Like many musical artists, SIRSY turned to live streaming on the internet last spring to stay engaged with their audience The technologically s a v v y d u o h a s s i n c e t u r n e d t h e i r v i
“ S a t u r day Night Live Streams,” into an art form through special effects, green screens, skits, trivia, weekly themes, goofy videos and audience participation The cumulative effect is more fun and creative than your average live stream
“There was an adjustment at first, but now we ’ ve found our way with it, and we ’ ve got this really cool community of people that joins in every week,” says Krahmer “They’ve dubbed themselves the SIRSY family They all talk to each other during the show and look forward to seeing each other every week.”
O n a re c e n t S a t u rd a y N i g h t L i v e S t
O c t o ber, the pair enacted their third installment of a Star Wars saga on Yo u Tu b e , d e m o n s t r a t i n g t
theatrical skills as well as musical talents Jabba the Hut and light-saber battles flashed on the screen behind them, and fans dressed in costumes to record videos of themselves requesting songs
“The live streams have become a gathering place for all of us, ” Krahmer says “We go through after and read all the comments, and it makes us f e e l l i k e w e ’ re
w e re live in person We have found our groove with it, and it’s become something that we really look forward to doing ”
On October 1, SIRSY released a new song, “Astronauts,” in honor of NASA’s 62nd birthday The band wrote the song in quarantine and recorded it in their home studio with the help of producer Paul Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies), who produced their last couple of records Kolderie, w h o n o w l i v e s l o c a l l y, i s a f o u n d e r o f t h e f
i n Boston
“We have a great relationship with him He produced the track virtually We weren’t ever in the same room. We just kept sending files and ideas back and forth and had a lot of phone meetings,” says Krahmer. “It took a little bit longer, but it came out really great.”
The duo found inspiration for the song in the uncertainty of the moment, and how you can find ways to ground yourself when the world seems so confounding “It’s easy to get overwhelmed in this situation that we ’ re a l l i n I t ' s a w o r
s i t uation before It weighs on you, ” says Krahmer “We go for late-night walks sometimes and look up at the sky When we were little kids, we both had moments when we would lay in the grass and look up at the stars and think about what it would be like to fly up there and look down on your life Maybe things would seem a little smaller and a little less overwhelming if you could do that ”
Visit the SIRSY YouTube channel or Sirsy com
Tevye Was Right
by Karen Richman
You know who he is.
Tevye, the lovable, irascible dairyman from Fiddler on the Roof. He s u n g a s o n g t h a t i n s t a n t l y b e c a m e a n e n o r m o u s , a l b e i t c l a s s i c h i t , “ Tr a dition,” echoing the fact that traditions are important, should not be tampered with, and have a sacred quality to them
Most traditions begin in families, handed down from one generation to the next and can vary from the cultural to the religious to the ridiculous and sublime Nearly all those adjectives could be applied to our family traditions at Thanksgiving, a holiday I both loved and hated, mostly because of our traditions
Tradition #1 It was always held at Grandma and Grandpa’s house
This in and of itself was not a bad thing except for the fact that unlike the Italian and Jewish and Portuguese and other grandmas of this world, our Grandma was one terrible cook! Whoever decreed that all grandmas had to be sweet, rosy-faced, short, round ladies with a ladle in one hand and a heaping pie plate of wonderful smells and tastes in t h e o t h e r ? We l l , m y G r a n d m
manual She didn’t know she was supposed to be a fabulous scratch cook and baker because of her Grandma-hood designation. Grandma apparently was not aware of the fact that she was culinary-challenged, s o s h e k n o c k e d h e r s e l f o u t m a k i n g e v e r y o n e o f t h e t
T h a n k s giving favorites every year.
There was the time she roasted the turkey, but forgot to remove those packets of the neck, the liver, and other entrails from the body cavity before jamming in t h e s t u f f i n g A s f o r t h e s t u f f i n g , w h i l e w e a l w a y s p o l i t e l y s u g g e s t e d s h e j u s t g o b u y a b i g b a g o f P e p peridge Farm and then add the butter and liquid, she inserted everything she ever heard of or had read about into that stuffing, so it was bread with eggs and o n i o n s a n d r a i s i n s a n d c e l e r y a n d s a u s a g e a n d
c h e r ries and a half pound of butter, and chicken broth it made for an “unusual” aroma throughout the house, and when she forgot to remove the gizzards and stuff, it was something to behold But not to eat, trust me
T h e g r a v y w a s t h i n a n d w a s a s t r a n g e s h a d e o f g r a y i s h - b r o w n w i t h t h e l u m p s o f f l o u r f l o a t i n g
u nceremoniously on top “See?” Grandma said proudly, “You can tell it’s real and not from a can because it has lumps.” How we wished for the can!
Mashed potatoes were the instant kind and not made according to package directions so they were either too thin and runny, or so thick you could still see the flakes.
Dessert? Grandma made several kinds of pie usually apple, pumpkin, and mince Not good, but not as bad as the year we got to her home and she announced, “I made a new invention No one ever knows which one to choose, so I combined the apples, the pumpkin, and the mincemeat all in one ” That year we ran out of Cool Whip trying to cover it all up We were always so happy Grandma lived just down the street from Lucky House, the local Chinese Restaurant They never closed on Thanksgiving and were always an immediate and welcome stop on the way home.
Tradition#2...Esther ’ s creamed onions. She made them every year and brought them every year and no one ate them every year. You’d think her feelings would be hurt? Nah. Esther just said, “It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without creamed onions ”
Tradition#3 The football games Before and after dinner- and after they had a few beers, some wine, and some schnapps, Uncle Mortie, Uncle Joe, Grandpa, and our Dad always hunkered down in front of the set for football Then the yelling would start - at the players, at the refs, and after a few too many, eventually at each other
Tradition#4 The ladies in the kitchen While the men were yelling in the TV room, adjusting the rabbit ears on the set, and arguing about P re s i d e n
re l egated to “ women ’ s work” in the kitchen Wrapping the leftovers (who wanted them, anyway?), scrubbing the impossible crud off the big turkey pan that Grandma hadn’t remembered to grease and flour, and talking about where we’d have Christmas dinner and who would m a k e w
s a y ing, “We must have pheasant like we did in England,” and Cousin Bertha said if Lottie insisted on doing that, she and Uncle Frank would bring box lunches of bologna sandwiches and potato chips.
Ah, Thanksgiving. Ah, families. Brings out the best and the worst in us, but still we gather together each year because at heart we are deeply thankful we have each other and these crazy quilt traditions.
Tevye was indeed right “Tradition, tradition Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as, as a fiddler on the roof!”
I learned some interesting and alternative methods for self-care while I was studying integrative nutrition in New Yo r k C i t y. A n o l d - s c h o o l h o t water bottle, a tongue cleaner, and a hot towel scrub were my favorites.
The lower belly is the home
point of your body,
losophy, the center and source of your life energy
Heat from a water bottle brings more energy and blood circulation to
u n blocking energy that may be stuck after a heavy meal
Place an old-fashioned hot water bottle on your belly for about 10 to 15 minutes (put it in a pillowcase before placing it on your skin) Emotionally, warmth on the belly may promote absorption and digestion of whatever “feelings” are left over from your day Physically, we crave warmth and coziness in the evening especially in winter The hot water bottle can help create this cozy feeling It’s also an amazing way to heat up cold sheets right before you go to bed
Tongue cleaning or scraping is the practice that removes bacteria, food debris, fungi, toxins, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue.The technique is an ancient Ayurvedic, self-care practice and has been done for centuries in many parts of the world.The Western civilization has been slower to take on this technique, although between the 15th and 19th century, tongue cleaning was reserved for the affluent
Ay u r v e d i c p r
c l e a n ing are better at public speaking, express themselves sincerely and in a more authoritative manner Studies have shown that this simple technique can:
• Reduce undesirable bacteria in the mouth that can compromise gums, teeth, and oral health
• Improve tongue appearance – restoring the tongue back to healthy pink and gets rid of that funky white film!
• Reduce cravings by reducing “food memories” on the tongue’s surface
• Restores your taste buds and allows you to taste more subtle flavors in your food Fruit tastes sweeter, savory foods are more satisfying, and you’ll notice you will need less intense seasonings on your foods!
In the past, tongue scrapers have been made of thin, flexible sections of wood, various metals, ivory, mother-of-pearl, whalebone, celluloid, and t o r t o i s e s h e l l N o w t h e y a
c o m monly used tongue scrapers today are the two-handled U-shaped types and the single handled T-shaped types
If you prefer not to invest in a tongue scraper but want to give it a go, a s p o o n w i l l
e ff i cient as a dedicated tongue scraper.
Tips
• The tongue should be gently scraped from back to front for 5 to 10 strokes Standing in front of a mirror will help you see what you ’ re doing
• B e c a re f u l o
t h e tongue
• Clean the scraper under warm, running water after each stroke.
• For best results, tongue scraping should be performed on a daily basis and not just on occasion
Your skin is your body’s largest organ of elimination It’s also your shield from the environment and harmful toxins A hot towel scrub rejuvenates y o
b e tween you and your environment It is an incredibly simple tool for relaxation, circulation, and detoxification
Take a nubby wash cloth, dip it into hot water or hold it under running hot water, wring it out and then rub your entire body for 5 to 10 minutes Some experts suggest rubbing away from your heart, others say do what feels easiest! It’s invigorating if you do it in the morning and can help you focus It’s relaxing if you do it in the evening, right before bed and can help calm your mind
These simple tools are some of the fastest, easiest and least expensive means of practicing a healthy lifestyle this winter. If you need help or suggestions, please reach out to me at FACES of Saratoga. Enjoy!
FACES of Saratoga, 489 Broadway, Long Alley Entrance Saratoga Springs , NY 12866 518-396-7403
