Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Sales ( 860) 227-8199 advertising@518mag.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Carol St.Sauveur Ferris, Karen Richman, Rona Mann
Chandler Stevens, Lawrence White, Kirsten Ferguson, Alan Richer, Crystal Cobert Giddens, Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Kristina Watrobski
COVER
“Chroma” 32 x 32, by Elisa Sheehan
Here we are in April already—new life bursting in our gardens, spring showers, bluer skies and warmer temperatures. Time to feel the warm air and soak in that vitamin D. Spring has sprung!
Welcome to our April issue. This month we celebrate a range of the arts. Ask the question, “What is art?” and every person will have a different answer. Art to me is something that includes intention and the emotion that it evokes. Whether it be painting, sculpting, baking or interior design, art can bring us together and teach us to reflect on our own humanity, while humbling us at the depth of what another human can create. It touches us in a way that few other things truly can. To me, art is a necessity. I hope these stories b ring a smile to your face and leave you inspired to do what you love.
As always, our goal at 518 PROFILES, is always to focus on the g ood, the beautiful and the positive by publishing stories with heart and soul. We strive each month to deliver authentic and unique content about creative people and interesting destinations. Enjoy!
Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher
PROFILES
ENCORE
Sculpting a Life, Her Way
The Amazing Arlene Abend, "Outsider"
pg. 4
It's What's Not There That Makes You Feel Good
The Joy of Eating Well from Saratoga Gluten Free Goods
pg. 12
The Humble Eggshell Takes Center Stage
Elisa Sheehan Fine Art pg. 22
There's Something for Everyone at Finishing Touches
Finishing Touches Home Décor
pg. 30
by Douglas Lloyd
Photo
Sculpting a Life, Her Way The Amazing Arlene Abend, "Outsider"
by Rona Mann
In the early 1970s, many women new to the Women's Liberation movement burned their bras. But not Arlene Abend, She was too busy for that because she was burning an acetylene torch.
The welding torch fairly flies as the steel melts giving off many colors.
"I never get tired of watching steel melt. The colors it gives off. First black, then burgundy, then bright red, and finally yellow." The welder removes the protective goggles revealing the smiling face of a woman. But gender is not the only surprise. This woman is nearly 91 years-old and has been deeply in love with sculpting and metalwork since she first turned on the welding torch more than 45 years ago.
This is Arlene Abend, a Syracuse-based artist who isn't "still working," she is always working! Just ask her. The little woman just five feet tall with the big torch in her well-seasoned hands will also quickly tell anyone who questions her safety, "If I'm going to get burned, it would probably be over the stove and not from doing this. I'd rather weld than cook."
It wasn't always that way for the small, feisty woman with the ready smile, a deliciously wicked sense of humor, and a torch in her hand. As a child growing up in the Brighton Beach enclave in Brooklyn, she loved the beach and spent hours playing in the sand, not knowing at the time that she was wiling away the hours "sculpting." She won an art scholarship to the famed Cooper Union, tuition free, private college of
art, architecture, and engineering located in Manhattan, then put her life's aspirations on pause to do "what women were supposed to do in the '40s." She put her career on hold, married, settled down in suburbia, and did all the things a good wife was supposed to do, but it seems she had this problem with gender equity. "I made casseroles, raised a boy (Les) and a girl (Tema), and even ironed my husband's underwear!" Then came the '70s heralding the beginning of the Women's Movement, and Arlene Abend began to move with it...fast!
Arlene Abend, circa 1970’s
"She actually went on strike," her daughter, Tema laughs. "My brother and I were teenagers and pretty grown up and my mother felt boxed in and wanted the real world, so she let us be pretty much independent but told us, 'As long as you're loved, you're gonna be okay,' and off she went."
She let the wrinkles pile up on her husband's boxers, eventually divorced him, threw away society's expectations of being the perfect "chicken soup mother," and enrolled in classes at the old Central Tech Vocational Center. That's where she met Joe Losito, an instructor who saw the fire and talent in this woman and helped her fully develop what was within after her first instructor had refused to teach her how to arc weld (fusion welding used to join metals). "Joe Losito became my mentor," said Arlene, "and I became his star pupil."
Arlene learned the techniques and idiosyncrasies of welding to such a degree that Losito found her a job in the maintenance department of the now-defunct Solvay Processing, but Arlene Abend turned down the opportunity flat. If she could sing, she would have been singing, "I am woman hear me roar," and she roared "No, thank you!" Fiercely independent and now with a renewed sense of purpose, she turned down that job because she had other plans for her welding talent.
Her plans included taking risks at all costs, ex perimenting with methods and materials, constantly challenging herself by asking, "What if?" which sometimes led to surprising successes and other times just didn't work at all. But always that question had to be asked be cause if she didn't try, she'd never know how far she could stretch, and Arlene Abend is
Brutalist Bronze Sculpture, circa 1970s
“A Child’s Dream” ca. 2019. Cast bronze and steel figures
someone who always stretches. She stretches a point, she stretched an idea, she stretches what she thinks she may be able to do. "Nobody tells me what to do, I find out the hard way."
For years, she painted, but it had been a "flat" form of art for her, and she found herself going farther and farther into three-dimensional art. She needed for the color to fade, so for a time she went to clay and took a class, "but I kept building bigger and taller and it wouldn't fit in the kiln, so I was told to pare it down." You don't tell Arlene Abend "no" once she has an idea, so her next idea was metalwork.
She often uses small metal figures that populate her work, and each, according to the artist who breathed life into them, "has a personality. It's a pivot point." So much of Abend's work centers around the symbolic: family dynamics, nature, social justice. She creates surfaces inside pieces that she says are open to interpretation. "People should take art and make it theirs. I got bored imitating reality, so I went into the abstract."
Abend's work is curved and rhythmic. "Not rigid metalwork," Arlene adds. "I have four stages to my work, the first is the idea, which I love. The second is what I call 'the ugly stage,' where nothing comes to fruition. Next is what I call The Becoming Stage where I can tell my self that okay, it's there, but then it disappears. Then something happens. It's my driving force, like an addiction." The final stage is the completion only
when the artist is satisfied, but she also admits that as an artist, she is "never satisfied. I always look at the piece afterward and wonder, 'why did I do that? Why didn't I do this?” She pauses for a moment to reflect, then says in her quiet, even tone, "Creativity is both a ble ssing and a curse. Life is yin and yang, I'm always dissat isfied. I always want more. What is the mystery of creativity?"
As Abend grew as an artist, she found a way to exercise that creativity while also making a good living was commissioned work. "It has me create in context and go to areas I wouldn't have gone before in exchange for cash for what I created." Suddenly, Arlene felt "I was ready for the big time." So I took my slides, went to New York, stayed with a friend, scoured the Yellow Pages, and pounded the pavement looking for work." What she ultimately got was a commission to create a sculpture for a Texas energy company that was ultimately installed on the 93rd floor, Tower 2 of the World Trade Center. After it was destroyed on 911, she was commissioned to do another sculpture that has no name and is part
of the Memorial. She has also taken commission work from private homeowners and has an awe-inspiring peace created to honor and revere Holocaust victims. It is located at a synagogue in Jamesville, New York.
In addition to sculpting, her proficiency in both art and welding led her to repair metal objects, specializing in the repair and restoration of antiques made of bronze, brass, cast iron, and steel. She has developed a great skill in restor ing the patina of metal objects, blending and matching work which is incomparable.
Arlene Abend believes that for her, "Success is getting to where you can be, where what you've done is real and satisfying. When there are hardships, I look at them as an impetus to push against them, and I always want to push the envelope."Her daughter, Tema adds, "She loves what she does and doesn't give up. She will keel over before ever giving it up."
Monumental Brutalist Wall Sculpture, 1983
“Life is a Circus and a Puzzle” ca. 2006. Cast resin, steel, and wire
“Breaking Out” ca. 1973 Cast resin
“Desert Tree” 2018 Cast bronze and steel
“Aspirations” 1979 Steel
“Remembering” 2007 Cast resin and steel
“Firebird” 2008 Cast and painted bronze
“Self/Portrait” ca. 1969 Steel
“Burn Out” 2002 Oxidized steel
There's been a documentary produced on Ar lene's remarkable life and remarkable body of work called "Stretching Boundaries." It's well done and truly encapsulates the woman and her talent; however Arlene Abend did not stretch boundaries, she annihilated them. She didn't think outside the box, for to her, there never was any box, and when it came to that envelope which she so enjoyed pushing most of her life, it's been long ago mailed. An artist like this does not come along very often. Her work must be seen, her mantra and philosophy must be studied and embraced by young and old of every gender. Her message melts gender in equality and prejudice just as surely as her torch melts steel giving off changing colors.
The current exhibition of her work aptly entitled, Arlene Abend: Resolute is now being featured at The Everson Museum in Syracuse. Arlene always appears to have a comment or an opinion about everything, so of the museum show she mused, "You know, I was always an outsider. As a child, I climbed trees, was a tomboy. My mother didn't know what to do with me. I never fit in, so I always created my own path in life. At the opening of my work at The Everson, I realized I was suddenly an insider."
Arlene Abend: Resolute will be on exhibition at The Everson through April 17th. Not coincidentally, April 17th is Easter, a time of rebirth and renewal. And even though the artist will be just two months shy of her 91st birthday, there has always been a sense of renewal and reinvention about her...of spirit, of determination and grit, and most of all, she always continues begging that question, "What If?"
The Everson Museum is located at401 Harrison Street in the heart of downtown Syracuse. (315) 474-6064
www.everson.org
Watch Arlene Abend: “The Becoming” found on YouTube.com
Page 8-9, Everson Museum Exhibition Arlene Abend: Resolute, photos supplied by Everson Museum
Robert Averill and MaryAnna O'Donnell
It's What's Not There That Makes You Feel Good
The Joy of Eating Well from Saratoga Gluten Free Goods
by Rona Mann
photos by Stephanie Sittnick
It's a combination of three things: a bit of education, a commitment to good health, and a whole lot of flavor.
This is what they're doing every day at Saratoga Gluten Free Goods in Schuylerville and what they've been doing since 2008. This is why they are always baking, constantly giving customers
new choices and plenty of 'em, and proving that gluten-free shouldn't ever have to mean flavorfree. That's also why their signature is "Rising Above Expectations" because you won't believe the variety and taste. It's something MaryAnna O'Donnell, her son, Robert Averill, and some dedicated and inspired bakers have been working on and perfecting for a long time.
The backstory. In the mid-1990s, MaryAnna was diagnosed with Celiac disease. For those who have heard the term but don't quite know what it is, Celiac disease affects 1 in every 133 Americans, that's more than 2 million people. Celiac disease is often overlooked as an upset stomach and can easily be misdiagnosed. The only sure way most doctors go about making a diagnosis is by a blood test or intestinal biopsy. Even patients who do not suffer from Celiac dis ease still have inflammation flareups from in tolerance, arthritis, and other auto-immune diseases and are advised by the medical community to go gluten-free.
When people with Celiac disease eat foods with gluten, their immune system reacts affecting their small intestine. So what foods actually contain gluten? Most breads, pastas, flour mixes, and ce reals. Also foods you might not expect because they're not bread-like like processed cheese, salad dressings, lunch meats, potato chips, even beer! Surprisingly, gluten may also be found in lip balm, some medicine, and vitamins. So, where did that leave MaryAnna when she was first diagnosed?
"At first, since I couldn't find bread or baked goods that didn't taste 'health-foodish,' so I learned to live without," she said. "Then I tried on my own to go about making a good tasting loaf of bread. It took a full year because I had to learn all about different grains and how to add texture." But MaryAnna persevered until she had a delicious multigrain loaf. Other people liked it as well so she fully equipped a commercial kitchen in her home, procured a wholesale license through the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and started home baking gluten-free products.
photo
In 2016, after perfecting her art, she and her son, Robert Averill opened a storefront in Schuylerville, and the customers started c oming from everywhere. "We are all self-taught,"
Robert says, "because there really is no place to train for this."
Robert learned well from his mother and now runs the day-today operation of the shop aided by some very capable bakers who produce small-batch, organic, GMO- free products using locally grown ingredients when possible and with no preservatives whatsoever. While MaryAnna's multigrain bread is still a popular choice of customers, Saratoga Gluten Free Goods now also bakes baguettes, cinnamon raisin br ead, sourdough bread, brownies, cupcakes, French macarons, bagels, and their fabulous cr eam puffs. "They sell out in hours!" Robert enthuses.
Who doesn't love a delicious donut, but can a donut be made gluten-free? Not wanting to disappoint, Saratoga Gluten Free has managed to perfect a recipe that is a winner.
photo by FeedMe 518
"In the fall, we literally sell thousands of our apple cider donuts," Robert says and then adds, "and now we have new yeasted donuts in both chocolate and vanilla flavors." Yeasted donuts are yeastleav ened and fried, unlike regular donuts which are chemically leavened with baking powder.
The product list is long and ever-changing, but Robert and MaryAnna have added sandwiches and pizza to go, so those in the Saratoga area can call in their lunch order, make the short drive, and
a wide assortment of delicious baked goods and sandwiches will be ready and waiting for them.
MaryAnna stressed that she wants people to know Saratoga Gluten Free Goods makes spe cial occasion cakes that can be delivered throughout the Capital District and beyond. So just because someone has celiac disease does not mean they have to miss a birthday, confirmation, or even a fabulous wedding cake decorated by their in-house professional d ec o rator. "We ship to New York City all the time," says Robert, "and today I even shipped our products to Chicago."
So, does that mean New York and Chicago wouldn't have gluten-free baked goods? Of course not, but it does mean that Saratoga Gluten Free Goods is garnering a national rep utation for good taste, and that's what people want whether they are gluten-free or not.
With Easter just weeks away, Robert and MaryAnna urge both old and new customers to please order in advance. They will have sugar cookies, quiches in different flavors, cakes, pastries, and breads of all kinds to put on your holiday table. And right after Easter comes Mothers' Day followed closely by Fathers' Day,
graduation parties, and all those summer backyard parties and events. No need to ever go without if you shop first at Saratoga Gluten Free where they can even help you design a menu.
Health food stores, caterers, and area restaurants are now among the shop's customers because their reputation rides on Saratoga Gluten Free's good taste; and as MaryAnna added, "we now do vegan as well."
Perhaps the greatest endorsement this business has is that they have many customers who do not suffer from celiac disease, but love the good taste and pure, healthy ingredients that these products consistently provide. "It doesn't taste like health food," MaryAnna says. It just tastes like good food."
Make the short drive to Saratoga Gluten Free Goods in Schuylerville, or call them in advance and place your order; they'll have your sandwiches, cookies, breads, pastries, and cakes just waiting for you. Bet you won't be able to drive home without open ing the bag!
Saratoga Gluten Free Goods...if you know what's good for you, you'll take a bite.
Saratoga Gluten Free Foods is located at 176 Broad Street in Schuylerville. (518)695-6565
www.saratogaglutenfreegoods.com
by
photo
FeedMe 518
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.
PLEASE
The Humble Eggshell Takes Center Stage Elisa Sheehan Fine Art
by Carol St. Sauveur Ferris
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts then raised in Shrewsbury, Elisa Sheehan was always doing some sort of art. It was a special interest of hers that evolved over the years into so much more later in life. In addition to her interest in art, Sheehan was a gymnast whose commitment and dedication to the sport made her a top-level athlete throughout her youth and high school years. That dedication and commitment would go on to serve her well in college and beyond.
After graduating from Shrewsbury High School in 1997, Sheehan attended the Hartford Art School (HAS) at the University of Hartford in Hartford, CT. Upon completing the required foundation courses in her freshman year, she majored in graphic design and minored in art history. Sheehan graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2001 and moved to Boston with her future husband whom she met in her junior year.
In Boston, she worked for a small graphics design firm that gave her a front row seat to all that it takes to own and operate a small business. Not only did she learn so much more than school could ever provide about marketing, presentation, and project management, Sheehan was fortunate to learn the mechanics of running a creative business including proposal writing, pricing, and bookkeeping. This unique opportunity was truly a gift and provided her with invaluable skills that she could make use of just a few years later.
After marrying, Sheehan and her husband decided that they could not continue to live in Boston and afford the lifestyle they were working towards, so they moved to Saratoga Springs, New York in 2004 where the cost of living was far more reasonable. Her husband is a native of upstate New York, so he was quite familiar with the area making the transition much easier. Once settled, Sheehan immediately launched her own graphics design business called Lis Design. It was very successful. In addition, she and her husband went on to have two children whom she home-schooled while running the business as well.
Despite all she had on her plate, the discipline of the gymnast from years past, coupled with a lifelong creative soul, forged Sheehan’s commitment to her fine art. She purposefully carved out "me-time" some years ago, from 5 to 7 AM every weekday to create in her studio. The morning light and the quiet were soothing and inspiring.
Early in her fine art career, she began painting beautiful abstracts which she still does today using many black and white photographs taken outdoors for reference. Snapshots of trees, flowers, and the countryside in all sorts of light provide context and shapes for her compositions. The resulting pieces, painted in color palettes that speak to Sheehan as she works, are engaging representations of nature. She describes them as abstract botanicals.
Sheehan’s actual painting process begins with laying a large canvas on the floor and layering in diluted acrylic washes of color. She shares that laying them on the floor prevents the washes from dripping down the canvas while drying. Once dried and she is completely satisfied with her basic composition and washes, she places the large canvas on an easel to begin painting with oil. Her beautiful botanical abstracts continue to be well-received by interior designers, private collectors, and healthcare facilities.
About seven years ago during her quiet fine art time, Sheehan happened to see how the sun shining through a window was illuminating a pile of eggshells destined for the compost pile. They glowed and had a delicate paper quality to them that she had never noticed before. In trigued and inspired, she grabbed a black pen and started doodling inside the shells, one after the other. The next day she did more of the same, and the day after that, amassing an assortment of black and white doodled eggshells. She shares that “since paint is my medium of choice, I soon began painting in them and widening their vocabulary."
And then it happened. A happy accident. She dropped one of the shells and it cracked, instantly bringing to mind the Japanese art of Kintsugi. It was an aha moment that took her eggshell doodles in a new direction. Kintsugi means “joining with gold” and is a centuriesold art form based on the belief that the broken pieces of your life can be put back together and make you stronger and better. It also teaches that we should embrace the beauty of human flaws. In Japan, broken pottery mended in gold is seen as more beautiful and serves as a metaphor for the Kintsugi view of life, and that’s how Sheehan sees life as well.
“Happy Dance” 32 x 32
Through trial and error over many years and based on the art of Kintsugi, Sheehan has perfected her eggshell art, though the process is painstaking and unpredictable. Simply gathering enough eggshells for her extraordinary pieces is a never-ending challenge. Since she and her family could not possibly eat enough eggs to keep her supplied with shells, she has friends, neighbors, and local farmers who save theirs for her. But even that may not be enough at times, so she reaches out on social media to find more eggshells wherever she can. And depending on the composition, she will even purchase ostrich and emu eggs to incorporate larger shells in a particular piece.
Long before creating a piece, the eggshells are carefully washed and allowed to dry. Next, Sheehan chips them down into the shape she needs. Sometimes they don’t cooperate and break. It is tedious work that requires endless hours hunched over a bucket to prepare each shell. Once cleaned and shaped, the eggshell interiors are painted. Some are done in bright colors and others in just a hint of a beautiful hue. Sheehan will often paint tiny patterns in the shell and even small botanical shapes. When the painting is complete, she turns to the art of Kintsugi, carefully adding delicate veins of 24K gold leaf which won’t tarnish over time. Sometimes the veins are random, and other times they’re
deliberate. It is time-consuming and takes tremendous patience, but the results are magnificent.
When her worktable is filled with completed eggshells, Sheehan begins assembling them. “I paint a batch then make the puzzle.” She may have a preconceived idea of what the final piece should look like but often lets the eggshells “speak to her” and reveal where they belong. Then ever so carefully, each shell is placed on a canvas. If the piece is very large and many are, she has to stand hunched over them for long periods of time which is another physically challenging part of the process. Once satisfied with the layout, she carefully glues them to the canvas using a PH-neutral framers' glue. This glue protects the integrity of the shells and the canvas while ensuring a strong bond. The precision and time it takes is very taxing, so cramped hands often happen, but for Sheehan, the results are worth it.
All her pieces are framed as shadow boxes to protect them from breakage and dust. Some frames are made with custom 24K gold leaf, some clear acrylic, and others are painted. She creates many “minis” as she calls them that are 4” square, and spectacular larger pieces that are 36” or more. Some pieces are precise grids of eggshells with color guiding the arrangements while others are
“Flourish Blues”
“Kintsugi Eggshells”
“Kintsugi Eggshells Flight”
“Kintsugi Eggshells Petals”
“Blue” 32 x 32
arranged like totem poles. Many are abstract collages in various shapes, sizes, and colors that come together in the moment.
And then there are the noodle bowls. Sheehan creates unique noodle bowls by chipping down eggshells into the shape of a tiny bowl, painting them, and adding amazing details in Asian patterns. Delicate gold veining is added last. She then rests tiny chopsticks that she hand carves and paints on top of each bowl and mounts them to canvas. Their simple ele gance is a beautiful example of Kintsugi art.
In 2017, Sheehan closed Lis Design to devote all her time to fine art. Still painting botanical abstracts while creating eggshell art, she no ticed increased interest on her website for eggshell art in early 2019. Amazingly, Danielle Krysa, known as The Jealous Curator, and an accomplished graphic designer and curator of contemporary art, discovered Sheehan’s eggshell
a rt and featured her on The Jealous Curator website, www.thejealouscurator.com. Before long, the word was out, and after years of painting eggshells, it was now recognized and in demand. In late 2019, the folks at Martha Stewart Living called and wrote a great article about her work as well.
While Sheehan’s increased visibility and sales are wonderful, the need for more eggshells is endless, so she has been exploring other options. Currently, she is creating porcelain eggshells that are thicker than re al ones and can be sculpted into any desired shape and size. Their durability will allow Sheehan to install large organic compositions directly to hotel or healthcare
lobby walls, for example, in gorgeous colors and patterns. They could undulate across the walls and around corners taking advantage of light and location. The possibilities are endless.
According to Sheehan, she is bursting at the seams with ideas and will probably never be able to explore them all. But as life has shown her so far, “fully committing to something with your whole self and believing in what you do just has a way of manifesting success.”
Indeed. And we look forward to seeing more of her beautiful work for years to come.
You can visit Sheehan’s website at www.elisasheehan.com to view and purchase her art.
“Chroma Petals”
“Jubilee”
There's Something for Everyone at Finishing Touches Finishing Touches Home Décor
by Carol St. Sauveur Ferris
In high school, the guidance counselor asked her what she was good at as they discussed possible careers. With a shrug of the shoulders, Shelly Walker said, "math," and just like that this
Glens Falls native went off to college to study accounting. Then, after 10 years of crunching numbers for a living, Walker was bored to tears and took a leap of faith. She picked up stakes and moved across the country to attend the Interior Design Institute in Newport Beach, California and pursue her passion.
After graduating from the Interior Design Institute, Walker spent a number of years as an interior designer at several furniture and design busi nesses. Add that experience to her accounting acumen, and you had the perfect formula for this budding entrepreneur to dream of starting her own full-service interior design business one day. Eventually, Walker returned to the Saratoga area to be near her family. She worked
for several design/furniture concerns before taking studio space at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls to launch her business. It wasn’t long after that before she opened Finishing Touches Home Décor in Wilton, New York, and what was once an improbable dream, became a reality.
Finishing Touches Home Décor began to flourish, and with that came the need for more space and a more convenient location for her customers. Walker found the perfect place in the 2100 square foot, Wiggens-Collamer House located at 450 East High Street in Malta, NY. Built in 1835, it was home to many generations of Wiggens and Collamer families until 1970 when it served as Malta’s Town Hall. In 1980, it became an official Malta Town Landmark and eventually became the only building in Malta to be placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Excited about the prospect of such a beautiful and visible location, Walker and her husband restored and renovated the house to accommodate the business keeping the wide plank floors and exposed beams. With a half-acre lot backing up to Collamer Park, they enhanced the landscape and added outdoor seating. Unfortunately, the business had closed while still in Wilton due to the pandemic, but Walker continued pr o viding in terior design services during this time to her established and new clients via Zoom until she was able to officially reopen.
When the mandates were loosened, she opened Finishing Touches Home Décor to the public at its new loca tion on June 23, 2020.
The building exterior is painted a beautiful dark green with fresh white trim and a black front door. Black window boxes grace the lower win dows flanking the front door with flowers, plants, and seasonal décor. And as you stroll up the walkway towards the large black barn door entrance to the shop, you will see a changing landscape of hand made teak horses, custom-made statues of jockeys, and other garden orna mentation mixed in with seasonal plantings.
Once inside it’s a feast for the eyes. Walker has created beautiful vignettes wherever you look. There’s a nice selection of furniture including side chairs, accent tables, soft seating, vintage pieces, and antiques while table lamps, chandeliers, mirrors, artwork, wall décor, and throw pillows add to the shop’s beautiful presentation. Not to be missed are the finishing touches including actual window treatments featuring blinds, shades, shutters, cornices, and custom draperies. When it comes to finding the perfect fabrics and trims for window treatments, bedding, pillows, and soft seating,
Finishing Touches also provides a special area for clients to com fortably sit and browse through a large selection of sample books by Carole, Kasmir, Sunbrella, and more. According to Walker, new fabric and trim lines are being added to their collection all the time. And if there’s something you need, want, and don’t see, she and her staff will be happy to assist and find it for you. Rounding out their beautiful home vignettes is a special area entirely devoted to furniture, accessories, and gift items for chil dren and babies, and there’s even a nod to the family pet with custom dog beds available to match the owner’s décor.
In addition to furniture and home décor, there’s a wide variety of services to be found at Finishing Touches. If you are building a new home, Walker and her staff will work with your team and help design the perfect house before the shovel goes into the ground. They can al so design, renovate, remodel and furnish a single room interior or several rooms in an existing house. And for the person who is looking to do a simple room re fresh, they will work with the existing furniture and accessories, perhaps re arrange them, then suggest items to purchase that can be added
over time to complement the new look. Walker shares that they have been working on a number of second homes in the area as well.
According to Walker, total room renovations have been in great demand including kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and home offices. “So many people are staying home now and working remotely, so they want their house to be beautiful. They’re in it a lot more than they used to be so everybody is ready to fix up dif ferent rooms in their house now.”
To provide the turnkey services she is often asked for, Walker has developed a trusted list of subcontractors and fabricators to call in as needed, giving homeowners peace of mind knowing that all the coordinating and details of their project are in the hands of her capable team. She also has a portfolio of past projects for customers to view showing kitchen and bathroom remodels, living rooms, model homes, model apartments, and several beautifully dec orated showcase homes. In fact, Walker is often recognized for her exceptional work and has won several awards in both the Saratoga Builders Association Showcase of Homes and the Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association Parade of Homes.
Walker’s design services don’t end there. In addition, she and her staff continue to offer home staging, paint consults, faux painting, tabletop décor, floral arranging, and more; and with the goal to be the go-to, one-stop-shop in the area, she now offers special event, party, and wedding décor.
Walker is also very excited about expanding her product line in the shop. She is always looking for new products by local artists, artisans, and chefs that would make great gifts and also be included in custom gift baskets they can create Currently, the gift items include locally made jams and jellies, the work of local artists and artisans, Saratoga peanut butter, fudge, beautiful cutting boards, and more. W alker welcomes
local vendors to stop in and share their wares and perhaps find a spot on her shelves, and customers will be happy to learn that after finding that special something, they can pick up the perfect card and gift bag for their purchase, then head out the door all set for their special occasion.
Now, if someone is getting a little hungry after spending time strolling through Finishing Touches and buying a gift or two, they can simply step out the door and head over to Cookies and Cream for a break. It’s a seasonal ice cream bar that Walker’s husband always wanted to open so they did! Located on the side of the shop, Cookies and Cream offers all types of ice cream delights including ice cream cookie sandwiches which can be leisurely enjoyed in the outdoor seating area. According to Walker, they’re very excited about expanding their selection of sweet treats this year which will include a variety of special cookies from which to choose.
All this begs the question, what else could she possibly add to this unique shop? And the answer? Coffee, of course. In fact, Walker and her husband are cu rrently sourcing coffee equipment and beans so they can open a cozy, 500 square-foot, year-round coffee bar with a few tables and chairs. It will be located within the shop itself and blend seam lessly with the gift merchandise, in terior design items, and décor. Still working out all the details, she shared that their ice cream customers have been asking for iced coffees as well, prompting them to add it to the menu along with the special lattes, expressos, and hot chocolates.
So it would seem that very soon when you shop for that perfect gift or special décor at Finishing Touches Home Décor, you’ll also be able to grab a coffee at their new coffee bar then head on over to Cookies and Cream to put the yummy finish ing touches on your wonderful day!
For more information about gifts, furnishings, décor, and services at Finishing Touches Home Décor go to www.finishingtouchestore.com or visit 450 East High Street, Malta, NY 12020 518. 584.1490
For more information about Cookies and Cream, check out their Facebook page at Cookies and Cream NY. And to be the first to grab a special coffee in the new coffee bar, stay tuned and check back regularly for more information on its official opening.
Left to right: Shelly Walker, Carys, Maureen and Jennifer
by Nellie Ackerman-Vellano
Ballston Spa's Hometown Restaurant reflects Big Cities Contemporary Cuisine
Grilled Pork Chop Shrimp & Grits
When I first walked into the restaurant past the handmade wood tables, reclaimed barn wood walls, custom art on display, and retro bar lighting that gave off a soft, warm, and inviting glow, it all felt familiar. It immediately brought me back to Charleston, South Carolina, where you know you're at "the spot" that tourists seek out to "go where the locals go" then find those locals at the bar eager to tell you their favorite things on the menu.
The Next Door Kitchen and Bar opened in 2014 with 50 seats and expanded to the building right next door in 2015, now able to seat almost 100 guests. Owners, Matthew Hall and Christian Fignar owned the Front Street Deli just two doors down for about ten years before taking on this endeavor. "It was a great opportunity for us to open another restaurant," stated Matthew. "We decided on the name Next Door because we feel it evokes a neighborhood feeling, that is what we were trying to create with our restaurant." shared Matthew.
Small production vendors and sustainability have always been at the forefront of their mission from their food to cocktails, wine list, and even the interior as you can see by the barn wood ceiling, barn door, and barn wood siding on the walls which came from local barns dating back to the early 1800s. The custom-made wood tables were crafted by a woodworker whom the owner described as "an artist."
The wine and cocktail lists were created with small production, family- owned, and sustainable practices in mind. Distilleries chosen reflect their high standards. As a bourbon drinker, I was thrilled with their expansive selection of bourbon, whiskey, and scotches.
Matthew expressed, "With regard to our food, we are serving unique and approachable items that take comfort
food to the next level." Each dish is in spired by seasonal ingredients that are sourced from local farms and from the restaurant's own organic garden which they maintain, changing their menu every season to showcase what the region offers.
Executive Chef Jeff Strom's style of cuisine is described as unpretentious yet has depth and complexity. Chef Jeff moved from Colorado in 2014 to be closer to his wife's family and is self-taught from his time in the Denver area's culinary scene learning from those he worked with. He has taken this vision and brings with him a unique blend of techniques and creativity that sets his food apart.
I wish I had dined at this restaurant years ago now that I know what I've been missing since 2014. However I am adding this venue to the top of my list for places to dine and drink, so you'll find me sitting at the bar, here and there.
If a wedge salad is on a menu, I will always favor it, and the Iceberg Wedge at the Next Door Kitchen and Bar is a wonderful salad decorated with cooked egg, dates, radish, red onion, housemade blue cheese, buttermilk-herb dressing, and a house bacon that is delicious and not overly salty like many.
I also love beets, and the Roasted Beets as one of this restaurant's featured appetizers lay on tahini yogurt, quinoa, orange, pistachio dukkah, mint, and pomegranate.
Another popular appetizer, The Poached Shrimp, is served with an aromatic smoked cocktail sauce, rests on a bed of potato salad, and is topped with horseradish, mustard seeds, and dill.
You can't go wrong with the Pulled Pork & Kimchi Egg Rolls with a carrot-habanero sauce, pickled shiitake & scallion.
The Pan Roasted Halibut was a dish that put this dining experience over the top for me. You couldn't ask for a more perfectly prepared
fish. The individual ingredients on the plate all work together distinctively as the Chef pairs the delicate fish with a red cabbage parsnip puree, beet vinaigrette, and a mustard.
The Pastrami Spiced Salmon creatively uses the spice rub you would use in preparing pastrami, and it works so well on the salmon plated with a smoked fish cream, fingerling potatoes, braised cabbage, beet-onion marmalade, mustard seeds, and topped with fresh dill.
Their Grilled Pork Chop entree at The Next Door Kitchen and Bar is wonderful, and I have to share how impressed I was by this dish. I'm Korean and grew up on Korean food. Chef Jeff made the kimchi for the fried rice, and I could just eat that alone in a bowl. The charred pineapple, ginger-scallion sauce, sweet soy, and radish complete this dish.
The Shrimp & Grits is a dish I seek out when I'm down South. I feel like I found a little bit of Charleston fusion in the buttery shrimp broth, creole sofrito, and pickled pepper sauce.
This is a great place to meet friends, enjoy a date night, or gather with family.
The Next Door Kitchen and Bar is located at 51 Front St. Ballston Spa, NY 12020 (518) 309-3249 www.nextdoorkitchenandbar.com
SPRING: A Time of Wonder, Biting Off Heads, and True Friendship
by Karen Richman
It is said that Easter, Passover, and spring, in general, are a time of renewal, rebirth, and joy. It's also a time for celebrating enduring friendship.
This season has always come to mean a time of happiness after a long, hard winter, a time of welcoming sunshine, flowers, and bunnies, espe cially the little adorable white ones who hop around your lawn eating what you just planted, posing as stuffed cuddlers in Easter baskets, and as beautiful figures skillfully and deliciously sculpted by chocolatiers. As a child, that was my idea of renewal, sunshine, and pure unadulterated joy; and therefore, I developed a quick and lasting friendship with the chocolate bunny!
When I was a little girl, the very first thing I wanted to get into in my Easter basket was a nice, solid dark chocolate bunny. Unlike most of my friends, I didn't care for milk chocolate, and I was horrified by the rabbits that were hollow inside. All I wanted was a nice big chunk of dark chocolate Did I start with the ear or gingerly nibble at the feet? Uh-uh. I unwrapped that rabbit quickly, and unceremoniously bit its head right off!
It happened one spring, right around Easter time, that my Brownie troop took a field trip to the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey to see a live performance of a play called, "Harvey," starring British-American actor and comedian, Joe E. Brown. I was about eight, had never been to live theatre before, and was very excited, especially when we were told the play was about an imaginary white rabbit.
In truth, "Harvey" was a comedy written by Mary Chase in 1944 for which surprisingly she won the Pulitzer Prize. In 1955, it was adapted to the world of cinematography and became a hit film starring Jimmy Stewart who gave the kind of whimsical, honest performance for which he was famous. In 1955, the play hit the boards with Joe E. Brown. Although the plot was preposterous on the surface, it was the underlying message that no doubt won the hearts of those who vote for the Pulitzer and awarded it to Mary Chase that year over Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie." The plot unravels the story of a grown man, Elwood P. Dowd, who lives with his sister and niece in a big house; however, he also spends most of his time in downtown bars making friends and introducing them to his invisible buddy, Harvey, a 6'3" white rabbit that only he can see. Dowd drinks his way around town introducing Harvey to everyone he meets while his sister is quietly making arrangements to have him committed After hearing her riff on and on about an imaginary rabbit, the people at the sanatorium think she is the crazy one and try to commit her. Ulti mately the message of "what is real? what is truth? and who are you hurting anyway by having an imaginary friend?" comes shining through.
I sat spellbound throughout the entire performance, not so much because of the plot but because I was so completely taken by the concept and magic of live theatre. Just the fact that these actors were only a few yards away from me and yet pretending they could not see me, while I was staring right back at them pretending they were the very characters they inhabited was spellbinding to me.
There have now been many springs that have come and gone since the one when I went to the Paper Mill Playhouse and saw my first live show. I have since developed a strong, lifelong passion for live theatre and have seen many a production locally, regionally, and on Broadway. But in ad dition to the sunshine and flowers, spring always brings with it each year the sweet memory of an enormous white rabbit long ago sharing the
same space with me, of actors pretending to be who they were not, and the wonderful relationship that only live theatre creates between actor and audience.
Although I still love dark chocolate, especially at Easter, I no longer want a rabbit in my basket. I buy other chocolate novelties, but never a bunny. It may sound silly to you, but it's just that if I bit the head off as I was al ways want to do, I'd feel as though I were biting Harvey's head off, and he is the reason I do so love the wonder of theatre and understand the depth and beauty of unconditional friendship, knowing it doesn't have to be visible to be real.
Happy Easter. Happy Passover.
It's wonderful to have a trusted friend...even an imaginary giant rabbit.
A Pottery Garden For Wellness
Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE
The snow has melted. The days are longer, and I’m ready for all the fruit, beautiful flowers, and herbs I can get my hands on. I love clipping my own herbs to use in cooking and find that everything just tastes BETTER when it's right out of my garden.
There’s just one catch…I don’t have a green thumb. I don’t know if I don’t have the skill or that special touch, but I’m not a great gardener. I like to plant things outside that come back every year and don’t need a lot of fussing, pruning, and weeding. I really don’t like weeding, and I don’t like dealing with bugs and critters that like to eat everything that’s tender and green or flowers.
That’s why I love having a pottery garden. A pottery garden is easy to set up, maintain, and you can move your plants around as needed. You can have house plants indoors, and you can have culinary or medicinal herbs inside during the colder months and out on your patio or deck from mid spring to late fall.
What are some of the benefits of having a pottery garden? Let’s start inside:
Creating an indoor garden can increase focus and memory retention. Your indoor garden can also reduce stress and anxiety. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and increase oxygen levels while refreshing the air in your home. Houseplants can remove up to 87% of toxins in the air within 24 hours. According to a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, houseplants can also reduce stress and anxiety.
Most plants don’t require a lot of space. A good place to start is to look for areas in the home that don’t get a lot of attention. Maybe you have a boring corner, just waiting for a little pop of color. It’s important to find adequate light, warmth, and humidity.
You should also do a little research on the average size of the plant and make sure you find the right pots. If you put a large plant in a smallish container or pot, it won’t grow very much because it doesn’t have enough room to grow. Also, pick colors that create a theme. I love to start with all white pots (they help the green leaves pop with color and contrast) Another pretty option is terra cotta pots in all shapes and sizes. Having a color “grouping” makes the plants look more inviting and brings an esthetic, cohesive look to your pottery garden.
Kids do really well with indoor gardens. They’re pretty easy to maintain and kids can practice some responsibility building Many house plants require a little misting during the week before they get watered. Let your child mist each plant once or twice a week and teach them the importance of caring for something that is alive and needs assistance. There’s a nonprofit called gardeningwithkids.com that has a ton of gardening ideas, crafts and lesson plans to keep the fun going.
What plants do well inside?
Let’s start with two easy plants that thrive indoors:
Spider Plants ~ Spider plants were recognized as one of the “best air cleaning plants” in a study by NASA. This easy plant has proven its ability to filter formaldehyde and xylene. Spider plants are easy to take care of and propagate quickly. They prefer a cool and partially sunny environment and will make lots of little baby spider plants for you to share with friends or plant in other pots around your home.
Snake Plant ~ Most low-maintenance plants widen when they grow. A snake plant grows tall (up to four feet) so it doesn’t take a really large pot and
can be set up almost anywhere. These plants don’t need a lot of attention but do like to be watered regularly.
How about plants that do well inside and outside?
One of my favorite potted plants to start in my kitchen window is the herb, basil. It’s not the easiest to grow but once it’s growing, it really takes off. Basil likes room so air can circulate around the leaves of the plant. It also doesn’t like to be really dry, so don’t let it dry out completely between watering but communicative it also doesn’t like to be soggy, so make sure it has good drainage.
One of the easiest herbs to grow is the sage plant. It also flowers with these pretty little bluish-purple buds that usually appear in the summertime. You can plant sage in the spring or the fall. It likes sandy soil and at least 6 hours of sun per day. The benefit to planting sage in a pot is that you can move the pot around to get enough sunlight. To protect sage during the winter, bring them indoors and place them by your window with the most sunlight.
P.S. There are almost always vulnerable plants at home improvement stores on sale for $2-$5. Either they didn’t travel well or they were overwatered or left completely dehydrated. If you have a green thumb, there are plants that need to be adopted into a loving home. They will clean your air, boost your spirits, and be forever grateful for the chance to beautify your home or office.
xoxo,
Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE FACES of Saratoga, Organic Skin Therapy Studio 489 Broadway, Suite 3 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 facesofsaratoga.com 518) 396-7403
April 1 - June 18 Albany
Leigh Li-Yun Wen: Constant Motion and Currents. Constant Motion and Currents by Taiwanese artist Leigh Li-Yun Wen explores the four elements of nature: water, fire, earth, and air. Her monumental paintings, mixed media works, fashions, and ceramics high light the supernatural power found in nature and the simplicity and harmony that exists in the chaos of the world. The exhibition reflects different phases throughout her 35+ year career. Wen has exhibited nationally and internationally since the early 1980s. Al bany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210 www.albanyinstitute.org
April 1 - 17 Delmar
Merriman and Pfister’s Mar ketplace hosts Fine Art Photographer, in an in-house Pop-Up Show and Sale “On Deck,” a collection of photography and mixed media exhibited by Marty Bannan. The artist, a Delmar resident and Bethlehem graduate, adopted Maine as second in his heart to his native New York as a child vacationing along its coast. Later in life, he took on photography and plied his talent toward his favorite travel destination. Not surprisingly, much of Marty’s photo training took place in Maine as he is an annual workshop attendee at the prestigious Maine Media College in Rockport. Merriman and Pfister's Marketplace, 388 Kenwood Ave, Delmar, NY 12054
April 1 - 16 Lake George Games of Chance, a solo exhibition of paintings by Fern T. Apfel. Abstraction and narration fold together in Fern Apfel’s acrylic paintings. Her images contain memorabilia she has collected over many years. Playing cards, letters, handwritten notes and other various ephemera are placed on top, or layered above, colored backgrounds in an intentionally considered minimal composition. In our contemporary time, where so much communication is digital, and emails are often deleted, these painted objects can center and ground us in the physical world, reminding us of our connections and threads of discourse through time, triggering memory, as well as recording our lives. Intricate and intimate, all the lettering is done freehand. Lake George Art Project,1 Amherst St, Lake George, NY 12845
April 1 - Clifton Park
The Blooming Artist welcomes all to our public ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, April 1st at 1pm and our “In Flight” exhibition reception to follow at 6pm. This will be our fourth show since opening our Clifton Parkbased gallery and studio last October and will feature the enchanting works of many artists and artisans from around our community. Based on the past three, we are anticipating this reception to be a truly lovely evening! We hope you all will join us in appreciating the artwork and en joying live music and light provisions; if you are unable to attend, the exhibit is available for viewing from March 29th-May 7th. The Blooming Artist, 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065 www.thebloomingartist.gallery
APRIL EVENTS
April 1 -10 Schuylerville
Elemental Beauty. Robert Moylan and Jill FishonKo vachick. Robert Moylan works masterfully in gouache. His panoramic landscapes are brightly colored celebrations of the rural beauty of Rensselaer and Washington counties in New York. Jill Fishon-Kovachick is a renowned local clay artist and owner/di rector of the Saratoga Clay Arts Center located in Schuylerville, NY. Fishon-Kovachick utilizes Raku, Sagger and High Fire techniques to create subtle yet resplendent tones of earth and sky in her work. In her own words, “[The] natural coloration, reflected in my work, brings everything together for me.” Gallery hours: Thursday - Sunday 12pm -5pm. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad Street, Schuylerville, NY.
April 1 -12 Cambridge
Elizabeth Phillips: Pebble Art : Artist Recep tion at Valley Artisans Market. Eliza beth Phillips is an artist who works in the medium of photography, oil paint, and sticks and stones. Phillip’s abstract series “Ledges” are made from found objects she uses to rep resent landscapes and people. “ My Ledges series is really about the relationships between people and the emotions involved. My intent is to invoke a feeling through the artwork. A tilt of the head, a lean against an other, tee tering on rock ledges,” said Phillips. “The series represents the safety and need for each other in this sometimes cruel world.” Valley Artisans Market, 25 East Main Street Cambridge, NY 12816
April 1 - 22 Albany
April 1 - May 15 Troy
Fredda Merzon - Retrospective, Fredda is a well known local sculptor. She uses found objects and her work resembles botanical forms, both real and imagined. For her 80th birthday, we are happy to have a retrospective of 40 years of her work. Pause Gallery, 501 Broadway #106, Troy, NY 12180
23rd Annual High School Regional Juried Exhi bition. Albany Center Gallery is thrilled to be hosting the 23rd Annual High School Regional Juried Exhibition. The Regional is a highly anticipated annual juried exhibition showcasing the artwork of over 100 high school students from over 20 regional high schools. The exhibit showcases a variety of talented student work in all mediums, including: painting, drawing, photography, film, digital media, and sculpture. Exhibition Dates: April 1 - 22, 2022. 488 Broadway, Suite 107, Albany, NY 12207. Tuesday - Saturday Noon - 5pm, Or by appointment
April 14, 15, 16 Saratoga Springs
APRIL EVENTS
April 9 - 23 Schuylerville
April 7 - May 21 Glens Falls
Mountain Gallery will be hosting an exhibit of works from the Guild of Adirondack Artists
April 7th through May 21st. The Opening Reception is Friday April 8th from 6-8pm and is free and open to the public. Mountain Gallery, 21 Bay St, Glens Falls, NY
Traversing Myth: New Works by Lynne Hobaica & Robin Whiteman. Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery presents Tra versing Myth, a duo exhibition featuring the playfully narrative functional and sculptural works of Robin Whiteman (NY) and Lynne Hobaica (NC). The characters and symbols within the work of both artists are inspired by historical and personal mythologies and fairytales - stories we carry with us and learn from and stories that reveal who we are. Reception is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 5-7pm, Traversing Myth will run through April 23, 2022. Saratoga Clay Arts Center, 167 Hayes RoadSchuylerville, NY, 12871
April 12 Saratoga Springs
JAZZ at Caffe Lena: C huck Lamb Trio Featuring Adrian Cunningham. Enjoy an evening of world class ja zz in an intimate listening room that combines the refinement of a concert hall with the comfort of a living room. This continuing series is hosted by resident composer, pi anist and jazz master, Chuck Lamb, with support from music producer Joel Moss. JAZZ at Caffe Lena features collaborations between Lamb and internationally touring jazz artists, as well as many of the Capital Region's best.Tue, April 12, 2022, 7:00 PM EDT. Doors at 6:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
April 14 - Saratoga Springs
S aratoga Performing Arts Center an nounces that it has partnered with Skidmore College to present trailblazing pianist, speaker and activist, Lara Downes for a special appearance on April 14, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arthur Zankel M usic Center. Downes’ performance ex plores the landscape of American music from George Gershwin and Morton Gould to Billie Holiday, Scott Joplin, and Florence Price, giving voice to underrepresented and forgotten artists alongside their contemporaries. Tickets for the April 14 performance are $30 for general admission and $10 for all collegiate students and faculty with valid school ID. Skidmore stu dents enrolled in the music program will have free admission. 815 N Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Janis Ian is a singer and songwriter whose career has gone through th ree distinct stages. Ian had an initial burst of fame as a teenager with a p recocious gift for social and political commentary. She returned to the public eye in the mid-'70s with deeply personal songs about life and relationships. In 1993, after ten years away from the spotlight, Ian re-emerged as an independent artist whose comeback album, Breaking Silence. In each stage of her career, Ian's lyrics were literate and emotionally honest.Please vist https://www.caffelena.org/live-events/ for each dates times. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
April 16 Glens Falls
David Mayfield Parade. David Mayfield may be one of the most original performers on the Americana scene. Known for his bombastic stage presence as much as his virtuosic guitar talent and songwriting prowess. Meet The Parade... David Mayfield - Acoustic guitar, mandolin, & vocals Christine King - Fiddle, upright bass, & vocals Andrew Bonnis - Upright bass, acoustic guitar, & vocals Steven Moore - 5-string banjo & vocals Doors: 6:30pm | Showtime: 7:30pm. The Park Theater, 14 Park Street Glens Falls, NY
April 23 Glens Falls
Call For All Artists for North Country Arts Annual Juried ExhibitionEXPRESSIONS 2022 from May 5 to June 11. This year’s Juror is John Hampshire, Prof. of Art, SUNY Adirondack Awards are Gold $750, Silver $500, Bronze $250 and Honorable Mention $100. Hanging Fees for two pieces are $25 for NCA members and $35 for non-members. Awards presented May 5 at opening 5 to 7pm. DROP OFF is APRIL 23, 12 to 5pm, Pick-Up Non-Accepted Art is April 30 at Studio #120, The Shirt Factory, 71 Lawrence St., Glens Falls, NY. For details visit northcountryarts.org
April 25 Albany
UAlbany Jazz Ensemble. Directed by Keith Pray, this student and community ensemble presents con certs featuring classic and con temporary jazz. The fall concert features an eclectic mix of America's or iginal art form and beyond i ncluding works by Duke Ellington, Bill Frisell, Tito Puente, Fela Kuti and more. Monday, April 25, 2022 at 8pm. Advance tickets: $5 general public / $3 students, seniors & UAlbany faculty-staff. Day of show tickets: $10 general public / $5 students, seniors & UAlbany faculty-staff. UAl bany Performing Arts Center, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
April 29 Glens Falls
Comedy After Dark – Chris Roach. Chris Roach is a Comedian/Actor born and raised in New York. He has brought his unique sense of humor to some of the biggest and best-known stages in the country. Comedy After Dark at The Park includes a feature act, a host, and a guest comedian to make up nearly 2 hours of comedy entertainment. Patrons are encouraged to buy tickets in advance to guarantee seating at the show. Doors: 7pm | Showtime: 8pm. The Park Theater, 14 Park Street Glens Falls, NY
