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
Nick Martinez “Peter in the Paddock”
Welcome to the August issue! The month full of arts and culture that remind all of us why we love where we live. Make connections and en joy music, art, recreation, sport, and all-things the Capital Region has to offer. In this issue, we give our readers a magazine full of “The Best of the Best”. The finest places to eat, shop and stay. Please flip through our pages while sitting on the porch after dinner, or bring it along in your beach bag to savor under the sun.
A s this month sweeps you up, remember to take a pause, savor the days, and be present with people you adore more than anything. That’s the real magic of summer. Take it all in.
As always, our goal at 518 PROFILES, is always to focus on the good, the beautiful and the positive by publishing stories with heart and soul. We strive each month to deliver authentic and un ique content about creative people and interesting destinations Enjoy the issue, and enjoy your summer!
Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher
From horseback to easel in a gallop! Nick Martinez, Artist
pg. 4
ENCORE
Connecting the Dots in Glen Falls Arts & Entertainment North Country ARTS
pg. 12
One Look & He Fell in Love, One Taste & You’ll Fall in Love
pg. 22 518 PROFILES
The Peoples Art Gallery
Albany Center Gallery, Unique in So Many Ways
pg. 30
photo by Stephanie Sittnick
From horseback to easel in a gallop! Nick Martinez, Artist
By Carol St.Sauveur Ferris
For most of us, the world of horse racing is largely defined by the Kentucky Derby, considered the greatest two minutes of racing. From there it’s the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Together they’re known as the Triple Crown, and to win all three is the dream of thoroughbred owners and race enthusiasts. But beyond the Triple Crown, there are races held every day on a track somewhere in the world including Saratoga Race Course right here in Saratoga Springs, New York.
While horses are at the center of the racing world, behind every potential winning horse is a select group of people who invest untold sums of money and years to groom them to achieve their potential. They include the breeders, owners, veterinarians, groomers, farriers, trainers, exercise jockeys, and jockeys. And every one of them dreams of bringing a promising young foal to the Winner’s Circle one day.
One such person was Nick Martinez. In his early years he was a professional jockey and is now a very successful artist. His story is both fascinating and the definition of determination and grit.
Martinez was born in Trinidad, Colorado. He was one of six children and always very small for his age. As a young boy, his mom enrolled him in art classes where it became pretty clear to everyone that he could draw, but to Martinez it was no big deal. He preferred spending time around horses. He was introduced to them by his grandfather (Grandpa), who was an ex-cowboy and began spending every summer with him from the age of eight.
Grandpa grew up during a time when there were no cars, so horses were the primary mode of transportation. But before they could be saddled up to ride, cowboys like him would go from ranch to ranch breaking the horses so people could safely ride them. Eventually, when the automobile replaced the horse, Grandpa became a carpenter.
Martinez’s earliest memory of horses seemed like a dream at one time, but he learned years later that the memory was real. Apparently, when he was just a toddler, Grandpa took him to the Winner’s Circle after a race and held him up close to the horse. Martinez remembers that the horse was in a lather, yet he was encouraged to touch and stroke his nose.
“My fist wasn’t any bigger than his nostril, and he had me touch the horse’s muzzle. I remember my grandfather encouraging me and saying, ‘he’s your friend.’That always stuck in my mind. So growing up, no matter how they acted, I always considered them my friend.”
Martinez loved the horse life and looked forward to spending summers with Grandpa. He learned how to feed them, clean out their stalls, and how to lead them as well. Yet at summer’s end, he also looked forward to taking drawing and art classes when he was back in school.
At the age of twelve, Martinez and his family moved to Horse Creek, Wyoming for his Dad’s job. He attended Central High School in the nearby town of Cheyenne during the school year and continued to spend summers
with his grandfather. After high school graduation, he attended Casper Junior College, majoring in fine art with a minor in ceramics. Martinez admits that he took every art course possible including lots of figure drawing at the expense of his prerequisites. When the school administrator took him aside and told him that he was never going to graduate, Martinez was not at all concerned.
“My mission was to learn all about the different mediums, you know. All about art, watercolor, ceramics, sculpture, everything to do with art. So I spent all my time in the art department. I never graduated, but I didn’t care.”
At the age of twenty-two, Martinez took a step back to consider his future and decided that he could always do art at any age and maybe make a good living at it, but to be a successful jockey you had to have youth and strength. He shares that he was a scrappy kid in high school and unafraid. He con centrated on becoming super strong and at 5’2” and about 95 pounds of muscle, he was. He admits to always being attracted to the idea of taking risks and pushing yourself past your limits. So there was no doubt in his mind that the time to become a jockey was now.
When he left Casper Junior College, Martinez recon nected with people he met from summers spent with his Grandpa. He moved around quite a bit for a while, looking for the right opportunity to learn everything he needed to know to be a jockey, and eventually landed at Keeneland Acres. There he spent three years learning how to ride and train horses.
In 1976 he went to Littleton, Colorado to continue honing his riding skills at Centennial Race Track and ended up winning quite a few races. Young, fit, and fearless, a track announcer connected him with an agent who guided his career. He went on to Delmar in California where he won his very first race riding a horse named Geothermal for the very first time. Martinez ended up doing really well in the California circuit for quite a while but relocated to the Midwest when he lost his apprenticeship.
Then on December 20, 1983, the unthinkable happened. He was riding a two-year-old first-time starter horse when she ducked into the inside rail, then flipped forward, throwing him into the galvanized steel rail. His leg shattered into pieces no larger than a fingernail from his knee to his toes. Miraculously, surgeons put it all back together with two plates, screws, and forty-four pins. He was out for eighteen months but during those months he took drawing classes at a Phoenix, Arizona art college.
Understandably, the accident left him wary and fearful of riding ever again but with his family’s encouragement, he did the proverbial get back on
the horse thing and went back to riding for six more years. Martinez then stopped race riding altogether but continued exercising the horses in the morning while painting in the afternoon. Eventually, he focused full-time on his painting career and was at his tent at the track
throughout the season. His work began to sell very well, and as they say, the rest is history.
For the last fifteen years, Martinez has been a highly successful artist painting horses and the jockeys who ride them. When looking at his equine art it is clear that his many years in the saddle have im bued him with a unique understanding of what a jockey may be thinking at any given moment in time which translates into a feeling of authenticity in his work, and his ability to convey the symbiotic relationship of horse and jockey has brought him commissions from all over the world.
“Peter in the Paddock”
“Bound For Glory At Saratoga”
W h ile his compositions are a thoughtful combi na tion o f images taken from his p hotographs of paddocks, the track, the horses, and jockeys, the details come from within.
“I paint from memory and reliving moments, and I like realism with a little bit of flair to it.”
That flair is evident in the colors of the silks and i n the faces of the jockeys themselves. According to Martinez, you rarely get to see th e jockey’s face in a race, so he likes to capture the expressions unique to the jockey he is painting.
And after all these years, Martinez is not only an accomplished artist but a successful busi nessperson as well. His commissioned work hangs in the homes and offices of many major owners and players, but also in the homes of tourists and local race enthusiasts. He freely admits that the foundation of his business is based on a simple formula he has developed over the years.
“I paint one new painting every year that is a real standout painting, then I put it on paper and on canvas, in all different sizes, and offer it framed or unframed. Then the next year I’ll put it on a mug.” Over the years Martinez has learned that people like to
purchase artwork that reminds them of their trip to the racetrack and the beautiful horses that run.
“People from out of town and local residents to all want some sort of memory, so they will buy a memory of the oldest racetrack in America which is Saratoga. I also paint the horses that people really love.” And if a particular horse did not win at Saratoga but ran there, Martinez will paint him in a field of other horses on the track or maybe in the paddock, because people still identify with the horses they came to see whether they end up in the Winner’s Circle or not.
“Barbaro”
“Arrogate”
“Irad Ortiz Jr & Jose Ortiz”
Besides his equine art, Martinez paints scenery, African animals, scenes from Saratoga Springs, and portraits. He also has a gift line that features his artwork. But be on the lookout for new work. Rumor has it that there is a fly-fishing trip to Canada on the calendar, so don’t be surprised to see new paintings of rivers, fish, gear, and more very soon. And no doubt they will be amazing.
To view and purchase his work, visit www.nickmartinezart.com
“And They’re Off”
The Laffer Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery and custom framing studio showcasing nationally and regionally recognized contemporary artists. Exhibitions ranging from realism to abstraction rotate every 4 to 6 weeks.
518.695.3181 | 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY
Connecting the Dots in Glen Falls Arts & Entertainment North Country ARTS
By Carol St.Sauveur Ferris
Glens Falls, New York is located just 45 minutes north of Albany and 20 minutes from Saratoga Springs right off the 87 Thruway in the county of Warren. With a current population of nearly 15,000 people, Glens Falls has a wonderful small- town feel with big-city amenities. In fact, the town was once featured in Look Magazine and named Hometown USA back in 1944; and more recently, it was chosen as New York’s Best City for a Successful 2017 by gobankingrates.com.
And with two historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a growing Central Business District, elected officials, local businesses, and private citizens have worked together to promote and support a vibrant arts and entertainment community. In addition, a
growing number of organizations and non-profits have committed to providing ongoing support and opportunity for individual artists and creatives as well.
One such organization is North Country ARTS (NCA), a 501.(c)3 non- profit whose express mission is “to provide opportunities and to encourage and promote artists in the North Country of New York State.” Its origin dates back to 1971 when a group of artists founded North Country Arts Center (NCAC) in the Warrensburg, New York area. Their goal was to offer adult and children’s art classes to the general public. Initially, they held the classes in member artists’ homes or in donated spaces, but it wasn’t long before the NCAC was able to rent a storefront
“Garuda” Jacquiline Touba
“Pain Will Not Define Me” Phyllis Brown
on Main Street in the town of Warrensburg to hold its classes. Needed gallery space for North Country artists to exhibit and sell their work was now available as well.
In 1975, NCAC moved to a Victorian house in Warrensburg which was much larger and allowed them to expand their classes and gallery space. In addition, there was enough room for a café, space to host special performances, and an area for a dedicated store for artists to exhibit and sell their work. Unfortunately, in 1976, the grants that NCAC depended on vanished overnight forcing the organization to downsize and relocate to a less costly location.
It was the city of Glens Falls and the Urban Renewal Agency that came to the rescue allowing NCAC to move into a storefront at 7 Ridge Street absolutely rent- free. Thus, began what is now a 45year relationship that wholly benefits artists and the communityat-large. With the help of key organizations like Warren County Tourism, Kaleidoscope, the Glens Falls Operetta Club, and the Lake George Opera Festival, NCAC quickly became a key advocate for the revitalization of Glens Falls commercial center. And in short order, NCAC closed the Ridge Street location and opened a gallery in City Hall which became their exhibition space and central sup port center for aspiring artists for many years.
NCAC has supported artists of all ages by providing creative challenges and opportunities for established and unknown artists. Their signature event was called On Your Own Time, an annual competition open to all area businesses. The competition encouraged businesses who in turn encouraged their employees and retirees to create and share original works of art, regardless of medium. Upon submission of their pieces, NCAC displayed them in their 2nd Floor Gallery in Glens Falls City Hall. Individual artists were recognized for their work and presented with awards as well.
NC AC also sponsored a wide variety of area programs and activities including the Seven to Eleven Club art program, chil dren’s activities at the annual June Craft Festival, the Colors of Fall Festival at Glens Falls, and spin art at the Glens Falls Sym phony Chocolate Festival. The outpouring of support by hun dreds of volunteers made these and many other events possi ble in addition to a strong membership roster.
Always looking to expand and increase opportunity and participation, NCAC added the 6 Pine Street location when a donor offered the site to hold its records. Inevitably, shows were held there offering a second
location for artists to exhibit their work. Then in 2010, a satellite location was opened in Chestertown, New York which helped to increase the recognition of artists in the Adirondack region and increase membership in the organization.
In 2015, NCAC closed the Chestertown Gallery and held upcoming ex hibitions at the Rare eARTh Gallery and Events on Glen Street in
Glens Falls. They changed the name of NCAC to North Country ARTS (NCA), and by 2016 opened a new gallery at The Shirt Factory which became their central location after moving operations from Pine Street. While the gallery at The Shirt Factory hosted eight an nual exhibitions every year, the gallery at City Hall continued to host group and solo exhibitions as well.
Since 2016, NCA has continued its mission to bring awareness to the arts and artists in the North Country. To that end, they established Expressions, a new juried fine art show that has become a popular event. With awards funded by prominent professionals and the Touba Family
Rare eARTh Gallery
Annual Photography Show Crandall Public Library
Portrait Painting Workshop
2nd Floor Gallery
The Colors of Fall Festival
"Flutter By" by Christine Levy
"The Last Photo" by Maureen Temple
"Peter" by John Hampshire
"Sassy Horses Hat Day at the Race Track" by Sandra Jabaut.
Foundation, and with experts from the North Country arts community acting as ju rors, the show was a resounding success and became an annual event for NCA members.
Unfortunately, in the spring of 2020, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the on-site exhibition part of Expressions, but it was made available on the NCA website for con venient virtual viewing. And the show was successfully juried by Laura Von Rosk, Lake George Arts Project Gallery Director. Since then, virtual viewing and other social media platforms have become an integral part of NCA’s presence.
In addition to their increased social media presence, NCA recently moved to a new, much larger space in The Shirt Factory. The space, which was once an art gallery, was now being used for storage. And every time Dr. Jacquiline Touba, former President of the Board of Directors at NCA, went by the shuttered gallery, she was disheartened. It wasn’t long before negotiations took place with The Shirt Factory owner and by August 2021, the space became NCA’s new home.
In the past, the previous gallery walls were cov ered top to bottom in art but in the new gallery, each artist is allowed to hang one piece unless it is a show like Expressions which al lowed two pieces per artist. At a recent Ex pressions show, 131 pieces were originally submitted with one jurist who selected seventy pieces for the successful show. And in addition to hanging art, NCA allows the display of sculpture and ceramics when exhibition space permits.
When talking about NCA in detail, Dr.Touba emphasized that supporting new artists as well as established artists is their mission. The artists they show may also include retirees, art teach ers, children, those who dabble, and everyone in between. So many are afraid to show their work, so NCA works hard to put them at ease and get their work out there in the hope it will sell as well.
NCA has a variety of working committees besides their working board. For example, there’s a hanging committee, a gallery committee, and a marketing committee to name a few. Together these volunteers and NCA members develop innovative ideas and show opportunities for area artists then execute them as required.
In addition, NCA collaborates with other organizations to provide cultural opportunities and experiences to Glens Falls and the surrounding communities. One such program paired a poet’s reading of a particular piece with the work of artists who interpreted the poem in their preferred media. According to Dr.Touba, it was fascinating to see each artist’s understanding of the poem in their piece.
The Shirt Factory location promises to be the beginning of NCA’s larger presence in the community with many opportunities to increase awareness. For instance, during the summer months, The Shirt Factory owner holds a food trunk event every Thursday which encourages the public to have a bite to eat and visit the artists’ studios, shops, and of course, the NCA gallery.
An d as a member of the Arts District of Glens Falls, NCA is also actively in volved in promoting other arts and entertainment events including the Glens Falls Entertainment and Music Festival (GEM). GEM is a one-day fes tival featuring per formances by local bands and the work of many artists. If the initial festival is a success, it may be expanded in the future. In addition, the Arts District and NCA are working hard to raise awareness outside of Glens Falls. It is their hope that those in the Capital District and be yond will think of Glens Falls as a won derful place to visit, rich with the arts, culture, and en tertainment - a destination that will not disappoint.
As for her personal point of view, Dr.Touba makes a great case for the protection and preservation of the arts and those that create it, here in Glens Falls and beyond.
“I tell people that if you take all the pictures down from your walls, roll up your carpets, take down the draperies, cover the furniture, and take all the clothes out of your closet, then connect the dots, there won’t be anything. This is what artists provide for you. It’s all around you!”
Luckily, there are organizations like North Country ARTS that connect the dots for all of us to follow and enjoy, one dot at a time.
For more information, visit their website at www.northcountryarts.org
First row: Dolores Thomson- Marketing Committee Chair, Jacquiline Touba - Treasurer of Board, Grant Writers Back row: Drew Monthie, Board Member, Adelaide Walsh Leibold - Board Member, Gallery Committee, Robin Brewer- 2nd Floor Gallery Coordinator, Maria Clara Castano - 2nd Floor Gallery committee
One Look & He Fell in Love, One Taste & You’ll Fall in Love
by Rona Mann
photos by Nellie Ackerman-Vellano
A lot of restaurants, particularly those specializing in ethnic dishes, claim to be “authentic.”
In many cases that’s what they feel they’re putting out there. In other cases, they just aren’t that schooled or familiar in the flavors and style of cuisine of a specific country or region. So before you believe that “authentic” on a menu means the real deal, you just might want to visit this very special Saratoga restaurant and the very special people who make “authentic” the real deal with every meal they create and cook from scratch. They can make that claim because they’ve lived it, they’ve cooked it all over the world, and he even wrote the book on it. A few of them.
This is Brasserie Benelux, proudly front and center in downtown Saratoga exactly where owner/chef Armand Vanderstigchel always wanted to be. In 1994 he was living on Long Island and working as Executive Chef at a major upscale hotel. A friend whose father worked at the track in Saratoga asked Armand if he’d like to visit. The chef readily accepted the invitation never having been to that part of New York, “and I immediately fell in love with the town, with the people, with the Adirondacks. I knew I wanted to be here.”
He continued his love affair with the region as he traveled throughout the North Country writing a book of recipes (Adirondack Cookbook) as an
“excuse to spend time here.” The book featured his own European recipes as well as those from local restaurant chefs who were at the forefront of local farm-to-table cuisine. The book quickly became a hit nationally, and not only did Vanderstigchel travel extensively doing book signings, but he penned yet another cookbook, Adirondack Cuisine which ultimately went on to become a popular series of the same name on PBS television.
Chef Armand enjoyed writing but his long-term goal from the moment
Chamber
from Germany, Slovakia and Poland
he laid eyes on Saratoga was to open a restaurant right here. He and his wife, Tatsiana, had almost given up their dream of finding a viable space on Broadway to make real their dream and were ready to go to Syracuse and plant a restaurant there, when right in the middle of the Covid epidemic a real estate broker called Armand and said a spot had opened up at 390 Broadway. “It was very risky during a pandemic, but how could I say ‘no?’ This was my dream.” Brasserie Benelux opened Easter weekend 2021 and has never stopped bringing a different kind of cuisine to Saratoga. “Saratoga is an international town. People come here from all over the world to the track, people move here from all over the world.”
Chef Armand was born in Chicago, the child of Dutch immigrants. When he was 10 the family moved back to the Netherlands for the next 17 years, so the chef is proud to say, “I have two nationalities.”
He also speaks fluent Dutch and German in addition to English and is so very proud of his wife, Tatsiana who not only joins him in the kitchen as Pastry Chef for the restaurant, but also completely designed the space that is now Brasserie Benelux. They are in every sense of the word a team.
Curious about the name? A brasserie is the French word for brewery and derived from the European casual restaurant style presenting a large selection of drinks. Benelux refers to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg “We are a celebration of the European beer and food culture and feature foods from Holland, but also Belgium, Germany, Poland, even Scandinavia,” says Armand. “You have to know how to cook it,” says the chef, “because people who know this kind of cuisine first-hand know what’s authentic. “
There’s that word again, and it is on that authenticity which Vanderstigchel prides himself and has built the rep utation of the restaurant. The menu begins with the Dutch bar snack called bitterballen which are bite-sized croquettes with sirloin and bechamel filling followed by homemade Austrian potato pancakes, award-winning Swedish meatballs, a giant Bavarian pretzel with gruyere dip, and a Belgian mussel pot just for starters. And, don’t be surprised by this...Buffalo chicken wings are also on his menu since Chef Armand wrote yet another book, Chicken Wings Across America which brought added fame, TV ap pearances, and induction into the
Beers
Beers from Belgium
National Chicken Wing Hall of Fame in Buffalo. Who says Chef Armand can’t cook anything and everything?
Salads underscore Armand’s ongoing passion and commitment for farm to table and feature New York State’s rich bounty, while entrees make the mouth water with various schnitzels
from all over Europe, a Munich Beer Garden Wurst Platter, Chicken Cordon Blue from Switzerland, Belgian short ribs, and a farmers market vegan bowl, just to single out some of the variety that has been carefully culled to satisfy most appetites in any party, even gluten-free and vegan.
Desserts are delightful and unique created solely by Tatsiana and include authentic apple strudel, strawberry Belgian waffles, chocolate mousse torte, mascarpone crepes, and always there is fresh whipped cream to make your final taste extra special.
Bringing young family members? There are burgers served with famous Belgian frites (French Fries) made in-house, skillet mac & cheese, even a fried chicken sandwich.
But always, the guest is enjoying authentic, made-from-scratch foods, and always there is a beer selection unmatched by any other in the area, pairing European-style beers and local craft beers with the food. In addition to supporting local breweries, Brasserie Benelux features beers from Poland, Belgian beers made by the monks, a large list of German
Chef Armand inducted into Hall of Fame as author of “ Chicken Wings across America” and festival judge & ambassador.
Viennese Veal Wiener Schnitzel
beers, and the original Hofbrau from Munich. For those who prefer wine or cocktails, Brasserie Benelux offers those choices as well.
A lovely private party room seats up to 40 people and is the perfect venue for a celebration of any kind, corporate meeting, or group night out.
Chef Armand finds the restaurant busi ness analogous to theatre. “Every night we put on a performance. People
come and like that Tatsiana and I are physically in the kitchen, so we must per form at our highest level every day to keep them happy. It’s theatre right here on Broadway.”
Chef Armand is not bragging when he adds, “I’ve cooked every style and cui sine of food there is, I can custom make any menu.”
So what exactly does this multi-talented Chef do on days off? “I teach cooking
Leek Confit Crusted Faroe Salmon
Carbonnade Flamandes Beef Short Ribs
classes, participate in community events, do demos, schools, bus tours; everything in my life is related to cooking. I also hope to one day write a book about my journey in this business, about how we are the cel ebration of European beer and food culture.” How will he find the time?
“Tatsiana and I, this is in our blood. We enjoy it. I’d feel strange if I were ever off on a Saturday night. I’ve never been off on a Saturday night in my entire career. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
Lucky for us. Lucky for Saratoga. Lucky for the next smart diners who make a reservation.
Taste authentic. Taste unique. Come enjoy the flavors of Europe at Brasserie Benelux, 390 Broadway right in the heart of downtown Saratoga. For reservations, call (518) 682-6950 or book your table at www.opentable.com
***Chef Armand’s books are all available on www.amazon.com
Strawberry Mascarpone Crepes
Tatsiana and Chef Armand
The Peoples Art Gallery
Albany Center Gallery, Unique in So Many Ways
by Rona Mann
“A community united by the ideals of compassion and creativity has incredible power. Art of all kinds – music, literature, traditional art, visual art can lift a community.”
...Former Gov. Martin O’Malley, Maryland
There’s a good reason that Albany Center Gallery is turning 45 this year. Actually, a whole lot of reasons.
According to Executive Director, Tony Iadicicco, “We’re not just another gallery.” Sounds like a statement that could be made by “just another gallery,” but Iadicicco has a great deal to back that statement up, primary of which is how this gallery’s evolved, what it’s accomplished, and what it’s yet to accomplish in the next 45 years going forward.
“We are artist-run, artist-focused,” the director begins. “We’re not a co-op. Some of our artists are members, some are not, and that’s okay. What makes us truly unique is that we are completely dedicated to the community... to community art, to community programs and exhibitions, and to community outreach.”
Iadicicco believes there is such a plethora of talent right within the Capital Region; go no more than 100 miles in any direction to find magnificent, unique, and diverse
Executive Director, Tony Iadicicco
art to showcase. In its purest form, this is all about collaboration, and the Albany Center Gallery has always collaborated with artists, business, and the community at large.
“We focus a great deal on our youth,” Tony begins. “Each year, we host a high school show in addition to national and international shows.” The gallery has always made youth arts a priority in working with their communities. They provide free educational opportunities for all youth and constantly remind the community that art is something intended for everyone. The gallery hosts artist talks and workshops for young people and aspires to ignite the fire and passion of art in their souls at an early age.
In keeping with their ongoing commitment to collaboration, the gallery partners with the Downtown Albany BID in bringing vibrancy and color to the side streets and alleyways of the capital city. This outdoor gallery which features a diverse crosssection of talented community artists gives passersby an opportunity to find, as the gallery says, “beauty in unexpected places” while adding to the beautification of downtown. It’s a win-win-win for the gallery, for downtown Albany, and for the people who view with delight this unexpected art gallery in the streets. This creates awareness, image, and most importantly, curiosity. The kind of curiosity that leads to further exploration, and that often leads straight to the doors of the Albany Center Gallery.
Executive Director Iadicicco, an accomplished artist in his own right who became Executive Director 11 years ago after spending time as a volunteer for the gallery, is an enthusiastic cheerleader for the Open Gallery concept because it meets people where they are and lets them gently collide with art on their own terms. In keeping consistent with this idea, Capital Walls is yet another Gallery collaboration this time
photo by Stephanie Sittnick
partnering with Albany Barn and the Albany Parking Authority.
Seeking to inspire the community with thought-provoking works of public art and in
keeping with the art in public places endeavor, Capital Walls is a public mural project whereby highly capable artists ha ve the opportunity to display their talent and creativity by painting murals on walls throughout downtown Albany (and beyond)! Throughout the year, the gallery offers guided walking and bike tours to pause, look, and learn about these murals. New locations and new artists are always being sought to expand the reach of this de lightful and popular project.
Take it on the road! The ACG has created yet another initiative, Moveable Murals where
murals are painted on plywood so they may be moveable to new locations throughout the city to enrich public spaces and capture even more attention at community events.
Tony is adamant about making art accessible for all. “It’s not just about selling,” he says. “It’s about having the conversation about art. Art is everywhere. A lot of people are un comfortable to do so because they don’t have the money to buy art. But owning a piece of art doesn’t have to mean $30 million or $30,000. It can be a piece of art for $10, but someone with creativity and vision created it, and you love it, or it speaks to you in some way. That’s art.”
A very large part of what the gallery is and does is “lead by example,” says Tony. “We ad vocate for creative people, and we are al ways working to see how we can make life better for artists who are often overlooked. We don’t want to have talented people move out of the area so we teach them entrepreneurship, we actively seek out mentors for youth so they can learn one on one, and always we look for partners with whom to collaborate.”
Heady stuff, lofty goals. So how is it all funded?
“We are a non-profit community-based gallery with 14 on the board of directors, so I have 14 bosses to whom I answer. We rely on grants, foundation support, government support, and
by Stephanie Sittnick
photo
Interns and Volunteers with Tony Iadicicco
donations from individuals, fundraisers, memberships, and corporate entities.”
Iadicicco continued, “We have eight major shows a year in the gallery. That means every five to six weeks we have a new installation. We curate out shows 6-12 months in advance, and we are also unique in that we compensate artists for showing their work whether or not they sell it.
August 5th is a definite save-the-date in Al bany and the surrounding region for on that evening the Albany Center Gallery will officially celebrate its 45th anniversary. It’s a night to meet artists, donors, and supporters, a time to take in the detailed timeline of the gallery through the decades, the archives, and the images. It will be an evening to honor the past, acknowledge with joy and a
sense of accomplishment the present, and look to the future with positivity and optimism. To Tony Iadicicco, the future will be a time to “make more art and find new ways to join together the artists and the community.”
When you come right down to it, it’s really all about connection...making a connection not just with the patrons of the arts who fre quent galleries, but with all the people within the surrounding communities. It’s about knocking down the four walls of the gallery and taking art out to the people. That means every demographic, that means the youth of the community, the under-served, the knowledgeable, the uninformed, and the curious; and that’s a daunting, but wonderful goal to have. It’s what Tony Iadicicco is all about. It’s what he brought with him 11 years ago when he assumed the title of Executive Director and one he works hard to achieve every day. It is an ongoing struggle to support the artists of the region and keep them
working, an ongoing effort to make art accessible to all, an ongoing pledge to empower and excite youth about art, and an ongoing search for new and better ways to support the artists so they can learn how to make a living from their art. A difficult job?
“I don’t have a job,” says Tony. “I have a living.” His passion and resolve are palpable, and if you listen closely, you can hear him smile.
Albany Center Gallery, 488 Broadway, Suite 107, Albany, NY 518.462.4775 director@albanycentergallery.org albanycentergallery.org
photos by Stephanie Sittnick
Innovative New Chef An Asset to Classic Saratoga Landmark
Nellie Ackerman-Vellano
They don't make buildings the way they used to, but an incredible and unique venue stands on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY, like no other in the region. Beyond the history and decades of excitement and creativity that has happened in this classic space the new Panza's Restaurant and Panza's Starlight Lounge, re-designed and decorated by Michael Panza, have brought new life and new creativity to Upstate New York.
Founded in 1938 on Saratoga Lake, this familyoperated business has stayed true to their original family recipes and has been successful at staying connected with their ever-evolving clientele as each decade passes.
One thing about Panza's that has not changed in over 80 years is family traditions. Brothers and partners, Executive Chef Tony Panza and General Manager, Michael Panza pride themselves on tra dition. Taking over Panza's in 1977, you will still find that so much of what their grandparents and parents instilled in them remains throughout every part of Panza's whether it's through the food, atmosphere, the way they value their staff, or how they treat their customers. You will feel like you're part of the Panza family with every visit.
I dined here last fall with my family, and it was an outstanding dining experience. After dinner, my adult autistic son was drawn to the live music in Panza's Starlight Lounge off the bar area, making him want to stay and listen for a bit. He was welcomed and enjoyed many songs that were familiar to
him. We had talked for weeks about the food, the service, and how we had to bring my Italian in-laws to this new location.
The menu offers all the classic Panza favorites. They still make their sauces from scratch and their Italian sausage in-house. È Perfecto!
You won't find that much has changed from when they were on Saratoga Lake except for the addition of a very talented up-and-coming chef who is personally being mentored by Chef Tony. Chef Du Cuisine Daniel Wiginton, already a star chef in his own right, joined the Panza family in October 2021. Chef Dan expressed that "Tony and the Panza family have become a part of my family. The whole team is very close-knit. I couldn't be luckier to be a part of the Panza Family."
With a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts and restaurant management, Chef Dan has worked in fine dining for many years, spending time in Japan, and other exotic places where he was in spired by global cuisine. "I like taking traditional items and putting my own spin on them." he shared. That's what he's been doing with many of the specials he creates at Panza's and the new plates that have been added to the menu.
Originally from Utica, Chef Dan grew up eating Utica greens, a popular Italian-American dish, so it would only make sense that he would master them while making it in many Utica restaurants that he worked in. The "Chef Dan's Steak and Greens" dish is available on their regular menu.
This is a nicely seasoned and very tender Strip Steak, that rests on a generous bed of Chef Dan's very own Utica greens recipe with hot cherry pepper marmalade and roasted cipollini onions.
You'll enjoy their classic Panko Clams Casino, whole fresh clams stuffed with bacon and served with vegetable medley, lemon, and butter.
The Smoked Burrata Salad makes a beautiful presentation with beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil, balsamic glaze, and extra virgin olive oil encased in a smoked filled glass dome.
The Chicken Milanese is perfectly crusted in Panko and prepared with a fabulous lemon beurre blanc, tomato bruschetta, potato, and vegetable.
The Jumbo Diver Scallops was another one of my favorites to try. Excellent seared scallops with a sweet pea risotto that was cooked perfectly and topped with a housemade bacon jam.
The Seafood Stravagante is a large dish that really should be shared by many people. It's a fantastic entree of shrimp, scallops, lobster tail, broccoli rabe, and roasted tomato in a white clam sauce.
I'm not a food critic, but have been known to be critical of desserts. I love what I love, and I absolutely love the desserts at Panza's. Get the Lemon Mousse Cake made of lemon yogurt cake, creamy lemon mousse, fresh berries, coulis; or choose the Tiramisu Trifle with layered espresso-soaked lady fingers and Kahlua mascarpone mousse. Get them both!
You can dine in the Starlight Lounge at Panza's too. I'm looking forward to going back on a Sunday and listening to Michael Panza perform some Frank Sinatra classic songs.
This is a wonderful restaurant to become a regular, visit if you're here from out of town, or go on a date night if you’re a young epicurean couple.
Located at 129 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
Happy Eating!
Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Feed Me 518® Instagram: @FeedMe518® www.facebook.com/FeedMe518 Web: https://linktr.ee/feedme518
Chef Dan's Steak & Greens
Panko Clams Casino
Jumbo Diver Scallops
Seafood Stravagante
The Dog Days of August
by Karen Richman
“I promise. If you let me get a dog, I’ll walk him every day. Twice a day. A million billion times a day! Please, Mommy, please Daddy, let me have a dog!”
Sound familiar? Most parents can probably relate to the shoot-fromthe-hip promise of a pleading child, willing to lay open their entire hand just to get what they want so badly. Yup, that was me way back in the late ‘50s when life was pretty carefree and kids were kids enjoy ing simple pleasures, and video games, electronic devices, and streaming were all somewhere in a future we didn’t yet know.
I kept my mantra up a good bit of the summer to no avail until my father said if I didn’t stop whining, he’d give me something to whine about. That’s when I developed the art of sticking out my lower lip silently. But whether silent or whining, it did no good. There was not to be a dog in the house.
Sometime in August, just a few weeks before school was to start up again, my Girl Scout troop organized a field trip to a working farm. You may think going to a farm is pretty odd, but other than on TV or in the movies, none of us had ever seen a farm before. They don’t have them in the suburbs of Newark. So we were all pretty excited about taking a ride out to the country, meeting real cows and pigs and chickens, and speculated on the hope that perhaps this might be a dairy farm that made real ice cream.
I remember as the old yellow school bus pulled through the fence real cows were standing in the meadow, some chickens pecking around near the big red barn, and a couple of barking dogs excitedly running back and forth as the bus approached.
I don’t remember the name of the farmer, but he and his smiling wife came out to welcome us and give us a tour. We learned about silos, saw big hay piles that had been baled, and walked all through the barn with its funky smells. Someone asked where the pigs were, and the farmer said they didn’t have any, but they had something else we might like. He took us to one corner of the cavernous barn and introduced us to Rosie, a dog of indiscriminate breed who was dozing. “Rosie’s pretty tired,” the farmer said. About six weeks ago she gave birth to a new litter of pups. Eight of ‘em, and just this week they got weaned and are ready to be adopted.”
The wheels started clacking inside my tenyear-old head. “Yup, Rosie’s been a good mom, but now it’s time for her young ones to go to good homes. Click-clack, clickclack, the beat grew faster.
“Where are the puppies?” I asked. The farmer led our group outside to a pen where the cutest, roundest little brown and white short-haired pups were playing, jumping on top of each other, yelping, and loving life.
“Anybody here want to take one home?” “I do, I do, I do,” shouted about half my troop, but when the farmer asked, “Will it be alright with your folks?” it grew quiet. Mine was the only hand still in the air.
“You sure, Karen?” our Girl Scout leader asked. “Oh yes,” I answered quickly, my fingers crossed behind my back.
By the time we had cookies and milk and were ready to leave, the pup was wrapped in an old blanket and safely snuggled in my arms. “She’s a little girl,” the farmer informed. “What’cha gonna call her?” I thought for a minute and then said without hesitation, “Tammy.” That was the year that the first of the very popular
“Tammy” movies with Debbie Reynolds were all the rage. “Well, take good care of Tammy. She’ll need puppy shots soon and special puppy dog food and plenty of water in this August heat,” the farmer reminded as the bus pulled out and headed for home.
Tammy snoozed contentedly in my lap for the whole ride while my mind was wildly trying to come up with something I could say to my parents. When I finally descended the steps and walked toward the car I blurted out, “Look what the farmer gave me! Her name’s Tammy, and she needed a home, so I knew you wouldn’t say ‘no.’”
My parents looked at each other, then at Tammy whose tail was wag ging furiously, then at my hopeful eyes. “Get in the car,” my father said sternly. I didn’t say a word, but when we got home I volunteered to take Tammy for a walk, forgetting a leash might be a good idea, but she trotted after me, and I was in love.
We got some bowls the next day, a leash, and collar, and a whole lot of newspapers for inside the house. The August heat was stifling, and no one had air conditioning then, so we opened windows and made sure Tammy had lots of water. It was nearly time for school to start, and I started getting pretty lax about taking her out for walks, especially early in the morning or when it was raining.
My father took Tammy to one of his customers who could train pup pies, especially from paper to the outdoors. Every day I asked for her, I was told, “Not yet.” Finally, I was told Tammy wasn’t happy and wanted to go back to the farm to see her brothers and sisters, so my father’s customer had taken her.
I cried and cried for days until school started and other things caught my attention. The dog days of August were now over, and it began to cool down.
And I finally began to grow up.
Pure Zen
Crystal Cobert Giddens, LE
Sometimes I need to get away. Escape. No TV, no politics and no background noise. My “place” used to be a little beach down in Encinitas, California. I could smell the salt and the sand and I could watch the sun set from the hood of my car or while I just walked along the shore.
Life changed and I’ve been an Upstate New York girl for 20 years now. My need for silence and water hasn’t changed one bit. Even though my geography changed, I can get to the lake. It’s right in front of me…right now, as I write this for you. I can see a whole sky full of stars, I can smell the pine trees and I can listen to the owls call. We moved to a little lake in Galway, NY and I’m obsessed with the utter peace I’ve found here.
I’m so obsessed that I found a vintage camper, remodeled it with lots of help and love and set it up on our tiny piece of property, under a grove of pine
KAYAKING BARS
Ingredients
• 1 cup organic, gluten-free rolled oats (not quick oats)
• 1/2 cup organic quinoa or hulled millet
• 1/2 cup pecan or walnut halves, or nuts of choice
• 1/3 cup organic goji berries (or berry of choice)
• 1/4 cup organic dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup organic currants
• 1/3 cup unsweetened, dried organic coconut flakes (fine mill)
• 2 Tbsp. organic hemp seeds
• 1 Tbsp. organic chia seeds
• 2 Tbsp. organic oat or almond flour
• 3 Tbsp. organic cacao nibs
• 1/2 cup organic sunflower seed butter or nut butter of choice
• 2 Tbsp. organic maple syrup
• 1/4 cup local, organic honey (if vegan, substitute brown rice syrup, agave syrup, or increase the maple syrup)
2. Spread oats and quinoa on half a cookie sheet and the nuts on the other half. Bake until nicely scented and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
3. Place the nuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until just chopped. Don’t over-blend.
4. Add the oats and quinoa to the food processor bowl and pulse 2-4 times, just to break down the size of the oats and nuts a little bit for a better bar consistency. Don’t over-blend; you want to keep some good texture. Pour mixture into a bowl.
5. Chop the goji berries to make them smaller—you should end up with about 1/4 cup chopped berries. Add to the bowl with the oat mixture.
6. Add cranberries, currants, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, chia seeds, oat or almond flour, and cacao nibs and stir to thoroughly combine. Set aside.
7. Put sunflower seed or nut butter, maple syrup, honey, oil, and salt in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir together just until melted and creamy, 1-2 minutes. Don’t overcook or it will start to crystallize.
trees but really close to our home. I use this little “glamper” as my writing studio and I’ve even let a few guests stay if they’re looking for a peaceful getaway. You can kayak, canoe, sail and fish. It’s pure zen.
I’m new to kayaking, and learned very quickly that I need snacks while I’m on the water. I don’t like coming back to shore because I’m hungry or thirsty, so I pack cooler- friendly or backpack friendly food. If I’m on the water around sunset, I’m all about the wine and cheese. If it’s in the morning, I want coffee, water and these bars. They’re delicious, they also happen to be gluten-free and vegan-optional. Big plus? They’re fairly high in protein, last a week without refrigeration and kids of all ages like the way they taste.
These bars have become a hit around here and are now highly requested when guests come to stay. Organic fruit pops are always in the freezer in the camper too. They’re really nice when you come back hot, tired and happy from your time on the lake. Let me know if you’d like the recipe for those.
Crystal Cobert Giddens
FACES of Saratoga Organic Skin Therapy Studio
8. Pour mixture over oat mixture in bowl and use a good wooden spoon to combine. The dough will be very thick, so you will get a workout.
9. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Very lightly brush the paper with oil.
10. Scoop oat mixture on top. Press to evenly fill pan and flatten top.
11. Bake until lightly browned, 15-20 minutes.
12. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack.
13. Cut to preferred size bars.
14. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. These bars freeze well.
Additions and Changes
• As long as you keep the proportions the same, you can trade ingredients in these bars to suit your palate. For instance, I don’t LOVE peanut butter, so I usually use sunflower seed butter or almond butter, but your favorite nut butter will work great as long as it doesn’t have too much added sugar. You can trade the berries for any dried fruit you like, I love dried blueberries, cacao and almonds…yum! You can swap out the cacao nibs for mini chocolate chips too! Also consider adding pinches of spices like cinnamon or ginger. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
INSTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT>>
August 11 Saratoga Springs
AUGUST EVENTS
August 1 - 19 Troy
Untitled: Show No. 5 David Austin, Jenny Hutchinson, Leslie Yolan. Dave Austin merges disparate images with a unifying, nostalgic look. enny Hutchinson draws inspiration from the beauty. Leslie Yolan’s new works are assembled from a menagerie of found objects . Artist Reception Friday July 29, 6-8pm. The Clement Art Gallery, 201 Broadway Troy, NY 518-272-6811
August 1 - 13 Lake George
The Lake George Arts Project’s Courthouse Gallery presents “Ceramics & Collage”, a two-person exhibition of ceramics by Irja Bodén and collage, drawings and paintings by Beth Humphrey. The Courthouse Gallery is located at the side entrance of the Old County Courthouse. During scheduled exhibitions dates our in-person office and gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday 12 – 5 pm, Saturday 12 – 4 pm. Lake George Arts Project, 1 Amherst St, Lake George, NY 12845
August 2 - 20 Albany
Albany Center Gallery (ACG) presents Passports, curated by Willie Marlowe, featuring the work of 14 regional artists: David Brickman, Caren Canier, Francelise Dawkins, Jeanette Fintz, Phyllis Galembo, John Hampshire, Katharine Kreisher, Lori Lawrence, Mark McCarty, Langdon Quin, Ruby Silvious, D. Jack Solomon, Stephen Tyson, Laura Von Rosk. An Artists’ Reception will be held on Friday, August 5, 2022, from 5 - 8 p.m. Passports is free and open to the public; Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. This exhibit will be running in tandem with ACG’s 45th Anniversary celebration highlighting the Gallery’s archives, as well as the member & friend exhibition, Connections. Albany Center Gallery, 488 Broadway, Suite 107, Albany, NY
August 4 Rock City Falls
Nicholas King - HINDSIGHT'S 2020. It’s going to be a HOT August night as Nicolas King takes the stage on August 4th with his new show Hindsight's 2020 and after re leasing his latest album, "Act One - Celebrating 25 Years of Recording." Hindsight's 2020 is a musical look back at the changes, lessons, hope, and optimistic resilience learned as a result of the last 2 years, set to the music from the worlds of Broadway, Jazz and Pop.Thu. Aug 4, 2022 8:00pm - 10:00pm. Tickets $60. The Mansion of Saratoga, 801 Route 29, Rock City Falls, New York 12863
August 5 Saratoga Springs
Radney Foster. After 30 years in the music business, Radney Foster knows his way around the stage. Whether slinging electric guitar in front of his full band, or picking an intimate acoustic show, Foster has an uncanny knack to connect with an audience. With numerous number one hits to choose from, his shows are a perfect blend of new treasures and beloved classics. Fri, August 5, 2022, 8:00 PM. Doors at 7:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
August 5 Albany
Join us for the pARTy @ ACG to celebrate 45 years of art and community on Friday, August 5! There will be an official ribbon cutting of Art.Work.Space. at 4:30 pm, then an artist’s reception for new exhibits Con nections and Passports from 5:00 – 8:00 pm filled with live painting, live music, food, and more creative happenings. You won’t want to miss this. Albany Center Gallery, 488 Broadway, Suite 107, Albany, NY
Upbeat on the Roof: Heard. Thursday, Aug 11, 2022 6:00 PM. The collective of musicians brings their skills and passion for world music, jazz, and improvisation together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Together for a decade, their vibrant sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and beyond. The band last played Upbeat in 2017. The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway Saratoga Springs,
August 13 - 14 Round Lake 2022 Markets at Round Lake. We will be showcasing over 80 of the best and brightest artisans in the local and regional maker, crafter, and artisanal edibles community. These makers, who have been selectively juried, will converge within an eclectic village bringing forth the latest talent and hottest trends. The annual Markets at Round Lake is scheduled to take place on August 13th from 9am to 5pm August 14th from10am to 4pm. Village Green, 49 Burlinton Avenue Round Lake, NY 12151
August 20 Saratoga Springs
Glen David Andrews. Glen David Andrews comes from a storied and extended family of musicians. He was born in New Orleans’ historic Tremé neighborhood, which many consider to be the oldest Black community in the United States. Transfixed by the magic and mystery of the city’s second-line parades, Andrews and his older brother, Der rick Tabb of the Rebirth Brass Band, along with their younger cousin Troy "Trombone Shorty" Sat, August 20, 2022, 8:00 PM EDT. Doors at 7:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
August 16 - 26 - Clifton
Park
August 24 - October 16 Troy Kathy Klompas River Fragments. For a decade Kathy Klompas has been documenting the detritus below the Harmony Mills at Cohoes Falls, NY. The images influence her work in monotype,other printmaking techniques and digital manipulation. Artist Reception August 26th 6:30-8:30. Pause Gallery, 501 Broadway #106, Troy, NY 12180
The Blooming Artist Gallery invites you to experience our next exhibition, Orchestrated Colors, which premieres on August 16. As its title suggests, this exhibit captures the magnificence of the changing color palette we will soon witness yet again here in upstate NY. We invite you to celebrate with us during our community reception on Friday, August 26th from 6-8pm; as al ways, please expect live music & light provisions. 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065 www.thebloomingartist.gallery 518-280-4928 contact@thebloomingartist.gallery @thebloomingartistgallery
August 26 Rock City Falls
Nicole Henry - Time To Love Again! While her comfort zone is soulful and soft moods, her two sold-out Whitney Houston performances last year at the 801 Concert Series left all wanting more of her charm and amazing vocal talent. This season would not be complete without the great Soul Train Award-winning vocalist Nicole Henry in a performance built around the new release of her eighth album “Nicole Henry: Time To Love Again. Fri. Aug 26, 2022 8:00pm - 10:00pm. Tickets $75 The Mansion of Saratoga, 801 Route 29, Rock City Falls, New York 12863
August 27 Saratoga Springs
“Buttons & Bows Visit Saratoga” Book Signing with author Lynnette Manuse. Buttons and Bows Visit Saratoga is a touching story about a mischievous sock monkey who becomes a Jockey at Saratoga. Please join us in welcoming Lynnette Manuse back to Impressions of Saratoga for another book signing! Lynnette will be in front of the store with her sock monkey Bows. Saturday, August 27, 2015 - 10 am to 12 pm. Impressions of Saratoga, 368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
