We’re Hiring. Find a career with a purpose in a community committed to creativity.
• Union and non-union positions available in all areas.
• Exceptional benefits include comprehensive health and dental coverage, life and AD&D insurance, generous paid time off, flexible spending accounts, retirement contributions, tuition benefits, and more.
Learn what makes us different and apply to open positions at skidmore.edu/hr/careers.
PUBLISHER / FOUNDER
Stephanie Sittnick
COPY EDITOR
Elisabeth Allen
WEBMASTER
Tony Rivera
ADVERTISING SALES
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 “Fabric of Unity”
Wow… is it just me or did winter seem to fly by. In a blink of an eye it’s already March. It’s the month when spring officially begins and Daylight Savings takes root. It can be a dramatic month with sometimes wild and shifting weather as Mother Nature tries to shed her winter coat but it also brings the promise of warm(er), sunny days.
Welcome to our March issue. It was a super fun issue to put together. Within these pages you will find eats and arts. There’s a good chance after reading these pages your either going to be super hungry or super inspired to open your mind, get dirty and create!
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 unique content about creative people and interesting destinations. Find a nice cozy spot and enjoy our publication!
Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher
That Feeling Around the Table Makes You Want to be There
It's the Key to Sweet Mimi's Success pg. 4
ENCORE
Kids, Clay and the CIA: Emily Crawford pg. 12
Lake George Arts Project
A lesson in creativity, adaptation, and connection to community pg. 30
"I Don't Measure, I Just Know" Mangiamo's Fresh, Delicious, One-Woman Show pg. 22 518 PROFILES
That Feeling Around the Table Makes You Want to be There It's the Key to Sweet Mimi's Success
by Rona Mann photos by Ryan Manning
"I still can feel the feeling I got in my grandmother's house...a warmth when you walked in the door..a feeling around the table that made you want to be there."
It's not the ricotta in those famous lemon ri cotta pancakes that got her head to head in competition to "Beat Bobby Flay" on the Food Network.
It's not the cinnamon rolls her son, Charlie told her to incorporate between her smallbatch buttermilk pancakes, elevating the dish overnight to a much sought-after sensation at the restaurant.
Nor is it the Roman eggs with asparagus topped with crispy prosciutto, nor the challah French toast dipped in custard, the flaky scones, breakfast sandwiches, or the homemade biscuits, southern style.
No, it's not the gluten-free choices, homemade hearty soups, the vegan breakfast, avocado toast, or the freshly made bakery delights like over-sized cookies, brownies, bars, smallbatch granola, or decadent chocolate, carrot, coconut, or red velvet cakes with a variety of buttercream frostings.
So what is it? What is that most important in gredient that makes Sweet Mimi's Cafe and Bakery so very special? It's you, your family, and Owner/Chef Jeannette Liebers' complete dedication to people first and foremost. A well-crafted marketing line? No, it's how Jean nette Liebers grew up, how her early childhood shaped her view of life and the way she has always lived it.
It wasn't necessarily the best beginning. When Jeannette was just six-years-old, her father was killed in a car accident leaving Jeannette's mother with three small children to raise and no life insurance to help out. To provide for her family, this remarkable woman commuted five hours a day to a job in New York, often leaving her young ones with babysitters who didn't always feed them the best food or give them the quality care they needed. So the children eagerly looked forward to their visits to Queens where Jeannette delighted in watching her grandmother cook and helping her do so. It was more than just the delicious food they prepared, it was the warmth and se curity that were the most important ingre dients that came with every meal.
Liebers went on to the University of Georgia and majored in journalism, "but when I graduated, I realized I didn't want to have to write about death and destruction. I didn't want hard news." What she did enjoy, however, was cooking; it was without a doubt, the sweeter part of life. "I always had a passion for it, migrated to the kitchen in my sorority
house, and learned from some of the best Southern cooks. So I started cooking for everyone at the sorority house. Over the years I continued to cook for my sorority sisters and roommates, and they all loved it."
Nutella mousse stuffed Challah French Toast with fresh berries and homemade strawberry sauce.
Owner/Chef Jeannette Liebers
After college, Jeannette moved to Boston to visit a long-time high school friend in the Back Bay with hopes of finding an apartment of her own. Several weeks later, she wanted to make dinner to thank the girls for their hospitality. Unfortunately, she got sidetracked making chicken scallopini, forgot the olive oil that was on the stove, and set the whole apartment on fire. The existing roommate was so upset, she moved out, making room for Jeannette who wound up cooking for friends and entertaining every Saturday night thereafter. She also met her future husband, Eddie that night, an upstairs neighbor who allowed the girls to use his
kitchen while theirs was being repaired. Liebers went on to enroll in the very difficult program offered by the Bostonarea Cambridge School of Culinary Arts which focused on provincial Italian cuisine and origins in addition to learning the art of French cooking and baking. Additionally, she trained in the delicate art of making professional cakes and tortes at the Culinary Institute of America.
Jeanette married Eddie who was now on his own career track to become a noted hematologist and oncologist. This necessitated a move to Vermont for a time where he was doing both internship and residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center followed by a stint in Syracuse during which t ime Jeannette had a weekly cooking show on Time Warner Cable TV, "The Melting Pot."
Because Eddie had grown up in Schenectady and because family w as so important to Jeannette ("I wanted my children to know their grandparents"),
they decided to settle in Saratoga, a community her family adores and a place to which Jeannette and her husband give back generously on a regular basis.
“Winter Blues Baked French Toast” This dish changes seasonally and a signature and cafe favorite
“Seasonal Scramble”
Winter citrus and Boston hydro Bibb salad
Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
Banana and pecan pancakes with locally tapped pure maple syrup.
It is from the sadness and disappointment of her early childhood that Liebers places such a strong importance on family. It's also in large part why, after dreaming about it for 25 years, she opened Sweet Mimi's Cafe and Bakery now in its ninth year, but not before she had the affirmation and "permission" from those who mattered most to her. "My first love is my children. I decided to open a restaurant and bakery that would serve breakfast, lunch, and brunch on weekends, a place where I could see them off to school in the morning and be there when they got home in the after noon." Jeannette asked for their blessing, telling them her time with them would likely be somewhat limited, but they still gave her the high-five and support. "My kids were always very much involved in Sweet Mimi's, working a shift, helping in the kitchen, whatever it took."
Bobby Flay also gave his approval coming in 2019 as a guest and leaving with a promise to feature Liebers on his popular Food Network show, "Beat Bobby Flay." It's too long a story to recount all the details here, but ask Jeannette when you're at Sweet Mimi's. In the episode
called, "The Battle of Saratoga," she beat another area chef, Chris Bonnivier, by creating a pasta dish with an ingredient she had not worked with before -longaniza - a garlic and paprikainfused Portuguese sausage. She then went up against Flay with her signature Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Order some, and while you're relishing every bite, have her fill in the blanks!
Jeannette's staff is very much her family at Sweet Mimi's. "They know what I expect, and they achieve it on a daily basis. I just love them all and am grateful for their devotion to the cafe." Jeannette also eschews the attitude of people who feel that being a brunch chef or baker is not the "real deal" or as important as being an executive chef. "People often put brunch chefs in a little box, and we're not taken as seriously," sniffs Liebers, who has more than paid her dues in the culinary world here. "I elevate breakfast and brunch to be as worthy as dinner."
Like everyone else in her profession, the pan demic presented some very real challenges that she might not make it through, but with her Sweet Mimis Family, her "regulars" who wouldn't let the restaurant fail, and her own beloved family, Jeannette survived. "I feel so much gratitude, but I also feel like I'm still sprinting."
What's next? "A cookbook. People have asked me for so long to write one, and I want to do it. I'm going to do it."
Kris Connor - Food Network Photography
Jeannette with her long time staff. L-R: Jeannette, Judy Pawlick, Alicia Benamatie, Kelly Hite, Pam Perry, Kathy Evans
Jeannette with her husband, Eddie Liebers at the Beat Bobby Flay watch party event.
Sweet Mimi's is indeed a sweet place, with just 35 seats and a no-reservation policy. On weekends year-'round and weekdays in the summer the wait is usually 60-90 minutes. The morning after the battle with Flay on The Food Network Jeannette came to work and found a line winding around the building. "I couldn't believe it!"
So, is it worth the wait? You bet. Go ahead, put your name on the list, then go take a short walk. They'll call you when your table's ready, and that extra exercise will make the sweet treats go down even better. It doesn't
really matter what you order because you'll experience that feeling around the table, and you'll want to come back to Sweet Mimi's again and again because you'll feel the warmth when you walk in the door, and you'll still be feeling it when you leave. Without question, it's the most important ingredient Chef Liebers adds to all her dishes, and it's bound to bring you back again and again.
Yes, it's that feeling around the table, the one that makes you want to be there.
Sweet Mimi's Cafe and Bakery is located at 47 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs (518) 871-1780 www.sweetmimiscafe.com
Find us on Facebook and Instagram as well!
Jeannette with her daughter and namesake of the cafe, “Mimi”
Cinnamon Roll French Toast
Kids, Clay and the CIA: Emily Crawford
by Carol St. Sauveur Ferris
Growing up the daughter of an Episcopal priest whose personality and life’s work touched everyone in town put Emily (Parke) Crawford in the center of it all. One might think that being in the public eye would place a great deal of pressure on a child, but to Crawford it was a wonderful life. It comes as no surprise then that choir practices, church functions, volunteer opportunities, and attending mass were routine activities in the Parke family along with schoolwork and play. And it was during those formative years that her love of children, giving back to the community, and the creative arts took root.
As a young child, Crawford attended a local elementary school on a traditional schedule which allowed her to spend summers at her father’s ancestral home in Nova Scotia with her mother and brother. It was during those idyllic sum mers on the Bay of Fundy where her love of the sea was born and down the road would later serve as inspiration for her clay art.
Crawford’s mother planted the artistic seed and was her first mentor. While not formally trained or educated in the arts, she was undeniably creative. She became a calligrapher, made intricate paper ornaments, loved to sketch, and was a self-taught watercolorist. Crawford admits to tagging along with her mother everywhere she went including art shows, which gave her a sneak peek at all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into putting one together.
When her brother went off to prep school, Crawford felt like an only child, basking in her parents’ undivided attention until it was time to go off to prep school herself. With memories of being horribly homesick at girl scout camp, Crawford was not at all enthused about leaving home, but she did. In retrospect, she realizes that it was the best thing for her at the time because it allowed her to enjoy her teens without being in the public eye. Having been the only child of an Episcopal priest himself, her father knew firsthand that she needed to grow up free of that added pressure.
At prep school, she played the flute in a jazz band and threw herself into sports. Practice was an essential part of her routine in everything she did and laid the groundwork for her future artistic journey, but first, Crawford was intent upon a career as a spy. That’s right, a spy. To that end, she later attended Hamilton College to prepare for a life of espionage in the CIA. It was her parents’ divorce that pushed her to seek comfort in the arts instead, which led Crawford to declare fine art as her major. The CIA lost a potential spy candidate as a result. She went on to graduate from Hamilton with a degree in studio arts and a concentration in sculpture.
Crawford worked for a while as a waitress in the Adirondacks to make ends meet which led her to meet a customer who worked for KB Toys. After speaking with him, she decided that being a toy designer was
what she wanted to do, so she took a job at a daycare center thinking it would be a great way “to get to know the end- user” of the toys she would design. Crawford quickly grew into a management position, but along the way, love came knocking at her door and plans changed. Married and with a small child, she was later hired to be a web designer for a client. She shares that it was quite a challenge at first to take her 3D creative process and adapt it to a 2D medium, but she did. From 2000 to 2016, she worked for the same company which allowed her the flexibility to raise two children. In early 2017 she joined a new company as their marketing director. Then, the unexpected happened.
It was during a fun evening with family and friends at Clay Night Out at Saratoga Clay Arts Center (SCAC) when she felt a seismic shift within her. It was the first time she ever threw clay on an electric wheel, and according to Crawford, “it was a game-changer." She instantly felt connected to the process and realized that all the different po sitions she had held over the last 20 years were simply “steppingstones to becoming a full-time artist”. Crawford immediately signed up for three classes, and by the last class, she discovered how much she loved firing the kiln and all that goes into the clay arts process. It was then that her husband surprised her with a one-year lease on studio space at the Saratoga Clay Arts Center (SCAC) for her 50th birthday.
Turns out 2017 was quite an eventful year. After purchasing her first wheel in June, her marketing position was eliminated in July. Crawford chuckles and says that “it was the best day of my life." While on unemployment, she applied for and was accepted into the State of New York Self- Employment Assistance Program (SEAP). The program taught her how to write a five-year business plan so she could finally become what she dreamed of and who she was always meant to be - a full-time clay artist and teacher.
Now happily ensconced in her studio space at SCAC, and after having her first show, the pandemic suddenly brought everything to a halt. SCAC shut down for several months. At the same time, the youth center was shut down where Crawford was a volunteer teaching art classes as well. Isolation is tough but extra hard for kids. Knowing they were going stir crazy as were their parents, she began to think of ways to help, and that’s when Crawford’s Covid Creature Project was born.
It was a lucky coincidence that she had recently received a grant for youth center art supplies and just purchased 50 pounds of clay now sitting on a shelf unused. Crawford’s idea behind her Covid Creature Project was to provide parents with an art project to occupy their isolated kids. She put
together 50, one-pound clay project bags with directions and other materials to create clay art of their own. She then posted on a local mom’s Facebook page about it and put all 50 bags out on her front walk for anyone to take. They were gone in a matter of hours. She did 50 more, and those went fast as well. Thrilled with the response, Crawford realized her creative calling was actually best achieved by combining her love of the clay arts with her love of children and community outreach. Overnight, her 5-year business plan became a 6-month busi ness plan, and as she happily shares, “I be came a Covid success story.”
Much to her surprise, she was able to talk her husband into converting their garage into studio space. It needed a lot of work including pouring a cement floor which was no easy task, but they got it done. While the garage was being renovated, she designed clay art classes for kids of all ages that were affordable for parents. She officially launched “Em’s Art Shack” in 2019 and has been teaching clay art to kids from 5-19 years of age ever since.
Located close to the schools, students walk over to the Art Shack and attend classes tailored for their age group. Crawford starts with a theme, and then the kids draw what they intend to create. They learn to throw clay and create their masterpieces while "Schooner," the Art Shack dog, looks on. She then fires their pieces in a kiln gifted to Crawford by her in-laws who were moved by her teaching vision. The pride on the kids’ faces makes it all worthwhile.
Crawford’s clay art continues to evolve. Early on, she created a series of lighthouses inspired by summers in Nova Scotia. She saw them as representing a beacon of hope in a person’s life. Later, she cre ated a collection of bowls and mugs with beachy textures and glazes in shades of blue and green, recalling the colors of the Bay of Fundy. Currently, Crawford is working on a new collection with a theme that is far more personal. Dedicated to the memory of her beloved father who passed
away 10 years ago, she is throwing lots of clay and creating orb-shaped vessels. Some are quite large, requiring two halves to make the whole and using up to 23 pounds of clay. It can be strenuous work, but Crawford is up for it and hopes to be ready to show by the end of the year.
While her creative journey has not been a straight line, each step and misstep has brought her closer to this place of joy she has found in her life and work. And with Jill Fishon-Kovachik, an accom plished clay artist and Director of SCAC as her new mentor, Crawford’s clay art continues to evolve and touch her soul. She has been, and al ways will be, a multi-tasker and finds that being equal parts entrepreneur, community volunteer, teacher, and clay artist strikes the perfect balance for this new and wonderful chapter. Life is good.
Crawford’s work may be purchased by phone at 518-461-0196 or online at www.crawfordislandart.com
Emily and "Schooner," the Art Shack dog
"I Don't Measure, I Just Know" Mangiamo's Fresh, Delicious, One-Woman Show
by Rona Mann
Did you ever try to bite a computer screen?
If you visit Mangiamo's website before you visit the store, you might as well be planning a trip to the dentist, because every one of those images showcasing the freshest, most delicious pasta in the Capital District will get your appetite revved up for lunch or dinner, so please don't bite the screen. You're going to need your teeth to enjoy this delectable Italian specialty.
Everything about Mangiamo is authentic, espe cially the owner, Rose Contadino. She d escribes herself as "a one-woman show" simply because, "I do everything. I make all the pasta, the pestos, I do all the marketing, clean the shop thoroughly, and I work for my customers."
"Working for her customers" means more than just creating the product, it's getting to know them. So when they call to say they're coming by to pick up some pasta, Rose almost always knows what kind of pasta is their favorite and cuts it to order. She knows how many will be at the dinner table, and she carefully and lovingly packages the food to go. A bit about Rose.
She's one of those wonderful old-school cooks who doesn't measure...she just "knows." Like the Italian nonnas, the Jewish bubbies, the Por tuguese vovos, and so many other ethnic cooks of old, Rose was raised in a family that enjoyed food, made their own, and never used recipes. "I was in high school before I ever had pizza out in a restaurant," Rose laughs.
As one of five children in the family, she grew up in a heavily-Italian section of Stamford, Connecticut, all the while watching and cooking alongside her mother and grandmother. Both her uncles were in the restaurant business, so as
a young girl she was always around food and loved it. Still, Rose did not go to culinary school. Her talents lay in graphic design, so she went to Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York followed by a career working in marketing with a number of Connecticut firms, most notable among them Nestle Waters, an international firm marketing bottled waters like Poland Spring and others.
When she moved to Saratoga in 2016 she was still working freelance for many of the Connecticut companies with whom she had established successful marketing relationships, but now she wanted to do something different...and that meant returning to her first love, FOOD! "Ideally, I wanted a food truck so I worked hard at getting one, but Saratoga Springs is very strict about permits and restrictions. I had crafted a very good business plan, but it just didn't work out."
Not one to ever be defeated, next Rose tested the waters by bringing her fresh, delicious, homemade pasta to several farmers'
markets around Saratoga for the next two years, meeting with great success. She was successful enough that two years ago she opened Mangiamo and was an instant hit. Those who knew her from the farmers' markets found her, the curious who happened by and
Homemade selection of Pestos
wondered what Mangiamo was all about tried the product and instantly became customers.
"But I opened Mangiamo just one month before the shutdown two years ago. I never had a chance," laments Rose. But she has it now!
"It's a very small shop," Rose states, "so I am very, very careful. I only let one customer in at a time, I stick strictly to the guidelines set up by the CDC and New York State. I provide masks at the door for those who need them, and I stress that people should call ahead and order ahead. That way I will have their order waiting for them."
And what do they order? Mangiamo's menu of pasta is varied, but not extensive. She makes her
dough simply and without a lot of ingredients or kitchen utensils. "My dough is just three things: egg, water, and flour. The only equipment I have in the shop is a mixer and a sheeter."
NOTE: For those not familiar with the term, a pasta dough sheeter allows Rose to roll out her dough in a variety of long pasta shapes. The dough is passed through the sheeter nu merous times to reduce the thickness and create a long, thin sheet of pasta.
Now Chef Contadino cuts and strips it into spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, pappardelle, and lasagna sheets. Her cheese ravioli are handmade and always available, but cavatelli, cannelloni, and ricotta gnocchi are made for you when you call your order in ahead of time.
Also quite popular with her loyal clientele are her specially-flavored or artisanal doughs like those infused with beets, spinach, and lemon pepper.
"This is not dry pasta like you get in the s u permarket or from a pasta-making machine. This is all fresh. The difference is it cooks in only 3-5 minutes, and the other difference you can taste," Rose adds with pride. "If I won't eat it, I don't want my customers to eat it." Although the pasta at Mangiamo is fresh and only keeps for up to two days, Rose says it can be frozen and still be delicious. "Just let me know when you order, and I will specially package it for the freezer."
Squid Ink pasta
Nothing is processed at Mangiamo. Rose has a garden at home, and it is her herbs that make the basil, sun-dried tomato, and artichoke pestos she sells extra special. "I also sell what I call 'The Tomato Jar.' It is a combination of pureed plum tomatoes, shallots, garlic, and fresh basil. Take it home and cook it, in 15 minutes you have a delicious marinara sauce to top the pasta."
Rose Contadino's customers are her #1 priority and the reason she does what she does. "I try to keep everybody healthy, and I love talking food. So I encourage them that they can call me and ask me cooking questions. My place is like a little kitchen, and everyone is always welcome."
There is no shipping of this delicate product, you must visit the shop; but once again, call in advance, ask questions, place your order, and it will be waiting for
you when you arrive. By the way, just in case you were wondering, Mangiamo is not just the name of Rose Contadino's shop, it's her philosophy and her joyous command to c us tomers new and old: "Mangiamo: Let's Eat!"
Visit Mangiamo at 75 Woodlawn Avenue in Saratoga Springs. To call for information or to place your order: (518) 450-4006, or log onto: www.mangiamoeats.com and see these deli cious pastas for yourself...but please, don't bite the screen!
Squid Ink and Carrot Farfalle pasta
Saffron, Beet and Green Pea Tortellini
Lake George Arts Project A lesson in creativity, adaptation, and connection to community
By Lawrence White
"Poetic imagination rises from the same intelligence that conveys information about the destiny of individuals and civilizations"
...Paul Pines
Tanya Tobias-Tomis became Executive Director of the vibrantly active Lake George Arts Project (LGAP) in 2020 just as COVID was starting to rise in America. Suddenly, a challenging transi tion became a next-level labyrinthine test of survival just as it has been for so many businesses of all types throughout our country.
Fortunately for Director Tobias-Tomis, and everyone in the North Country, the foundation of the LGAP, including the Courthouse Gallery and their world-renowned jazz music events, are such that they have developed a certain level of natural immunity to this sort of disaster.
Yes, LGAP was hammered by a loss of funding, including the ability to hold their enormously
Cruise benefit events. They also had to cut the scheduled public events which diminished even more of their funding. Yet, because of their grassroots, heart-to-heart connection with the local community, and their reach into the in ternational art community, they are in an ex cellent position for a complete rebound as society normalizes.
The original group was founded as part of the Comprehensive Employment Training Act ini tiated under Ricard Nixon. ETA/Neighborhood Arts Program employed painters, muralists, musicians, performing artists, poets, and even ga rdeners to work in schools, community centers, prisons, etc., and provided cultural improvements to underserved communities.
In 1979, the LGAP held their first big event, and it was a huge success. The Prospect Mountain S culpture Show near Bolton Landing was an homage to highly re garded sculptor, David Smith and featured works by artists including Mark di Suvero and Isaac Witkin. The exhibition drew international attention and unanimous acclaim.
Creek Band was the Executive Director (and fundraiser extraordinaire) of LGAP from 1981 to 2020. He puts it this way, “Our founder, Beth Rowe, had a great vision for the LGAP. She wanted to exhibit artwork that was fresh, unique, and cutting-edge, but she wanted everyone to be able to enjoy it.”
John continues, “The same goes for the music festival. We don’t do cover bands. We look for original music that will appeal to people but at the same time, we want to challenge the au dience. We want them to feel something re markable and fun that is based on talent, not popularity.”
Musician John Strong of the legendary Stony
“Most of all, we want to provide culture and art to the entire community. Our audiences at the music events and those who come to the art gallery are a wide mixture of people from all levels and corners of society.” (It must be noted that music in Shepard Park is at no charge which is the same policy in the gallery, beaches, hiking, and many other facets of Lake George)
Executive Director, Tanya Tobias-Tomis and Gallery Manager, Laura Von Rosk
John Strong
The Prospect Mountain Sculpture Show
The main mover for jazz in Shepard Park, and host of every event up to his passing in 2018, was noted bohemian poet, ex-merchant mariner, 5-star book author (The Tin Angel), NYC jazz club owner (The Tin Palace), music
promoter, and psychotherapist Paul Pines. Along with Program Director, John Strong, they put together an annual public jazz se ries event that has become legendary among musicians and jazz fans alike.
In 2016, Downbeat Magazine called the jazz events in Shepard Park: "The best-kept secret on the Eastern jazz festival circuit, the Lake George Jazz Festival is a gem worth discovering…. Credit Brooklyn-born jazz impresario Paul Pines, curator for all the fes tivals, with maintaining a consistently high level of artistry throughout those years. Former proprietor of The Tin Palace, the renowned East Village jazz club he ran from 1970 to ’76, Pines is deeply invested in the music and is blessed with good ears and an open mind."
J. Hunter, Programmer/Host at The Saint" WVCR 88.3 and Staff writer at Nippertown Magazine watched Paul serve as host at the festivals with a slight sense of awe, “Paul educated the audience about the musicians they were going to be hearing. At the first Jazz Fest where I saw Paul, he mentioned how vocalist Giacomo Gates performed ‘in the spirit of Eddie Jefferson.’ I had no idea who Eddie Jefferson was, but I certainly found out quickly enough. That was
the type of authentic jazz fan and educator that Paul was, and he brought that enormous wealth of knowledge to every show.”
Paul’s wife, Carol recalls, “We had a 30- plus year involvement with the Lake George Jazz Weekend and the Lake George Arts Project. It was a more important date for us each year than Christmas, birthdays, or the 4th of July. I can calculate the stages of our lives - the 1st in 1983, we had just met; the 2nd, 1984, we were planning our wedding the following month; for the 3rd, I was pregnant; and for the 4th, I was schlepping baby Charlotte around Shepherd’s Park. And of course, the countless fabulous artists who performed over the years. You get the idea. We were blessed beyond measure to have Daniel Kelly, already an adopted member of our family, step up to continue Paul’s work.”
Daniel Kelly is able to transition his career from being a world-class improvisational jazz composer/pianist to being co-founder and co- Artistic Director of Connection Works an artist-run non-profit organization based in Brooklyn, while at the same time curating the Jazz at the Lake festivals. When I ask him why he took the additional responsibility at Lake George, he tells me, “I performed in Shepard Park a few times through the years and ab solutely loved it. As a result, I became close friends with Paul Pines who inspires me to this day. I think John was concerned about the fu ture of the event when Paul passed so I reached out to him to say I would like to be involved to help maintain the momentum and tradition that he and Paul built.”
Paul Pines
With great enthusiasm Daniel continues, “When you look at the line-up of talent that has performed through the years at no charge to the public it is truly mind-blowing. I did not want to see that dynamic paused, and I am very proud to be part of it going into the future.”
All of this was accomplished while Robert Blais was Mayor of Lake George Village. Mayor Blais is unique in American politics. His tenure spans over 51 years with overwhelming popularity. Mayor Blais is a bit of a visionary who was so beguiled by life in the village he wrote a book about it titled, A View From The Top.
I ask Mayor Blais about his agenda to inject more art and music into the main stream of Lake George. He tells me, “I was with the police department in the ’60s when there was a lot of upheaval in the streets, and I saw first-hand that
Lake George was in trouble. Families were afraid to bring their kids here on the 4th of July or Memorial Day. The east side was full of night clubs and the drinking age was 18 so it was rough, When I became the mayor, my goal was to change that image in the eye of the general public.”
“Starting the Jazz at the Lake festivals in 1984 and then opening the Courthouse Gallery in 1985 along with all of the special activities and events that we hold each year at no cost to the public has certainly helped to achieve that goal. Lake George offers something for everyone on all economic levels, and everyone feels safe and welcome here.”
That sort of authentic and committed community connection and focus runs throughout Lake George's civic life and it is at the heart of the LGAP
as well. In speaking to Gallery Manager, Laura Von Rosk that objective becomes clear. She is an enormously talented painter who has been working with LGAP for over 21 years.
“When artists see that the organization is supporting them and honoring their work it snowballs, and that is how we have grown through the years.” Then, with intensity Laura continues, “I have the deepest grati tude for our gracious individual benefactors whose support has been unending. This year we could not hold our annual fundraising events, but the LGAP community really came through for us, and we will continue to come through for them.”
I ask Laura about what they are doing now to maintain this crucial connection with artists. She tells me, “We are focusing on solo shows. It is difficult for artists to get that sort of space to exhibit, and we feel it is important to provide that opportunity to highlight their careers. We also decided to open submissions internationally. There are so many great artists in our region, we end up showing more of their work anyway, but this allows us to exhibit a strong mix with a wide array of influences worldwide that keeps it exciting for everyone.”
“We also created an online gallery where artists can sell their own artwork with a portion going to the gallery. This is just one more way we can function for artists in a meaningful way.”
Director Tobias-Tomis is clear about her feelings for the future of LGAP “We are so fortunate to have a very active board of directors, a very supportive town and village, and benefactors who are deeply connected to our
Robert Blais
Daniel Kelly and Ken Gruskin
mission. I wish all other arts groups had this level of support.”
With a sense of resolve, she adds, “Despite all the issues that came up in 2020 including the loss of $100,000 of our income, we bounced back in 2021. We were able to pay artists, hang our exhibitions, have an outstanding Jazz Festival in Shepard Park, and expand our features
on line. We are also considering ex panding into dance and theatrical performances as well as boosting our already vibrant visual arts programming.”
Director Tobias-Tomis sums it up. “I am forever grateful that we experienced the crucial sup port we needed so that we did not have to make any cuts. Now, with our team intact, our
mission in sharp focus, fantastic artwork to share, new music to enjoy, and a remarkable community supporting us, we are ready to go forward into the future.”
Lake George Arts Project 1 Amherst St, Lake George, NY 12845 www.lakegeorgearts.org
Confit Duck Wings
Fried Burrata & Prosciutto
Hot Seafood Antipasto
Cedar Plank Salmon
Lighting The Way For Epicurean Dining The Water's Edge Lighthouse Restaurant
Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Feed Me 518™
One of the oldest buildings in Glenville, New York stands on the edge of the Mohawk River. Originally a farmhouse, later would be used as a broom factory, then Little Richards Tavern. It became the River House known as the town "biker bar" before being purchased in a state of disre pair in 2004 by Pat and Karen Popolozio who worked hard to restore the historical features of the building.
Buying this venue was originally Pat's retirement project with plans to get it up and running in 2005 and then sell the restaurant. Seventeen years later, Pat and his family still own and run the restaurant that the region knows and loves as the Water’s Edge Lighthouse Restaurant & Inn. "One of the things we are most proud of is that we have a dozen people that have been here for 10 years or longer." shared Pat.
I first dined at the Waters Edge in 2009, before the addition was added to the building and the hotel was built, and I've always remembered the delicious experience I had back then. I've personally enjoyed attending many events hosted at this venue over the years since, and bringing my children here when they were younger. Therefore, I'm delighted to finally share this wonderful family-owned venue with you and the dishes cre ated here by Executive Chef, Nathan Houle.
Born and raised in Colonie, it was at his first kitchen job as a dishwasher in a local restaurant that Chef Nathan fell in love with the process of cooking. He was later promoted to a line cook. "I started cooking more with no intention of furthering my education in culinary arts." Chef Nathan shared, "My aunt passed away and left me a check with the 'for' section being filled out to culinary school, so I turned around and signed up at Suffolk County Community College for the culinary program graduating in 2016." He also mentioned that his own family's traditions of gathering helped him realize the importance of food and how it can bring people together.
Chef Nathan started working at the Waters Edge in 2014 as a line cook, became the sous chef in 2017, and was promoted to Executive Chef in 2018. The inspiration for his creative and delicious coastal style, New England flare, and high-end steak and seafood cuisine comes from being on the water.
The Confit Duck Wings are an excellent wing experience and a creative combination of perfectly crisp braised duck legs covered in a house-made pomegranate/ginger/ pineapple chili sauce and finished with pomegranate seeds and fresh scallions.
The Bacon Wrapped Scallops are a classic starter with large scallops, bacon, brown sugar, and black pepper finished with local maple syrup.
The Fried Burrata and Prosciutto is the Chef's spin on the classic “moz zarella stick." Hand-breaded Burrata flash-fried and oven-baked, drizzled with balsamic reduction, and served with a side of prosciutto and garlic crostinis on marinara and pesto sauces.
lovers must try the Hot Seafood Antipasto loaded with scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms Fra Diavolo finished with mozzarella and a side of Eggplant Fries. There is so much good flavor added to this dish with the seafood and vegetables steamed in sherry wine and red sauce.
The Pork Osso Buco Pomodoro is braised for 10 hours and falls off the bone. This succulent braised pork shank is amazing and served with bucatini pasta and house red sauce drizzled with balsamic reduction and pesto.
The Scallop and Lobster Caprese is now being added to my personal lists of favorite foods I love to eat in Upstate N.Y. This dish is a delicious collaboration of ideas that Event Manager, Taylor Wetsky, shared with Chef Nathan to create this menu item of scallops, lobster, heirloom cherry tomatoes, ciliegine mozzarella balls, and white wine pesto lemon sauce.
The Cedar Plank Salmon is an 8oz lemon pepper seasoned salmon filet placed on a soaked cedar plank over an open flame to fuse the cedar smoke flavor into the salmon which is served with wild grain rice and asparagus.
The Filet Oscar is fabulous, made with a locally sourced 8oz filet mignon cooked perfectly and topped with a flavorous Béarnaise sauce and fresh crab meat. Served with oven-roasted potato and asparagus.
The Popolizios, including their son, Joey who is General Manager, love to provide their customers with a family-owned dining experience that you will feel when you dine at the Waters Edge Lighthouse, located at 2 Freemans Bridge Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
HAPPY EATING!
Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Feed Me 518™ www.FeedMe518.com Instagram: @FeedMe518 FB: www.facebook.com/FeedMe518
Seafood
Scallop and Lobster Caprese
INSTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT>>
Dress...or Redress?
by Karen Richman
We all got comfortable, way, way too comfortable over the last couple of years.
It wasn't our fault because most of us were home...all the time. There was little need to get dressed up, matter of fact, there was little need to even get fully dressed everyday! Somehow pajama bottoms and workout clothes became the uniform of the day, everyday. But even before March of 2020 dealt the world a cruel blow, we were not the best-dressed specimens going anywhere or doing anything. Not like long ago, those wonderful years I love to remember.
Back when I was little my mother did not own a pair of slacks. Not one. She dressed in a skirt or suit with matching shoes and gloves to go gro cery shopping at the Grand Union! Heaven forbid that she would have jeans because back then they weren't called "jeans." They were "dungarees," and even the sound of the word seemed undignified. The only people who seemed to wear dungarees were janitors, like the affable fellows at my grammar school who greeted us each day when we came in, but then seemed somehow relegated to the basement to do their chores.
There was no dress code for school back then because one wasn't needed. There simply was only one way to dress for school. The girls all wore jumpers with blouses or dresses or poodle skirts and sweaters. Shoes were saddle shoes or Mary Janes or loafers worn with either little ankle socks with a ruffle at the top or heavy cotton bobby socks. Sneak ers were not allowed except during gym class. The boys all seemed to dress as though there was a uniform: corduroy pants, striped long-sleeved shirts, and either loafers or leather tie shoes worn with white socks. On school picture day which happened annually, we stepped it up a notch. Most of the girls wore Sunday-best dresses with Mary Janes while the boys wore a shirt and tie.
Before they were called "Mary Janes" they were called "bar" shoes and worn by both boys and girls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They became Mary Janes when the Brown Company of Missouri who made them named them after cartoon character Buster Brown's sweetheart, Mary Jane...and the name stuck. Child star Shirley Temple made them even more popular in the movies, and '60s model Twiggy showed that even adults could wear this "new" fashion icon.
"Penny loafers" became all the rage in the '50s, and I begged my parents for a pair of "Weejuns." Made by shoemaker John Bass (think Bass Shoes), they had a split strap across the top of the shoe to which it be came the "in" thing to add a penny on each shoe. That had been com mon practice when penny loafers were first introduced in the 1930s before any of the kids in my class were born. Adding a penny served a functional purpose back then because, in addition to decorating the shoe, a phone call made from a pay telephone at that time cost just two cents. Therefore, having a penny in each shoe gave the wearer a kind of safety net in case of an emergency.
Patent leather Mary Janes were really popular, just perfect to match with a frilly dress for a friend's birthday party, but there was a caveat that came with wearing them, especially if you were Catholic. My best friend, Elaine, lived directly across the street from me and went to a parochial school. I was always intrigued to hear her stories and often helped her with the endless memorization of questions and answers that were part of her required catechism. When it came to dressing up, however, her mother was adamant about not buying her patent leather shoes. Glossy black and sometimes white, they were a standard part of the wardrobe
in the '50s and '60s, but the nuns and priests at Elaine's school had warned the girls away from patent leather, telling them the glossy sur face of the shoes would reflect up their skirt or dress, showing their underwear. Whether folklore, old wives' tale, or the truth, I was glad I was not Catholic and sometimes loaned Elaine my shoes since we wore the same size. She would dutifully wear her saddle shoes upon leaving her house, then change at the party. One day she forgot to change back, and we both got in trouble. "But I'm not Catholic," I wailed as Elaine's mother gave me a spanking as well. That's when I first learned what "accessory after the fact" meant.
Just the term dressing "up" has lost its cachet today. Everyone knows about dressing down. They even sponsor "Dress Down Days" in banks and offices to help supplement the coffers of a charity, and it's easy to slip on jeans deliberately ripped in the knees or lounge pants, not worry about wrinkles, and get comfortable in the old running shoes with the hole in the toe. Still, there's something about those long-ago days of dressing for school that made you pay more attention in class, that made you learn better because you looked better. And there was something about seeing who had the fluffiest crinoline and the fanciest dress at a birthday party that made you careful not to spill your Dixie Cup ice cream on the ruffles. It was what made dressing "up" part of living "up" to standards, rising "up" to an occasion, and knowing that this day was special.
As Harriett, my old friend in New Hampshire was fond of saying, "Those were the good old days. We just didn't know then that they were the good old days."
Client: Natasha LaFayette, Owner of The Pilates Institute in Saratoga Springs and Charmed Life @charmedlifestyle
Photographer: Rachel Flanders Rodenmeyer, Owner of ser.en.dip.iti Photography
About Face. The Buccal Facial Massage
Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE
Buccal massage is a favorite of many stage and screen celebrities and is touted by beauty editors worldwide. What exactly is it? Also known as the “inside out facial," it’s a contouring treatment that is particularly beneficial and considered by many to be a deeply relaxing and healthful alternative to thread lifts and facial injections.
Like Gua Sha treatments, Buccal Facial Massage tightens and tones the skin for a firmer, more contoured look. The buccal massage is one of the facial massage techniques that targets the drooping of the cheeks and jowls, a universally known and frustrating problem area in the face.
It is also very beneficial if you have ever experienced the pain and discomfort associated with TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder). Your temporomandibular joint connects your mandible, or lower jaw to your temporal bones in your skull. This joint allows you to move your jaw forward, backward, and side to side so you can chew, talk, yawn, etc. TMJ is the abbreviation for the actual joint and TMD is the abbreviation for the disorder associated with the muscles, ligaments, discs, bones, or the joint itself.
Have you noticed yourself clenching your jaw? Has anyone ever told you that you grind your teeth at night? Do you wake up with jaw pain and/or headaches? Does your jaw click or “pop” when you open your mouth? If so, you may benefit from a buccal massage as it can decrease tightness and tension in your face and relieve some of your discomfort.
Before I became an esthetician, I trained to be a dental hygienist (not exciting enough for me) and then worked in general dentistry for 3 years and orthodontics for over 17 years in California. We took care of a lot of patients that had TMD due to improper tooth alignment. We were helping our patients alleviate some of their pain and discomfort during their visits with buccal facial massage YEARS before anyone realized the facial contouring benefit. Who knew?
outside the mouth at the same time. Why is this important? This type of facial massage removes blockages and adhesions and completely im proves the posture of the face by lifting, sculpting, relaxing, and firming. It’s incredible.
What is it like? First, your practitioner will cleanse your skin. I like to apply a toner, serum, and oil to treat the skin and provide a little slip for a more comfortable treatment. I start the massage around the eye and nose area to help my clients relax and get comfortable. Then I focus on the upper and lower gum tissue. Lingual (inside, closer to the tongue side), then buccal (closer to the cheek side). This is extremely relaxing and it promotes blood flow in the tissue. One of my clients told me that her dentist noticed the difference in the color and overall health in her gums after her third treatment.
How does this type of massage help us look healthier and more youthful? Well, the main benefit of massaging the face is the removal of tension and stress in the muscle tissue. It softens AND strengthens the muscle fibers at the same time. Massage helps to remove toxins, drain and eliminate fluid retention in the face, improves blood flow, and lifts the facial contours. All of this encourages an oxygenated environment with adequate blood flow to the skin cells and muscle tissue which generates new, vibrant cells.
Why is it called a Buccal Facial Massage? The buccal region refers to the inner cheek, with the buccal mucosa being the lining of the inside of your cheek. The buccal mucosa extends from the anterior tonsillar pillar at the back of the mouth, to the lining of the lips at the front of the mouth. A Buccal Facial Massage is a treatment focusing on the inside (mucosa) and outside (skin) of your cheeks and your anterior lip area.
This isn’t like your regular deep tissue massage on your neck and shoulders. Massaging inside the mouth allows us to access the muscles
Next is the actual Buccal Facial Massage. I target the muscles surrounding the mouth (obicularis oris) first, lightly massaging the mouth and lip area. Then I massage from the inside of the mouth and cheeks with a combination of gloved thumbs and index fingers to gently stretch, massage, and relax the buccinator (cheek muscle) and the jaw muscle known as the masseter muscle. A lot of big words for an incredibly relaxing and effective facial massage.
What can you expect after one treatment? Total relaxation. Radiant, plump, and glow ing skin. Less puffiness around your eyes. A sculpted and defined jaw area and a noticeably contoured face. Every client has looked in the mirror, touched their face, and said, “WOW!”
What can you expect after a couple of treat ments? Contoured cheeks, less visible lines, relaxed muscles in the lower jaw area, and a firmer, smoother neck. Your eyes will be less puffy and your jaw area will be well defined. Your facial features will be more sculpted, lifted…firmer.
Now…can you do this at home? The best at-home version would be a self-per formed Gua Sha Facial Massage using a Gua Sha jade or rose quartz stone on the outside area of your face and jaw. You can reference our article on The Beauty of Gua Sha in the October 2020 issue of 518 Profiles. You may want to leave the inside buccal massage to your licensed esthetician.
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
March 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
March 1 - April 2 Glens Falls
“Inside Out” Eden Compton, features a mix of urban scenes and interior paintings in oil and gouache. Mid and large sized oil paintings include local and NYC cityscapes as well as a number of smaller studies in gouache and oil. Eden Compton has a studio and gallery on Beekman Street and is very active in our local art scene. Mountain Gallery, 21 Bay St, Glens Falls, NY 12801
March 1 - 19 Saratoga Springs
March 1 - 20 Troy
The "Garden Awakening" Alexandra Higgins is a local painter and sculptor whose work revolves around a theme she calls "roots" which is about gardens, plants, women and the physical work involved in gardening. The series is based on ideas which started when she was working in her own gardens. All the work is related to gardens and their growth. Pause Gallery, 501 Broadway #106, Troy, NY 12180
Saratoga Arts Presents our first 2022
Ju ried Exhibition. Beginning Saturday, February 12th from 12-4pm, Saratoga Arts i s pleased to display our first juried exhi bition of the season, containing the works of John Dobbie, Seth Butler, Taylor Butler, and Amanda Michael Harris. This exhibition showcases these four artists, who are uniquely interpreting the mediums of painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, and sculpture. We see in all of their work a crossroad of craft and content, of personality and precision, that begin conversations about the roles of skill, observation, abstraction, and embodiment in art making. Cost: Free. Opening Saturday, Feb 12 through Saturday, Mar 19, 2022. Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
March 4 Saratoga Springs
Jon Pousette Dart. Classic folk rocker Jon Pousette-Dart has built his four decade ca reer with a gilded tenor and a smooth hand on the guitar. His Pousette-Dart Band was a 1970s radio mainstay, a fa vorite on the college circuit, and became one of the busiest touring groups in the US, playing arenas from coast to coast. Fri, March 4, 2022, 8:00 PM EST. Doors at 7:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
MARCH EVENTS
March 5 - April 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.” Opening reception, Saturday March 5, 5pm - 8pm. Gallery hours: Thursday - Sunday 12pm -5pm. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad Street, Schuylerville, NY.
March 5 Saratoga Springs
Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys. Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys are at once oldtimey and timeless. Their music is a gumbo platter of nostalgia, carrying listeners back to 1960s Louisiana and recalling memories of Hank Williams or the Stanley Brothers. But Gaudet and his band also serve as reminders of why old-time music continues to flourish and inspire today. While their genre has roots, their lyrics and songwriting feel fresh and powerful, often featuring sharply funny satire. Sat, March 5, 2022, 8:00 PM EST. Doors at 7:30 PM Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
March 10 Saratoga Springs
Bright Series: Talisk. Groundbreaking, chart-topping, genreb ending, instantly enthralling… it’s little wonder that Talisk rank highly amongst the most in-demand folk-based groups to emerge from Scotland in the last decade. Alongside extensive touring, and appearances at leading festivals across multiple continents, Talisk have stacked up major awards for their explosively energetic, artfully woven sound. Thu, March 10, 2022, 7:00 PM EST. Doors at 6:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
March 19 Glens Falls
Winter Meltdown Spicy Food Festival. Featuring vendors, food trucks and shops of the Shirt Factory with a wide va riety of flavorful foods, a portion of food sales supports the local backpack program. Saturday, Mar 19, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Shirt Fac tory, 71 Lawrence Street and 21 Cooper Street Glens Falls, NY 12801
MARCH EVENTS
March 19 Schenectady
Celtic Woman. Grammy nominated global music sensation Celtic Woman is thrilled to return in 2022 with a brand-new show Postcards from Ireland. Postcards from Ireland celebrates the rich musical and cultural heritage of Ireland; taking audiences on a journey of story and song from across the Emerald Isle. Embrace an evening of angelic voices, breath-taking har monies and instrumental virtuosity, transporting you from your theatre seat to the lush landscapes of Ireland. Celtic Woman’s fresh fusion of traditional Irish music and contemporary songcraft celebrates Ireland’s ancient heritage while reflecting the vibrant spirit of modern Ireland. With Irish dancers, bagpipers and an array of traditional Irish instruments. Saturday, Mar 19, 2022 7:30 PM to 9:50 PM. Proctors, 432 State St Schenectady, NY. Cost: $49.50 - $154.50
March 19 - April 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 represent 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, teetering on rock ledges,” said Phillips. “The series represents the safety and need for each other in this sometimes cruel world.” Saturday, Mar 19, 2022 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Valley Artisans Market, 25 East Main Street Cambridge, NY 12816
March 20 Saratoga Springs
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers 30th Anniversary Tour. Throughout his long, constantly evolving career, guitarist, singer and songwriter
Tommy Castro has always remained true to himself while exploring, growing and creating new music, and he has taken his thousands of devoted fans right along with him. Since his solo debut in 1994, he’s made 16 albums, each its own unique chapter in the book of Tommy Castro. Ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues to fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll, each release is solidly built upon Castro’s unshakable musical foundation. Sun, March 20, 2022, 7:00 PM EDT. Doors at 6:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY
March 20 Albany
March 24 Glens Falls
Cold Chocolate. Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk, and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Featuring Ethan Robbins on uitar, Ariel Bernstein on percussion, and backed by some of the root’s music scene’s finest players, this group from Boston is impressing audiences throughout New England and beyond. Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, and with a focus on songwriting, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows. March 24 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm $20 – $22. The Park Theater, 14 Park Street Glens Falls, NY
March 25 - May 15 Troy
Fredda Merzon - Retrospective, Opening March 25th. 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
March 26-27 Glens Falls
March 26 Saratoga Springs Saratoga Chowderfest 'N Tour. Event goers will have the opportunity to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts to-go at participating restau rants all week long. Discover Saratoga will end the week with the traditional ce lebra tion we all know and love! Chowderfest will take place on Saturday, March 26. Enjoy live entertainment and family-friendly activ ities from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. Try $2 chowder samples and vote for your favorite.
Mountain a Gallery will be hosting a Gouache Workshop with Eden Compton. S tudents will be sketching and using gouache to com plete their work. 9amnoon. Class six limited to 6. Contact Mountain Gallery at 518-232-7843 to register. Mountain Gallery, 21 Bay St, Glens Falls, NY 12801
The Lark Hall Record Riot. A giant record store lands on Lark Street! Join us for a vinyl digging party, complete with live DJs & other merriment. Punk funk soul class. We're happy to welcome a Record Riot to our Lark Hall space! Over 25 tables of LPs, CDs & 45s. DJs spinning vinyl all day, from 11 AM-5 PM. Dealers from New York State & beyond. Genres ranging from punk to funk, 80s rock to metal & hip hop. Something for everyone! Sunday, Mar 20, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Lark Hall, 351 Hudson Ave Albany, NY 12210
March 30 Glens Falls
Rochmon Record Club – The Doors –March 30 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm. On Wednesday March 30 at 6:30 The Rochmon Record Club will converge to listen, learn about The Door’s eponymous debut album “The Doors”. The Doors greeted the world in 1967 an amazing year for Rock & Roll. The Doors psychedelic sound and charismatic lead singer, Jim Morrison, combined to make “The Doors” one of the best-selling albums of all time. www.parktheatergf.com Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801
