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ENCORECENTER STAGE SEPTEMBER 2022 “Life’s a Balance, Not Just One Thing” The Epitome of Energy that is Dona Federico pg. 12 The Vision, The Process, and The Transformation: John Van Alstine, Sculptor pg. 4 Merriman & Pﬁster’s Marketplace A Homage to Family, Artists & Artisans, and Everything Local pg. 30 The Gary Zack Story An Eclectic Life Inspired by a Creative Soul pg. 22 518 PROFILES 587 Grand Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 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 Well, can you believe the summer breeze will soon bring a crisp smell of f all in the air? The seasons change is sneaking up on us, which means the holidays are right around the corner. Before you know it, we will be decorating our homes with mums and pumpkins and swapping iced drinks for warm beverages that give off the sweet aroma of autumn. Welcome to the September issue! All of us at 518 Profiles have been so fortunate to grace our pages each month with amazing and gifted artisans throughout New York. Now it’s time to pick that perfect co mfy spot, flip open this issue and enjoy each of their fascinating stories. 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! Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher 518 Profiles LLC All rights reserved. All content of this publication including but not limited to text, graphics, and photos may not be reprinted or reproduced without written consent f rom the publisher. 518 Profiles is not held responsible for graphics or images submitted for contribution to this publication. Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink. www.518PROFILES.com Vol 3 Issue 11 FeedMe518 pg. 38 New York State Winery, from Grapes to Greatness Sweet Nostalgia pg. 42 Remembering School Lunch and “The Lunch Ladies” LIFEspa Obsessed with Lip Blushing? Here are a Few Things to Consider pg. 44 September Events pg. 47 Events throughout the Capital Region

2 T H E L A F F E R G A L L E R Y . C O M 518.695.3181 | 96 Broad Street Schuylerville, NY The Laffer Gallery John Van Alstine & Teri Malo September 17 - October 23 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, with opening receptions for each exhibit. O p e n i n g R e c e p t i o n : S a t u r d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 7 , 5 p m - 8 p m

By Lawrence White Opening night of Transformations at The Hyde Collection Sisyphean Circle

“Sculpture is the art of intelligence”

I ask John if he can express what he is feeling at this moment and he responds, “I am pretty blown away because this exhibition is an apex of sorts in my career. It is almost 50 years of work, 49 to be exact, so to see it all in one location is amazing. I am proud and happy to see it. The show was delayed for two years due to COVID. Last year I did a show here called COVID Bronzes based on pieces I created during isola tion, so fate has allowed me to be here twice, and I am really enjoying it.” When the doors open, and the room fills with guests, John guides the visitors through the space and shares intimate stories and conversations about his artwork in a delightful, animated, and poetic manner. These sessions last an hour or longer and can cover ground back to John’s childhood through his BFA at Kent State, the period teaching art at the University of Maryland, up to his status as one of the elite sculptors in the Johnworld.explains it like this, “I am like my father, grandfather, and great grandfather. All of us are builders, but I decided to go to college to study art. I share that same innate talent but with a different skew into the frame of art history,” One of the first impressions a viewer experiences with John’s dynamic and heroic pieces is that they magically defy gravity. In one of the pieces, a viewer will see a solid steel anvil suspended high onto a large metal column. In another, a magnificent slab of unique stone is suspended in a circle of large black metal tubing. As with most of his pieces, John uses a gently bold palette of hues with various finishes that accent the shapes and please the eye.

...Pablo Picasso

H ighly regarded sculptor and Johnstown native, John Van Alstine’s eyes are wide open as he walks into the Hyde Collection Feibes & Schmitt Gallery on the opening night of his amazing retrospect show, Transformations. I am fortunate to be in the gallery as John enters and soaks in the full dimension of the achievement. This is the artist’s moment. John takes a deep breath and begins to walk around the vast gallery space in a counterclockwise direction. The design of the Feibes & Schmitt Gallery alone is a piece of art. The beautiful spaces serve as a perfect exhibition environment to display any style or size of artwork to its maximum visual and emotional impact. As John pauses at each piece of sculpture and framed illustrative artwork, he notes the lighting and placement in the space and how each piece appears from different angles. He checks the interactive digital labels on each piece and makes notes for corrections.

The Vision, The Process, and The Transformation: John Van Alstine, Sculptor

...John Van Alstine 6/7/2022

With that in mind, I ask John if his pieces are created strictly on inspiration or is he will ing to accept commissions for site-specific work. “I don’t do commissions,” John replies.

“When you put things together that is where the art spirit is born.”

“My wife, Caroline (word renown sculptor, Caroline Ramersdorfer) often works closely with clients to develop pieces for specific sites. It is a natural process for her, and the results are amazingly beautiful. I don’t like doing that though. I don’t want to be limited or controlled or con tained by the ideas or needs of a client.

The Sinopoli Dancers perform using the gallery as the stage 6

Piece after piece is a master’s blending of organic and man-made materials that are artistically arranged in a unique, mystical, and playful manner. It is important to state that John’s art work evokes a sort of universal symbology that sparks the imagination of even the most casual viewer. As John walks through the exhibition and ex plains each piece to the hushed crowd, it is very evident that there are deep meanings and mythical themes that run throughout the exhibition that takes the experience to entirely new levels. John leaves it to the viewer as to how deep they wish to go. He simply promises there will be meaning to discover when they get there.

“I am a sculptor who puts things together. It is called assemblage,” John explains. “I am not a stone sculptor who uses the subtractive process and starts with a block and carves everything away. I am using found objects and materials from entirely different places made from totally different materials that each have their separate history and associations. People have their perspectives about them on their own. The real magic happens as I start to put the elements together. Then the piece itself speaks to me and ultimately it speaks to the people who see them.”

For tunately, people respond to the artistic di rections which I spin off into, so I can make a nice living doing it.” This is true. John’s client list is long and inter na tional. He has sold pieces to clients and collectors all over the world. He has been awarded fellowships, grants, and citations from several foundations, and his pieces are in museum collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC. A visit to his website resume or his Wikipedia page will dazzle even the most jaded aficionado. As the photos that accompany this article attest, John’s complex pieces can be quite large and can weigh many hundreds, if not thousands of pounds. So, the question is, how does John move these large pieces and ultimately put them in place?

Truly large pieces like the Saratoga Springs 9-11 memorial, Tempered by Memory were complex logistical challenges. The 26-foot-tall piece was created from World Trade Center steel with fellow sculptor Noah Savett under commission from Saratoga Arts. Moving this huge sculpture of highly symbolic steel from Noah’s commercial property in Gansevoort to Saratoga Springs required special travel permits, a police escort, and finally an enormous crane with a full ground crew to install the piece in High Rock Park.

John also tells me about a prodigious piece he created, Cardinalis, that was installed at the Indianapolis Airport in 2008 and was even more complicated, “Once the proposal was accepted, and the grant was in place I made a model that was sent to the fabricator in Pennsylvania. The full-size F 14 fighter wing and other elements were also shipped to the fabricator. The piece then was engineered and created at the fa b ricator's site. A structured foundation was designed, and all the elements of the piece were then shipped to Indianapolis by a cus tomized shipper and installed at the Johnairport.”alsoenjoys the process of installing the sculptures himself and even boasts that he could have a second career as a professional mover. “I truly enjoy placing the pieces personally for collectors. It forms a unique connection between us, and who knows, maybe I get dinner and a glass of wine as a bonus,” he says with a laugh. I meet independent curator Caroline Welsh and ask her impressions of curating the Trans for mations exhibition and she tells me, “There were challenges but overall, the experience was a joy. The conception and construction of the pieces John creates are very clever and interesting on many levels. John takes materials he finds from 9-11 memorial, Tempered by Memory

John Van Alstine and NoahCardinalisSavett

8 Sisyphean Holiday Charon’s Steel Styx Passage 1996, granite / steel, 17'4"h x 20'l x 6'w

I ask John Lefner, Chief Development Officer for the Hyde Collection, about reactions to the exhi bition. He responds, “Transformations was extremely well received at the director’s circle event on the opening night and very well by the public at the general opening the next day. We have heard nothing but positive comments ever since.” Speaking of the future Mr. Lefner projects, “We will maintain our tradition of excellence with some phenomenal upcoming exhibitions that will be disclosed soon. It is truly an exciting time for the Hyde Collection.”

“Unda”, 1995, granite and steel, 47”h x 75” w x 24’d (foreground) “Chalice II”, 1995, granite, steel, aluminum, 156” h x 48”w x 36’d

Ben Carozza and Glen Warner who attended the public opening are members of the younger generation. When I ask for their reaction Ben tells me, “It is very impressive to see and hear directly from an artist who is so passionate about their work,” Glen agrees and says, “Each piece has a fascinating story behind it which makes it even more interesting. I loved the different levels of the artwork and how the artist balances the various parts of each piece.”

"Buoy" 1995, granite/steel, 130"h x 120"w x 60"d The view John Van Alstine’s work, please visit Hyde Transformations:CollectionThe Art of John Van Alstine Exhibition on view until September 18th 161 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801

“Sisyphus is the character I most relate to. I am pushing stone to a creative peak and then figura tively and physically lifting it to the very top. Then when the sculpture is completed, there is a period of rolling back down until I start over, but I do not see it as a negative. Camus, the French Ex istentialist who wrote a lot about Sisyphus convinced me that the process is not a punishment to endure. In other words, it is not all about the final piece per se, it is about the work that goes into the piece. The journey. The process is what inspires me now.” Before leaving, I consider asking John what is next for his career; however, as I watch him walk back into the gallery toward five decades of his incredibly powerful artwork, the question seems to answer itself.

I ask John about the Sisyphean theme that reoccurs throughout his work. I question his connection to the mythical character who forever pushes a stone uphill only to see it roll down again.

The exhibition also includes an opportunity to see the Ellen Sinopoli Dancers perform using the gallery as the stage. The blending of John’s artwork with Ms. Sinopoli’s innovative choreography is always fascinating for any age group.

Tether (Boy’s Toys), 1995, granite / steel / alum., 16'h x 14'w x 10'd

JohnThehttps://www.hydecollection.orgLafferGalleryVanAlstine-September 17 - October 23 Opening Reception: Saturday Sept 17, 5pm - 8pm 96 Broad St, Schuylerville, NY 12871 www.johnvanalstine.com

this earth and frees them to become another di mension. Presenting the work in an exhibition of this scope increases that dynamic greatly. It is wonderful he and Caroline have their studio and fabulous sculpture garden here in upstate New York.”

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Not to be outdone, Dona’s father loved music and dancing, and service to his country. Even when his time in the Air Force was up, he perpetuated this deep commitment by continuing his military work as a civil servant at the local Navy base serving yet another eight years, not out of duty,

If you’re lucky, really lucky in this life, you will have many friends, but if one of those friends just happens to be Dona Federico, then you’ve hit the mother lode.

For Dona Federico is that special person we don’t all get to meet but wish we had. The naysayers and pessimists might say Federico is just another Renaissance woman multi-tasking and bragging about it, but that’s why they’re called naysayers and pessimists. In truth, Dona Fed erico is the real deal, and to label her as any one thing would be an affront as to how she was raised, what she believes, and why she has succeeded.

“Life’s a Balance, Not Just One Thing”

To begin at the beginning. Dona was born into a military family. Her father was Puerto Rican and from New York, her mother a Sephardic Jew from Morocco, and Dona and her sister spent the entire length of their father’s Air Force service living on Travis Air Force base at the southwestern edge of the Sacramento Valley in California. So when Federico is called a “military brat,” she quickly challenges the label and corrects with a hearty laugh, “No, we were just brats running all over the base.” But that was not entirely true because most brats did not have parents like Dona’s. “My Mom was born in Morocco and came from a very cul tured background. She was a beautiful person and taught us so many things. Growing up, she instilled in us a love of art and music, we were very close.” Dona’s mother lived with her and her husband until her passing last Fall, the grief of which is still very raw and palpable for Federico. “She was my best friend. We had a deep love, respect, and friendship.”

The Epitome of Energy that is Dona Federico by Rona Mann Dona with her mother and daughter - Esther Morales and Olivia Scibelli

14 but of choice. Her father passed on his love of music and dancing and penchant for photography.

Indeed, that is how Federico filled and continues to fill her life. Following a college education that produced a degree in education, “I did what all nice Jewish girls did at the time.” She became a teacher and taught for a few years. But Dona was much too restless for a lifetime in the class room. She was told by a mentor who recognized her strong worth ethic, drive, and genuine inter est in people that she’d be good in sales, so advertising sales and marketing became her new passion. Years after relocating to the Northeast she got a job at WAMC Northeast Public Radio where she spent the next 18 years rising through the ranks to eventually become Chief of Staff. Along the way, she decided to get a real estate license and accomplished that goal in 2006. Now the woman who feeds on energy had two full-time careers excelling at both for the next nine years.

“I learned early on from both my parents,” Dona said, “that life is a balance, not just one thing, and it’s okay to move on and make room for something new.”

In 2015, Dona who was tops in sales for Sotheby’s Realty, decided to devote all her time and focus to real estate, so she left the radio station.

Her husband, Joe wanted to celebrate her career choice and past achievements by giving her a party, but she demured. “Well, what do you want?” he asked. It didn’t take the woman long to reply, “A camera A really good camera.” Apparently, her father’s genes and love for photography had rubbed off and now come to the forefront of her life. Once that camera was in hand, it never left. “My friends joke to this day that I never go anywhere without my camera,” she laughed. Although not formally trained, Federico took to photography as though she had always been framing life’s moments through a lens. “Things shift and change,” she says simply.

Dona’s favorite subjects to photograph are birds and horses. “They’re my thing.” One look at the website she created for Dona Federico Photography validates that. She has a natural talent for making the light become as much the focus of the finished work as the subject without overpowering. She catches the determined look in the eyes of a racehorse, the attitude that powers his body, the quiet ballet of a bird in flight, the beauty of holiness that is a sunset. On a whim, she started selling her work through pop-up stores in the Saratoga area and found the images on canvas,

Asked if retirement might be in the picture, she reacts almost as though someone had said a “bad” word. “I don’t want to retire. I want to continue taking photos, find more time to travel, and who knows? Maybe even start a little band again.”

Dona’s love of people and socialization now extends to hav ing a group of like-minded women friends who also enjoy photography as a hobby. “We call it, ‘Chicks Who Click,’” she says with a characteristic chuckle. Photography was not the only hobby Federico sampled. She also was lead singer with a country western band that performed among other venues at Caffe Lena, the Saratoga County Fairground, and even opened for The Marshall Tucker Band and The Outlaws. Additionally, she was a volunteer for more than a dozen years at The Capital District Humane Association. After 10 successful years with Sotheby’s, Federico made a move to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services as a Residential & Luxury Collection Specialist bringing with her a team of equally successful professionals called the Dona Frank Team. “I am a natural mentor. I lead, I don’t follow, and I’m gratified that my team works so well together. I’m very proud of what we’re doing.”So are her clients who instantly be come friends staying in touch, forming an association with Dona long after the sale. She’s also indelibly proud of her family. Her husband, Joe “is my business partner, and we both enjoy our blended family of three children and two grandchildren.” They enjoy traveling and spending quality vacation time in Hilton Head, relaxing, enjoying, and photographing those magnificent South Carolina coastal birds and sunsets.

note cards, and prints were selling. But she wants people to know, “this is my hobby, real estate is my business.”

It all goes back to two things: Dona Federico’s incredible energy and following her parents’ lead in life. “Life is a balance, not just one thing.”

Hopefully, you will encounter this force of nature at the track, at a pop-up show of her photography, a real estate transaction, or per haps even singing a country song once again with a band. If you do, consider your encounter a lucky one. Some of the pixie dust might just rub off.

Contact Dona at (518) 421-6753 Websites: www.thedonafrankteam.com and www.dffphotos.com 17

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His father taught him responsibility and the benefits of saving as well. From the age of thirteen, Zack was expected to pay room and board every month. Incredible, but somehow, he did. When he got out of the Army, his father returned all that money to him which also helped Zack invest in his future; and in addition to teaching the value of money, Zack’s father taught him carpentry, auto mechanics, and other skills of the trades which he put to good use throughout his life. “It was a great foundation. He also told me that, ‘whatever you don’t know, you can figure out,’”

Also, during that time, an uncle who was a very successful photographer with clients like Johnny Carson, Mary Travers, and Tom Tryon, convinced him to leave Chicago and move to Saratoga Springs where he lived. His uncle became Zack’s biggest supporter and sometimes his harshest critic.

According to Gary Zack, you just go for it. Zack’s can-do attitude dates back to when he was just a boy. His grandfather emigrated from Croatia to the United States in the early 1920’s to escape war and unrest similar to what is occurring in Ukraine today. Zack and his family lived in the apartment below him in Chicago, and he has vivid memories of his youth. One, in particular, involves his grandfather calling him over every Sunday while he was sitting in his big chair in front of the TV. “My grandfather would tell me to put out my hands. In one he’d put a nickel or a dime but in the other, he would put twice that. Then, with the sternest look you could imagine, he would say, ‘you save this.’ He did that for me until I was out of the Army and bought my first apartment building.”

by Carol St. Sauveur Ferris

Immediately out of high school, Zack worked briefly for AT&T and then was drafted into the Army. He returned to AT&T when his Army stint was over and worked there for ten years. Just as he had been taught, he saved his money which allowed him to buy an apartment building every three years.

And the timing was perfect. Many area churches had stained glass needing restoration, so he never lacked for work. In addition to the churches, he also spent three years restoring the Tiffany windows at Yaddo, the artists’ retreat in Saratoga Springs. Quite a coup for a self-taught expert. While he loved stained glass, Zack’s interest eventually turned to blown

23 The Gary Zack Story

An Eclectic Life Inspired by a Creative Soul

Besides developing an impressive skillset, his interests have always been eclectic and his talent equally so. When he was just a kid, his mother took him to church every Sunday, and according to Zack, the attraction for him had absolutely nothing to do with the service. He loved the stained-glass windows and was captivated by them.“I never listened to the sermons, but the stained glass was mesmerizing, so I think that got me into it.”

“One day my uncle said, ‘just quit the corporation, come here, buy some apartment buildings, start your own business, and do stained glass,’ so I did. It was just like my father always said,’ just go do it.’”

Most people excel at one thing, and that’s usually where their passion lives. It may be running, writing, dancing, or most anything that isn’t routine day-to-day living. But whatever it is, you can be sure they’ll pursue it in earnest and strive to reach their personal best. So, what happens when you have multiple interests and passions?

24 glass. He researched and studied the glass blowing process then built his own studio and furnace. Soon he was blowing glass objects and vessels that were selling well, and as with all of his interests, he was entirely self-taught and successful.

But it was at the urging of his wife, Dianne, who is a jewelry designer, that got Zack to rent a studio on a Saratoga Springs main street for the summer. To their amazement, his glass-blowing business tripled in just three months. Next, they moved into a space on Broadway where they opened Symmetry Gallery, showcasing both their work as well as other artists. It was an immediate success. In addition to their

A, B, C Floral Series, Mini 12” x 6”, Oil on BoardLandscape Series 36” x 24”, Oil on Canvas 25

The results speak for themselves, and his pieces continue to be very well received by galleries and private Regardlessclients.ofwhat medium Zack is working with or what venture he is pursuing, his passion for cars has been a consistent thread through out his life. In his eyes, they are works of art. He has owned and restored many hot rods and vintage cars since he was a kid. According

own gallery, Zack’s work appeared in more than fifty galleries around the Duringcountry.his glass-blowing years, Zack did pieces for private clients including spectacular glass chan deliers that he custom designed and blew, taking up to a year to complete. It’s hard to imagine that a piece could actually take that long until you see how labor-intensive and nuanced the process really is. One wrong move and all the work leading up to the finish is lost. Despite the occasional setback, glass blow ing was a passion, and when commenting on how his work brought the name Dale Chihuly to mind, Zack joked that he used to call his chandeliers “Zackahulys” as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the well-known glass blower. His next foray into the world of art mediums was painting in both acrylics and oils. From diverse collections of beautiful landscapes and abstracts to collections of colorful figures and still-life florals, Zack tapped into his fearless sense of adventure and joy in the doing.

26 Water Series, Pond 24” x 36”, Oil on Board Figure Series, 24” x 24”, Acrylic on Canvas Ocean Series “36 x 36”, Oil on Board Country Road Series, Red Barns 24” x 36”, Acrylic on CanvasAdirondack Series 24” x 36” , Oil on Canvas

If you think that making and restoring stained glass for churches; building a furnace from scratch, then creating and installing magnificent blown glass pieces; buying and restoring vintage cars; riding and chopping Harleys; painting beautiful canvases in oils, and owning a successful art gallery for almost 25 years is more than enough for one person to accomplish in their lifetime you’d be wrong. Together with Dianne, Zack actually designed and built their incredible, contemporary home over a period of two and a half years with the help of an engineer/architect. It’s not a style typically found in Saratoga Springs with its flat roof and scuppers, wide open spaces, state-of-the-art lighting, and passive solar energy features but that doesn’t matter to them. The house was designed with their extensive art collection in mind which they’ve added to for over 40 years. It's their forever home and is absolutely perfect. When chatting with Zack it’s clear that he has always been willing to go the distance to follow his passions, fulfill his dreams, and achieve his goals. At 71, his cu riosity continues to take him down a variety of cre ative paths. That curiosity, combined with his entre preneurial instinct, expansive skill set, and unflag ging, can-do attitude surely guarantees many more years of success and fulfillment.

And things have certainly come full circle because when he and Dianne first started dating 45 years ago, he was also driving a Corvette. Chuckling a bit he shares, “She had two little kids and no matter how we tried we couldn’t stuff them in the back seat!” So, he sold the Vette and not surprisingly invested the money in his business instead.

to Zack, growing up in Chicago it was all about Motown, drive- ins like A&W Root Beer, and cars. Unbelievably, he had been driving since the age of thirteen, so by sixteen he really wanted a car of his own. He approached his father who agreed to it as long as Zack saved three times the cost of the car and three times the cost of insurance. It’s no surprise that he did just that and ended up buying himself a black ’57 Chevy with only 30,000 miles on it for $600.00. But he didn’t just drive off into the sunset that first day. Instead, his father made sure he first brought it back to its original pristine condition which took nearly all summer, but it was worth it.With a bit of the boyish wonder still in his voice, Zack shared, “It was immac ulate, and I was in heaven.”

“I just can’t wait to get up every day. The process is a ‘high’ and hard to explain to someone. It’s so amazing. I’m so grateful.”

Recently Zack gave up his Harleys because Dianne can no longer ride on the back of the bike. His new mode of transportation happens to be a 1976 Italian Red Corvette which is a big change from all the cars he has owned in the past. They were always black, but according to Zack, this red is beautiful.

Over the years, he has owned a ’38, ’55, ’56, and ‘64 Chevy. According to Zack, Chevys were his thing, but he did break down once and bought an amazing 1934 Ford hot rod as well. Be sides the 4-wheel kind of trans portation, Zack is also passionate about motorcycles. Harleys to be exact. A look of absolute joy comes over his face when he talks about that “feeling of openness and the wind” when riding a Harley. The cult classic, Easy Rider, immediately comes to mind.

As for the rest of us, we can’t wait to get up and see what Zack will be up to next! Be sure to view and learn more about Zack’s artwork on his website at: www.garyzack.com.

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The reason is simple. Kathy Agneta is firm about family, about her roots, about what’s important in life, and Merriman and Pfister are her roots. They were the maiden names of her mother-in-law(still very much full of life) and her mother (now departed) but living on in the name and four walls of this glorious community-based marketplace in Delmar. According to the website which sports smiling photos of these two full-oflife ladies, they are grandmothers who “showed others how to live kindly, each believing in community.”Indeed, that is Agneta’s mission for Merriman & Pfister’s, “to do right in their name.”

When it comes to Delmar, Kathy Agneta knows it well.“I always lived in Delmar. I was born here, I was raised here.”

Helen Pfister Dolores Merriman

“I had a lot of different jobs along the way,” she offers. “I even worked for the state for four years.” But if you think she was trying to “find her self,” that was not the case, for Kathy Agneta found herself right where she lived. She has truly bloomed where she was planted and taken an entire garden of family and community along with her on this joyous journey.

Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace A Homage to Family, Artists & Artisans, and Everything Local by Rona Mann photos by Stephanie Sittnick

“It’s a mouthful,” says Kathy Agneta when speaking of her most successful and unique shop with the curious moniker, Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace. “But I was firm about that even when others told me it wasn’t the best name for my business. I was not about to change it.”

It’s nearly impossible to compartmentalize what this shop is all about, better you should go and see for yourselves, for this is most definitely a marketplace, but one almost entirely dedicated to local artists, local artisans, all things handmade, and the local community.

When asked if this marketplace had always been her dream, she laughs because Kathy was one of those people who did many things before finding what it was that made her soul sing. In college, she majored first in biology, switching to sociology, then physical therapy.

Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace was born seven and a half years ago.”My original concept was to bring in handcrafted wares hoping it might become a co-op all under one roof.” But that is not how it evolved, and often when you’re not stuck to one plan and least expect it, a far better one emerges.

The Marketplace is dedicated in large part to the perpetuation of showcasing local artisanmade gifts. More than 2 50 artists and vendors are represented at all times, 70% of them are New York state vendors, and 85 of those artists are from the town of Delmar. Another 10% of the suppliers are from outside the Un ited States, most of whom are Fair Trade Federation members, a statistic that indicates that these vendors are often eco nomically marginalized producers cham pi oning women’s rights, practicing or ganic farming, and have as their main pri ority workers, farmers, and artisans. That is why Kathy Agneta is proud to exhibit their talents at the Marketplace.

Susan Fuller - Mixed media, photography and collage boxes

32 Cat Seyler - acrylic on canvas

Marty Bannan - photography and mixed media

prise. “It’s a good feeling,” one that thrills and delights the staff as much as it does the customers who enjoy frequent trips to a place with ever-

“Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace is our town,” Agneta begins. “The artists represented here are by and large our neighbors. People in Delmar are very conscious of buying local, and that’s why they support us, our artists, and artisans, and the events we present for this community.”

Terry McMaster - Painting, Collage and photography

Debbie Gregg - watercolor, photography and handmade cards

Each time new products come in Kathy claims it is an exciting enter

changing treasures as well as the beautiful art and gifts they have learned to rely on.

The gift items found here are unique which is why customers love being able to shop in a store that has all price points, appeals to all de mographics and features local people creat ing beautiful art and craft items not found down the street in larger stores or in other gift shops. Within the marketplace, there are a number of departments, but among the most popular is jewelry, ac cording to Agneta, and for good rea son. Here the savvy shopper can find gifts of colorful beads, necklaces, bracelets from $16, wooden earrings, and hand-painted accessories. In fact, not just gifts, but wonderful retail ther apy for the shopper himself or herself! Also quite popular is tabletop featuring ceramic bowls, hand-woven baskets, trivets, cutting boards, exquisite pottery, serving trays, vases, tiles, and best of all, the extremely reasonable prices will surprise and delight you.

There are thumbprint candles and “celebration” candles. Not sure what they are? Well, go see for yourself! Handpainted stationery, cards, journals, and games, all make the unusual usual in this wondrous marketplace. And not to be forgotten, the lit tlest members of the family are well repre sented here with affordable wooden toys, onesies, baby hats, scarves, and even totes for toddlers. Everywhere throughout there is art on the walls created in large part by local talent, but as Kathy points out, “We are not a gallery.”

Kathy Agneta

Kathy Agneta has what she terms, “a quiet, quirky store filled with beautiful things.” But she also acknowledges the success of Merriman & Pfi ster’s Marketplace as not being solely her own. “My husband, my sisters, brothers, niece, and friends are all a part of our success and have been from the very beginning. I have top-notch employees like Donna and George and rely heavily on them to carry out our mission. I am very, very fortunate.” Her “good fortune” extends and is shared with the community with the creation of an outdoor artists’ market. Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace presented a very successful event this past spring and hopes to do another in the Fall. It will be a perfect time to get some early holiday shopping done while you surprise yourself by discovering all this wonderful store has and celebrates every day, the artists represented by such a lively and talented community, and the two women who are the unofficial matri archs of the place that never stops celebrating. As the website says about those two beloved grandmothers, Merriman & Pfister who continue to give life and energy to this marketplace, “by their examples their goodness is paid forward – always.”

Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace is located at 388 Kenwood Avenue at the Four Corners in Delmar. www.merrimanpfister.com (518) 588-7268

So now you know why Kathy Agneta refused to consider another name for her business and why she, her family members, and all her employees live by the standards those grandmothers set just by their being... by liv ing kindly and by being good stewards of a well-loved community in which they fervently believed and treasured. This, then, is the story of Merriman & Pfister’s Marketplace. Time to go on your treasure hunt. Time to write your own story.

518® 38

Husband and wife team, Michael and Sasha Pardy, have been a part of thousands of events, occasions, and dinners all over the world for over 15 years, with every Adirondack Winery bottle that is opened and enjoyed. True oenophiles, this couple's passion for wine goes well beyond the last sip.

I have since visited their new tasting room which offers many great tasting options, creative workshops, and classes too such as Wine Glass Terrarium and Yoga & Wine events. I was able to taste some wine I hadn't tried, along with a variety of delicious charcuterie boards. They offer snack boards, dessert boards, and a brunch board too. There’s also a wine cocktail menu and make their own wine slushies. Through these experiences, I connected with Sasha to learn more about this winery's story to share with all of you.

Over the years, I've tried many New York State wines. Some of my personal favorites have adorned our racks at home for years, and they happen to be bottles of Adirondack Winery wines, including their holiday wines and their Baco Noir Red Wine, my favorite. So when I'd been invited to participate in this past Adirondack Wine & Food Festival as a Judge in their Culinary Tent for their Chef's Competition and their Mixologists’ Contest, I immediately and enthusiastically said “Yes.”

New York State Winery, from Grapes to Greatness

Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Feed Me

The ADK Winery's winemaker, Brad Casacci, originally from the Finger Lakes, moved to Saratoga in 2011 and immediately became a part of the Adirondack Winery family.

Some years are not easy with certain growing conditions (like 2021), and it presents huge challenges to produce a wine that people enjoy. Our 2018 Stargazer for example is a great wine, but every year you want to improve on your previous vintage and the 2020 Stargazer comes along and you think “wow" did we just make a better wine than that year's vintage and possibly our best red wine ever?” and if you’re very detail-oriented and put in a lot of hard work, you see the results and it inspires you to keep pushing for the next vintage."

"I take a lot of pride in making the best wine possible given the grapes that are grown for us.

Visit the New Wine Tasting Room at 395 Big Bay Road in Queensbury, Web: https://linktr.ee/feedme518www.facebook.com/FeedMe518Instagram:Nellie(518)https://www.adirondackwinery.com/NY.668-WINEAckerman-Vellano, FeedMe518®@FeedMe518®

I n the early 2000s when the couple lived in Orlando, Florida and started visiting local wineries, Michael decided to teach himself how to make wine as a hobby. At the same time, the couple had a desire to open their own business together. With their daughter, only one year old at the time, the couple decided to move back up north to the Lake George area to be closer to family and start a microbrewery.

When I asked Sasha what was their "why,” she responded with "we love the Adirondacks, we love wine, we wanted to make unique and amazing wine to suit every palate that gave you great memories of the Lake George area. Along the way, we picked up the added ‘whys’ of creating a legacy for our children, for supporting the families of our ever-growing staff, for becoming invested in o ur community through being i nvolved in chambers and cre ating events, and supporting charitable organizations, for bolstering other small craft beverage and food producers, the list goes on. Today, there are so many “whys” that we do this, I can’t name just one."

"Our goal was to bring the winery to the people; at the time it was very rare for a winery to not be attached to a vineyard." shared Sasha. Renting their existing tasting room space in Lake George in 2007, they started making wine and opened in 2008. "We were able to open with what we thought would be enough wine to please the thousands of visi tors to Lake George. That first year we produced 1,000 cases of our wine but quickly learned we couldn’t keep up with demand and began supplementing with other New York State wines at the Tasting Room. “It wasn’t until three years later, when we moved our operation to Big Bay Road in Queensbury, that we were able to make enough wine to stop selling other wineries’ wines!" said Sasha. "Today we welcome more than 60,000 peo ple through those doors each year!" Their wines are now distributed across New York State in over 450 stores and restaurants.

Through the Pardys’ desire to support other local businesses around the region, the winery created the Adirondack Wine and Food Festival in 2015 to help give exposure to thousands of new people to the amazing wines, craft beverages, and foods that New York small family-owned businesses like us have to offer. This is an outstanding event that my husband and I love attending and you will Plantoo.aday or evening to visit their new Grand Tasting Room! Schedule a tour, enjoy their private space in their wine fermentation space, reserve a table for a tasting, or attend one of their many fun events. Their bottles, creative wine cocktails made with their own wines, and charcuterie boards made with all local items are delicious.

41 &customframinggalleryfeaturinglocalandequineart•hats•fine art restoration • saratoga souvenirs • stationery • vinyl • candy • toys • novelties • and so much more!!! giftsgreetingsuppliesoffice••sweatshirts•caps•cards••

Lunch Ladies

That first day of school always brought a little bit of angst along with the excitement of a new year, a fresh slate, a stylish haircut, new penny loafers, and a brand new lunchbox with the cartoon character of the moment on the front.

Remembering Lunch and The ” by Karen Richman

So many decisions to make. What would I wear for the first day of school? What will my new classroom be like? Will my new teacher like me? How hard will the subjects be? Will I have the same classes as most of my friends? What extracurricular activities and fun things will be offered this year? But without a doubt, the one thing that kept me up the night before was, “Who will I have lunch with tomorrow?” What if my friends have a different lunch period than I do this year? It was a whole boatload of stress for a young, impressionable kid already a bit nervous about what the new school year would bring.

“

School

Happily, it usually worked out pretty well. As I walked slowly into the lunch room my eyes darting furtively from table to table desperately trying to seek out someone familiar, I would almost always hear someone yell, “Hey, Karen, over here!” Whew. Blessed relief! Because “over here” usually meant at least a couple of the girls I knew and liked who liked me back. Always, it was girls. The girls sat with the girls and the boys sat with other boys, and that was fine with us be cause they were goofy and liked to make strange noises and stuff their mouths with as much as they could, and then push their cheeks in, and it was yucky. Back then boys were gross and didn’t want any part of us either, other than to scare or torment us and then laugh like crazy. We called them “goofy.” They called us “skeevy.” I never really found out what skeevy meant, but I knew it didn’t sound good and probably wasn’t. So, I happily sat with the girls, and what did we talk about? Boys! Usu ally, however, it was how goofy and gross they were. That conversation eventually would take a 180 degree turn in a few years when hormones suddenly came into the picture, but not now. The lunch tables were long and had scratched Formica tops. There were benches attached that were very uncomfortable, but we weren’t going to be there long. Lunch periods were usually only 20-30 minutes long, not a lot of time to de compress from learning, eat, and exchange gossip. The food was pretty uninteresting back then. Most of the kids who brought lunch from home had the requisite peanut butter and jelly or egg salad every single day. Sometimes they had leftovers like cold meatloaf from the night before. Occasionally there was ham and cheese. Some kids had carrot and celery sticks, others had cookies or apples. Then there were the days when for one reason or another some of us didn’t bring lunch. If my mother had an appointment and didn’t have time that morning to make lunch, she got my dad to give me lunch money. That sounded pretty cool until I hit the lunch line. The “lunch ladies” formed a backfield behind the serving line, and to us, they all looked exactly alike. They were short, their figures sort of dumped into starched white uniforms, they all wore glasses, and they all wore hairnets. It was virtually im possible to tell them apart; still, the one thing they all had in common was telling us, “Eat your vegetables, children. Don’t you want to grow up big and strong?” We hated to hear that and hated it even more when everyone was served and a couple of the lunch ladies came out into the cafeteria to see who had scarfed down the soggy, grayish peas, and who left them lying on the plate. Lord help those who hadn’t ei ther eaten them or found a way to hide them under the grayish meatloaf. But the one thing we all knew was that those women didn’t look at serving us as just a job, they were fully invested in us, so often you would hear, “Billy, tuck that shirt in. Where do you think you are?” or sometimes, “Margie, pull your hair back, your ponytail is trailing in the turkey gravy, honey.” These underpaid women cared about each and every one of us, made it a point to learn all our names, and when I was out sick with measles or a virus, even called home to inquire about my recuperation. In a very short time school lunch wasn’t an uncertain time of who I would eat with, but a welcome time to see the smiling ladies behind the mashed potatoes and turkey slices and to know that someone besides my parents honestly cared about me. The food was inconsequential and in most cases not very good, but there were lessons learned in that cafeteria every day that were never taught in any classroom, and they are the ones I took with me and most remember, even now. It wasn’t on the menu with the gummy lasagna and white bread and little cartons of milk, but it filled us up.

Me Too! Here are a Few

Color and Shape ~ Your appointment should include a pretty comprehensive consultation discussing all the do’s and don’ts, all the why’s and why nots and discussing the color and if you want/need any corrective color or shape enhancement. This is extremely important because this is your face and this is a procedure that may last up to 2 years. Most artists will create a custom color for you based on your lips natural undertones. If your lips have turned slightly purple over the years, you may need a corrective color added to get your lips back to a more natural looking pink. Don’t worry…just like corrective concealer used in makeup (green, yellow, peach or orange) different pigments can get you to that pink color or “blush” tone you desire. Lip Blushing can be performed safely on all skin types and tones.

Crystal Cobert-Giddens

FACES of Saratoga Organic Skin Therapy Studio

Touch up ~ Yes, you will probably need a touch up. Your lips may flake and some of that color may not stay. This is not permanent and honestly, you don’t want it to be permanent. Expect to have a touch up within 6-8 weeks or so. Sometimes your touch up is included in the fee and some times there is an additional cost.

By Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE

I had never thought of learning the art and immediately said yes! I have been training with her for 8 years and just finished my master certification and love, love, LOVE the entire process. Give it a try and let me know if you love too,

Discomfort ~ It isn’t as uncomfortable as it may sound. The provider will numb you before beginning your procedure.

Obsessed with Lip Blushing? Things to Consider.

Lip Blushing is an aesthetic procedure that enhances the color and shape of your lips. It is not permanent and typically lasts between 1-2 years. Usu ally this service is provided by a licensed esthetician that has been trained in the different modalities of lip blushing. Unlike powder brows, micro blading and ombre brows, lip blushing uses a pixelation method using fine needles (think dots of color) with occasional lining of the lips to either enhance or correct shape irregularities. The result? A rock star smile with beautiful lip color that looks as if it could be your own…but better! Here are a few things to consider be fore you book your appointment: Is This Treatment Right for You? You should consider medical issues, skin he alth and lifestyle before re ceiving treatment. Request a thor ough co nsultation before committing to any pigmentation treatment. Autoimmune, diabetes, psoriasis and other skin is sues may prevent you from being a good candidate. Are you pregnant? Have you recently undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy? Do you get cold sores? Do you scar easily? Be honest with your health is sues and concerns so you and your provider can make the right deci Choosingsion…together.YourProvider

Lip Blushing is one of my obsessions. I fell in love with the look when I was in Manhattan getting my brows corrected after they were microb laded. The international trainer that corrected my brows looked at me and said, “Why don’t I teach you how to do liner, brows and lips?”

Prep ~ Stay away from NSAIDs, fish oil, vitamin E, alcohol, caffeine, blood thinners and certain herbal supplements before your appointment. This is to minimize your discomfort and also to reduce the possibility of bruising and bleeding.

Also, this isn’t a tat too. The color is implanted in the upper layers of the skin. It will fade over the next year or two. It doesn’t go as deep, therefore it doesn’t hurt like a tattoo.

Everyone has a physical feature or attribute that they like about them selves. One of my clients loves her strong physique. One of my friends loves her long, dark lashes. My daughter loves her strawberry blonde hair. Me? I always liked my smile and my lips. No time for makeup? Just put gloss on and go about my day. Not too full. Not too thin. Nicely pink with a defined shape. I was always called into the lip filler consultations because I was obsessed with shape, symmetry, and color. Shape and symmetry could be altered with lip filler. Color was lipstick, lip stain or lipgloss. That was it. Until…I saw a woman that had her lips “blushed.” Oh my!! What is Lip Blushing?

Intensity ~ Your lips will be darker for the first few days. Don’t worry. This is absolutely normal and ex pected. If anything, most clients usually ask for a little more color during their touch up.

Cost ~ Price varies WILDLY depending on where you live and your provider’s training. I’ve seen procedures start at $250 and go to $1800. The most expensive procedure doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best, but I would think twice about spending $250 on today’s “special.”

Downtime ~ There really isn’t any downtime but there is a period of healing time. Your lips will probably shed a little or flake the first week. Avoid working out, swimming or eat ing spicy foods. Keeping the area clean and covered with a layer of a special balm or Aquaphor will help.

~ Lip Blushing has been around for awhile, but it’s just starting to get popular in our area. Just like microblading or ombre brows became popular 10 years ago. I’m fairly certain that lip blushing is here to stay. There are people that have been providing this service for years and others that have just started. Ask about training. Ask about the devices they use. Ask about the pigments they use and where they come from…that is incredibly important and something most people don’t think about. Pigments are not regulated in the USA and many artists use pigments that cause issues with allergies, photo sensitivities and can even cause issues with MRIs.

An Evening with Richard Thomp son: Thursday Show. British folkrock icon who is a triple threat talent: dazzling guitarist, strong and insightful songwriter, and gifted vocalist. Powered by evocative songcraft, jaw-dropping guitar playing, and indefinable spirit, Richard Thompson is a living leg end who's influence cannot be overstated. Everybody from Robert Plant, Don Henley, and Elvis Costello to REM, Sleater-Kinney and David Byrne has covered his music. $125 – $130. Thu, September 1, 2022, 7:00 PM. Doors at 6:30 PM. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

SEPTEMBER

Sept 3 - 27 Cambridge Small Gallery Exhibit: Christopher Smith, Painter & Illustrator. Christopher Smith is an artist, Il lustrator designer and gardener living in West Rupert, Vermont. He grew up in Ridgefield, Con necticut and studied art in high school and college at (the) Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). While at RISD he studied for a year in Rome, Italy with a partic ular interest in the artist Caravaggio, whose dramatic oil paintings had a profound effect on Smith, evoking a strong emotional response. “I paint because I have to”, says Smith. Opening re ception Saturday, Sept. 3rd, 3-5 pm. Valley Artisans Market’s “Small Gallery” 25 East Main Street (Rte 372) Cambridge, NY 12816

Sept 10 – Saratoga Springs

EVENTS

The Blooming Artist Gallery invites you to experience our next exhibition, O r chestrated Color. As its title suggests, this exhibit captures the magnificence of the changing color palette we will soon witness yet again here in upstate NY. The Blooming Artist Gallery 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY. bloomingartistgallerycontact@thebloomingartist.gallery@thewww.thebloomingartist.gallery518-280-4928

Sept 1 - 23 Troy Show No. 6 Fern Apfel, Jillian Platt, Diane Savino. Fern Apfel's paintings are about tracking the days of our lives. Space and color are key elements in these minimal compositions as the ephemera transform into abstract shapes. Jillian Platt finds that painting from her gut, rather than her cerebrum, brought her the satisfaction of emoting from somewhere deep within her psyche. A visual storyteller, Diane paints narratives and small tableaux using the ancient medium of egg tempera, ac cented with gold leaf. Clement Gallery, 201 Broadway Clementart@NYCap. RR.com (518) 272-6811 Sept 2 - 30 Albany Albany Center Gallery (ACG) presents -scapes, featuring the work of 5 regional artists: John DeSousa, Josepha Gutelius, Adrian Lee, Colleen O’Hara, and Annika Tucksmith. -scapes is free and open to the public; Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. Mask-wearing is optional. -scapes features work that reimagines or reinterprets our no tions of the “landscape” genre. Through layering effects across mediums, the human presence is felt in conjunction with the natural or built scenes around them, resulting in a sense of symbiosis or mutuality. Albany Center Gallery, 488 Broadway, Suite 10, Albany, NY 12207

Sept 1 Saratoga Springs

From Slavery to Freedom: Blacks in Saratoga From the Colonial Period Through Gradual Manumission. Dr. Armstead has a deep understanding of African-American social and cultural life and is well known for her first book, ‘Lord, Please Don’t Take Me in August’ a comparative study of black life in the resort communities of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Newport, RI during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Her presentation will be held at the Dyer-Phelps Memorial AME Zion Church, 122 Crescent St. in Saratoga Springs. 10:30am. Please register for the talk at: https://brooksidemuseum.net workforgood.com/events

Sept 1 - 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 print making techniques and digital ma nipulation. Pause Gallery, 501 Broadway #106, Troy, NY Sept 14 Albany Join the team behind Capital Walls for our very first Community Mural Walking Tour Series. This is a unique opportunity to explore the #CapitalWalls murals in downtown Albany with knowledgeable tour guides and program coordinators/curators. For this Happy Hour tour on 9/14 we will wrap up your walk with a delicious snack at Parish Public House and let you ride out the rest of your evening accordingly. Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Location: Albany Center Gallery (488 Broadway, Suite 107, Al bany, NY 12207) Attendees must pre-register no later than 24 hours before the tours via Sept 2 Glens Falls The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity and straightforward honesty are paramount. There’s something about the music of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys that cuts right through the noise of the world and speaks plainly to the soul. $25 – $30. 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm. The Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801. www.parktheatergf.com

Sept 1 - October 8 Clifton Park

Sept 22 - Rock City Falls Beth Leavel - It’s Not About Me! Two Time -Tony Award® winner Beth Leavel (The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone) is bringing her brand-new show to close out the 2022 season of the Mansion’s 801 Cabaret Series! It’s Not About Me is a celebration of her long and storied career as one of Broadway’s biggest, beltingest divas. Join us for a night of story and song, taking you through her favorite roles she’s played, the ones that got away, and the ones she’s still chasing after.

Sept 23 - Glens Falls The Wildmans. The Wildmans come from the hills of Floyd, Vir ginia, in the heart of the Ap palachian mountain music tradition. From campsite jamming at festivals and fiddler's conven tions and a college level music education comes the foundation for musical exploration that sets this group apart, taking the au dience on a musical journey that reflects the growth and passion of these talented musicians. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The Park Theater, 14 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY . www.parktheatergf.com

Thursday, September 22, 2022 8:00 PM 10:00 PM The Mansion of Saratoga, 801 Route 29, Rock City Falls, New York 12863

Saturday, Sep 17, 2022 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Congress Park, 268 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Sept 17 & 18 Altamont

SEPTEMBER EVENTS 48

Sept 17 - Visher Ferry Historians' Walking Tour - Vischer Ferry. As part of the Historians' Walking Tour series, John Scherer, Clifton Park Town Historian, will lead a tour of Vischer Ferry, one of Saratoga County’s “Forgotten Crossroads.” The Tour will explore the Vischer Ferry Historic District, learning about its Greek Revival and Victorian homes. This walking tour will be about 1.5 miles round trip on level paved roads. The tour will begin at 10am in the parking area at the end of Ferry Drive, and end at noon at the Vischer Ferry General Store. Our annual farm fest will also be happening that day as an added attraction. The suggested donation is $10 per registration. Please register for the tour at https://brooksidemuseum.networkforgood.com/events

8:00 PM EDT Doors at 7:30 PM. $11 – $22. Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

The Capital Apple & Wine Festival is scheduled to return to the Altamont Fairgrounds on September 17-18, 2022! Presented by StarBird Events, the Capital Apple & Wine Festival will offer something for every member of the family. Saturday, until Sunday, Sep 18, 2022. Event is rain or shine; no pets allowed. Altamont Fair grounds, 129 Grand Street Altamont, NY 12009 Cost: $9 – $21 Sept 18 - Ballston Lake Fall Antiques Festival. The Fall Antiques Show is situated in scenic Upstate New York, with 60+ vendors featuring a full range of antiques including primitives, folk art, quilts, linens and vintage clothing, mid-century collectibles, jew elry, art work, china and glass, toys and collectibles, music and records, vintage, funky and steampunk. Dealers inside and outside. Delicious Food Available, including Adirondack Kettle Korn. Losert’s Farmstand will be providing seasonal favorites including mums, pumpkins, produce and more. Sunday, Sep 18, 2022 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Cost: $5.00 per car. Clifton Park Elks, 695 MacElroy Road Ballston Lake, NY 12019

Sept 16 - Saratoga Springs Joe Jencks and Kray Van Kirk. Joe Jencks sings with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove, and grit. A fine finger-style guitarist with a precise baritone, Van Kirk has a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska. "We are driven by myth and the seasons of the heart," he says. "Everyone needs to see themselves as being on the Hero's Journey."

Sept 17 - Saratoga Springs SARATOGA ARTS presents Art in the Park 2022. Art in the Park is a day of fine art in Saratoga Springs’ historic downtown Congress Park, curated and presented by Saratoga Arts. For 2022, the annual art festival September 17 (rain date October 1). Nearly 80 artists from the greater Saratoga and Capital regions will display and sell their original fine art and hand-crafted functional art in a beautiful park setting. Artists will be on hand to discuss their drawing, painting, ceramics, jewelry, sculp ture, photography, and printmaking techniques.

INSTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT>>