JULY, 2023 - 518 PROFILES MAGAZINE

Ann Larsen, Artist

Taking the Long Road to What You’re Meant to Be

pg. 4

PUBLISHER / FOUNDER

Stephanie Sittnick

COPY EDITOR

Elisabeth Allen

WEBMASTER

Tony Graveheart

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 B. Richer, Crystal Cobert Giddens, Nellie Ackerman-Vellano, Kristina Watrobski

Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

COVER BY

Ann Larsen “Harbor Light” oil 36x36

Welcome to our July issue! The month of red, white and blue, celebrating our country and community. It’s the time for a weekend barbecue, to throw down as many hot dogs and sodas as possible and to gather on the grass for that perfect view of the fireworks. We are now in full-blown summer, enjoying our days in the hot heat while trying to stay cool-ish.

In this issue, we have covered all the bases. From Award winning Artist - A beloved historical restaurant - Legendary composer and pianist - to a true legacy treasure. So find a shady spot, sit back, relax and enjoy the issue.

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 str ive each month to deliver authentic and unique content about creative people and interesting destinations. Enjoy!

Stephanie Sittnick Founder / Publisher

587 Grand Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Take a Bite Out of History (circa 1773)

The Olde Bryan Inn Withstands The TASTE of Time

pg. 14

Music in the Key of DNA

Chuck Lamb: Composer, Pianist, Recording Artist

Saratoga’s Ambassador of Jazz

pg. 24

A Legacy Acquired for the Ages

The Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library

pg. 34

Sweet Nostalgia pg. 40

Memories of a Reluctant Summer Camper

LIFEspa pg. 42

Taking The Sting Out Of Your Sunburn

Culinary Destinations: pg. 44

Chef Trip by Taconic Trail - Part 1

July Events pg. 47

Events throughout the Capital Region

photo by Stephanie Sittnick

Ann Larsen, Artist Taking the Long Road to What You’re Meant to Be

by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris

When the journey to becoming who you are zigs and zags but even tually gets you to your rightful place at an easel with canvas and brush just waiting for you, it’s a good thing.

Ann Larsen’s journey began in Louisville, Kentucky where she was a typical kid who liked to draw and craft. Though not yet fully aware of her talent, the creative gene did run in the family. She had a great aunt who was an artist, and her dad was a draftsman who designed homes for a local business. Her mom was not artistic herself but appreciated the arts and took Larsen at a very young age to the Speed Art Museum in Louisville and encouraged her to create.

In first grade, Larsen even took first place in a local painting compe tition that included four local grade schools in town. But de spite the encouragement of her parents and teachers, how one be comes a professional artist was still a bit of a mystery to her. Un fortunately, it was the early 60s, a time when young women were neither encouraged nor given guidance when pursuing any sort of career, so Larsen was left to figure much of it out on her own.

Her goal at the time was to become an open-space planner for a city parks and recreation department. Open space planning is an integral part of urban planning and seeks to preserve and make the best use of the landscape by improving its utility, attractiveness, and connection to surrounding buildings. Though open space planning was not Larsen’s eventual calling, the landscape most certainly was.

She attended the University of Indiana for a short time straight out of high school, then married and worked while her husband pursued his own art career. Following a divorce and later marrying her hus band of 45 years, Gary Larsen of 45 years, they moved quite a bit

as his job required. She took classes at Rhode Island School of Design, then at tended the University of Central Okla homa where she eventually earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in painting.

The ink was barely dry on the diploma when it was time to pack up and move again. Relocation was a large part of her husband’s career, so they moved the family to Denver, Colorado where she was quickly smitten and inspired by the southwestern landscape and began to paint in earnest. Larsen took many workshops to improve her skills and fearlessly entered many juried shows starting with American Women Artists and followed by The American Impressionist Society and Oil Painters of America. But it was only after meeting other women artists at the American Women Artists nonprofit organization, where she was encouraged and celebrated for her work, that she fully embraced that this is what she wanted to be and do.

Now, many years later, Larsen has built a very successful career as a painter and has earned a place among her peers; however, it’s interesting to hear Larsen speak about how shocked she still is when someone buys a painting and pays thousands of dollars for it.

When asked about her approach to painting, she shares that she prefers to paint on location rather than from photographs. According to Larsen, photographs actually lie to you which may come as a surprise to most people. She goes on to explain that the human eye sees many more colors and values than a camera can capture, and everything in a photograph is recorded in equal focus which is not the case with the human eye.

“Passing Storm” 12x16 oil

To make her point, she suggests to students in the workshops she teaches to choose a specific detail in a landscape, look directly at it, then notice that outside that point all ob jects are less and less in focus the farther away they are from that specific point. Compare that with a photograph of the same view, and you will notice that everything is in equal focus regardless of location so colors, light, shadows, and even shapes are not en tirely true. “If you don’t realize that and understand that, then you’re going to have paintings that look like photographs, so painting outside is imperative if you're going to be a landscape painter.”

She does admit that photographs of a landscape do come in very handy for reference, however. When she is creating her composition and drawing it out for eventual painting, she will use her photographs to verify details and perhaps move them around a bit as needed.

“Say for instance, there's a dock with a bunch of fishing stuff on it, and I might have captured it outside in a few strokes, but I want to put

a little more detail in it, then I can go and look at the photograph for reference.”

But she will always head out to the location to capture the light and colors because again, photographs are not always truthful. Ironically, her husband is a talented professional photographer whose work stands on its own and has hung in galleries alongside Larsen’s paintings.

Larsen paints just about every day. She spends two-four hours in the morning then a few in the afternoon. There’s also the business side of things that have to be dealt with which takes a

“The Miners Cabin” 12x16 oil

“Summer Blues” 16x20 oil

“Winter Hillside” 16x12 oil

“Bow Lake” 16x20 oil

chunk of time every day as well; and if there’s an upcoming show at a gallery, then there’s lots of preparation and framing work to be done too.

Larsen’s travels have allowed her to paint landscapes from coast to coast. Her work sells well across the country but it tends to be regional favorites that people will buy so it’s understandable that landscapes of the Southwest tend to do better in the Southwest and paintings of the Maine coast do best in, well, Maine. Of course, there are those instances when a particular painting evokes a memory for someone and has nothing to do with what part of the US they are from, so they buy it for sentimental reasons.

While her paintings have historically been somewhat realistic in style, Larsen says she is moving more and more toward an abstract kind of landscape. When viewing her more recent work, strong brush strokes that often suggest rather than delineate a detail are more and more evident. She paints to capture a moment and uses light to soften or sharpen details. Her medium of choice is oil because of the viscosity and slower dry time which is consistent with most plein air painters but does work in acrylics, especially when she travels by plane and is armed with a sketch pad with her if she is traveling by car.

Most people think that a creative person, be they a painter, sculptor, potter, or something else, can do anything artistic but Larsen chuckles at that notion. Apparently, she was terrible with pottery to the point that her in structor took her aside one day and said she needed to learn to become “one with the wheel.”

“I don't think people realize that you can be a phenomenal painter, but terrible at something else. That yes, you're creative, and you can do a lot of things, but equally unable to do something, and people are just shocked.”

When the discussion turned to female artists, Larsen spoke to the fact that women have been historically underrepresented in both

“Quiet Harbor” 16x20 oil

galleries and museums. But that is changing. Gal leries are much more supportive of women artists today with solo shows and exhibitions. There is a museum in Washington, DC, exclusively for and about women artists called the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and its sole mission is to “champion women through the arts.” It is the first and only one of its kind in the world today.

Larsen has two young granddaughters who live in Denver and of course, they both like to draw and paint. The Denver Museum was hav ing a show featuring French Impressionist women artists when she was visiting, some she never heard of, so of course, she took them to see it. They loved it, but more importantly, Larsen wanted to impress upon them that they should paint and draw if they loved it, no matter what, and that a career as a woman artist is possible.

When asked what she aspires to do going forward she responds that she wants to al ways reach higher and get better. It’s that quest to paint the masterpiece that keeps her going she supposes, something she believes all true artists aspire to do and why they never stop painting. She references the great painter Andrew Wyeth who died at 92 and said through his last days that he was still trying to paint his masterpiece, even after all those years and accomplishments.

“As far as a profession, I’ve probably been doing this for 35 years. and anyone who is an artist will tell you it takes 35 years to get to that point where you say, okay, this is working.”

To view Ann Larsen’s work and gallery representation, visit her website at www.annlarsen.com.

Take a Bite Out of History (circa 1773) The Olde Bryan Inn Withstands The TASTE of Time

by Rona Mann photos by Stephanie Sittnick

So many great restaurants in Saratoga Springs.

So many great restaurants throughout the Capital Region.

Only one with so much history, so much hospi tality, and so much dedication to what they do that years after many restaurants have shuttered their doors, the Olde Bryan Inn re mains a favorite of both locals and visitors alike.

This is not just another place for a quick dinner or lunch. This truly is a destination, a place to take time from all that running around you do, a place to sit back, enjoy, and realize you’re sit ting in a building that is pre-Revolutionary. So indeed, take a bite out of history when you visit the Olde Bryan Inn in beautiful Saratoga Springs, the pre-revolutionary building located across from High Rock Spring which the early Native Americans believed to be the “Medicine Spring of the Great Spirit. Hearkening back to 1773, this former stagecoach stop on the Albany -Boston run, was at first a crude log cabin built on a bluff followed by a number of incarnations including becoming an inn before and after the Revolution.

The inn was sold several times, and then in 1787 sold yet again, this time to Alexander Bryan, an unsung war hero who erected a

blacksmith shop and additional log house across the road which he operated as a tavern. Bryan is acknowledged to be the first permanent resident of Saratoga Springs, his inns being the only hotels until 1801 when Gideon Putnam built the Grand Union Hotel. Bryan succeeded because he took care of the local people and did it right.

There is a great deal more history about Bryan available to you when you visit the Olde Bryan Inn where you will meet resident historian and archaeologist, John Kosek, who would be delighted to give you a tour with an accompanying side order of American history. But for now, let’s get to the food and drink!

The home was sold again, an addition was added, a laundry opened on site, and then in 1954, a local family took ownership and made it their private residence. Twenty-five years later, Dave Powers and Joe Wilkinson, both former pilots, purchased it with the intention of restoring the edifice to its original incarnation as an inn and restaurant. Two years later, local antiques dealer, Steve Sullivan joined the successful

partnership, and the Olde Bryan Inn was reborn yet again. “It was a labor of love,” Sullivan says of the restoration. “It still is.”

None of the three men had any food experience. Sullivan came the closest as he washed dishes and tended bar in his youth, but none of them ever worked with food. They wisely leave that to the professionals while they concern themselves with the hospitality end of the business. It’s a perfect marriage that accounts for the tremendous success the Olde Bryan Inn enjoys.

When you speak with Steve Sullivan, known as “Sully” around town, the same two phrases keep coming up: what a special community Saratoga Springs is and hospitality is key. “Saratoga Springs is just wonderful,” Sully begins, “there is always activity here, a convention, a

The Back of the Bryan Home. US Government Surveyor of Historic Buildings, Beatrice Veitch and Sidney Veitch

The Burnham Hand Laundry - Part of the Bryan Home

festival, something always happening. From mid-January on it never stops thanks to the Chamber, the Downtown Business Association, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the City Center. It’s like a 4-legged stool, and they constantly challenge all of us to provide the highest level of hospitality to those who come here.”

Now in its 46th year as a consistently pop ular destination for good food and drink and that highest level of hospitality, Sullivan points with pride to the longevity not just of the building and the restaurant, but of the staff. Chef John Capelli has been at the helm for 35 years, General Manager, Ed Fredrich has kept things running at top

Restaurant Manager John Kosek, Chef John Capelli and General Manager Edward Fredich

level for a quarter of a century, and a number of servers have forged relationships with customers for upwards of 30-35 years. “If not for such a won derful staff, we would not still be here,” Sully added, then said with great emphasis, “We are all here to serve.

And serve they have for the last 46 years and con tinue to do so Wednesday through Sunday, of fering both lunch and dinner with the same menu consistent throughout the day. So if a valued customer wants Chicken Cordon Bleu at 11:30 AM and another wants onion soup and salad at 3PM, that is precisely what they receive. And al ways – always, with every mouthful they are

tak ing a bite out of history. Sometimes that bite m ight be that delicious NY Gorgonzola - encrusted strip steak or perhaps a vegetarian reuben, a deli cious and unique appetizer for two of smoked gouda short rib poutine, a light lunch of soup, salad, and a house-made pumpkin nut muffin, or perhaps an open- face hot turkey sandwich, French Onion prime rib sandwich, a burger, fish and chips, or a fresh panini.

Not only does the Old Bryan Inn serve delicious food with some unconventional twists on traditional dishes, but they also serve the community they so love and serve it well. Throughout April, May, and into June second graders from a host of schools

Smoked Gouda Short Rib Poutine

Gorgonzola Encrusted NY Strip Steak

Open Faced Hot Turkey Sandwich and Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich

Kentucky Bourbon Salmon

throughout Saratoga County are invited in for their own personal bite of history. John Kosek happily crafts a tour that is perfect for their sen sibilities and takes them throughout the sto ried building giving them a history lesson that isn’t found between the pages of any textbook. Following this, they are served a lunch of yummy grilled cheese sandwiches, house-made potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies.

Thanksgiving is a very special holiday for those who own and staff the Olde Bryan Inn as the restaurant is closed to the general public, but the kitchen is humming as holiday meals are provided and then delivered to seniors, shut-ins, or people who have nowhere to go on this spe cial day. Additionally, every Wednesday, hospice patients and their families are welcomed into the restaurant to relax, de-stress if only for a short while, and enjoy taking a bite out of his tory and socializing with others for a bit. During winter months, the Olde Bryan Inn staff

supports the work of Code Blue of Saratoga by helping to feed those seeking emergency shelter, and every third Sunday of the month they can be found serving at the soup kitchen as they have for more than 30 years. It’s their way of paying back this wonderful community that supports them and which they all love. It’s more than just “giving back;” it’s part and parcel of what it means to be part of Old Bryan’s history.

Steve Sullivan stops speaking, grows quiet for a moment, and then says, “We’ve been good stewards of the property. Very good stewards. We’ve had a good run.”

And somewhere within the stones and bricks of the Olde Bryan Inn, there’s a smile and a nod from Alexander Bryan. He always loved when the owners of his tavern took care of the people who journeyed in and did it right.

for reservations: (518) 587-2990

The Olde Bryan Inn is located at 123 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs. www.oldebryaninn.com

French Onion Prime Rib Sandwich

Pecan Salmon Salad

Chocolate Mousse

O.B.I. Burger photos

JOE DEUEL

Music in the Key of DNA

Chuck Lamb: Composer, Pianist, Recording Artist Saratoga’s Ambassador of Jazz

By Lawrence White

“Jazz

...Dave Brubeck

Observing internationally acclaimed composer, pianist, and recording artist Chuck Lamb at the keyboards is like watching a highly trained athlete deeply immersed in their sport. His intense focus and dazzling skills create a musical experience that is complex and challenging for the player yet sweet and entertaining to the ear of the listener. Chuck is locked in with the music and he takes you there with him.

Some of Chuck’s earliest memories are of his childhood in Verona, NY being soothed by his older brother playing Brahms on the piano or his older sister singing to him when he was agitated. Chuck tells me, “My mother and father knew I was enraptured by music but did not direct me one way or the other. They allowed me to choose my own path and let me make the most of it.”

“I got into rock and roll as a kid. I loved the bands like the Allman Brothers, but

Frank Zappa caught my imagination. The Mothers of Invention were something totally different and I liked it.” This early affection for Zappa shows that the seed of a jazzman was already taking root.

While attending high school Chuck formed two bands, Break Through and Rock Road, featuring Chuck on drums. With a laugh, Chuck says, “Years later I asked my mother if we drove her crazy making all that noise rehearsing in the house, but she told me how much she enjoyed hearing us working so hard to be as good as possible. A very sweet memory.”

It was during this period that Chuck began to compose music and ex periment with jazz. Along with his talented bass player brother, Rich, he soon founded the highly regarded jazz-fusion group, Dry Jack. Rolling Stone Magazine referred to Dry Jack as “one of the premier, cut ting-edge bands of the electric jazz movement.” They pushed the boundaries of jazz in an era that included musicians like Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock Miles Davis, and Larry Coryell. Ultimately, the band dissolved.

Shortly thereafter, Chuck moved to Colorado where he constructed a straw bale house with a large recording area and soon started playing at Louie’s Club in Vail. “It was 6 nights a week, 12 months a year. The growth curve was amazing. I was getting the guest player’s charts before the performances, so I was able to peer into the creative process of all these great musicians. It raised my ability to understand music and im provise to a whole new level.”

This led to a solo gig at a club in a hip ski resort, Sonnenalp Vail. During these performances, Chuck was able to stretch his style into traditional and classical genres. This included composers Debussy and Revel who were introduced to him through lessons garnered in his youth.

Chuck eventually moved to Woodstock where he rented space from highly respected bassist Dave Holland. It turned out to be an essential m oment in Chuck’s career as h e was able to study at a time when Dave was re ha bilitating from an illness.

“Working so intimately with

is the only form of art existing today in which there is freedom of the individual without the loss of group contact.”

Dry Jack Band

Rock Road Band

this great musician as he rebounded from illness taught me new le ssons in patience and expression that have stayed with me throughout the rest of my life.”

A crucial turning point for Chuck occurred when a friend shared the music of Dave

Brubeck for the first time. “He put the head phones on me and by the time I heard the first part of the first song I knew this was different. I was instantly impacted by the grace and eloquence of the compositions and the arrangements. Dave Brubeck’s music is just as fresh and relevant today as it was at the first

moment I heard it. One of the high points of my life was meeting Dave who was just as in telligent and warm-hearted as I imagined.” As fate would have it, Chuck now performs with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. “It is the greatest honor to be invited into this essential and joyous musical heritage. Every night is a

Brubeck Brothers On Stage

Brubeck Brothers with Erie Philharmonic

new revelation. We recently performed Dave’s composition titled To Hope in Oklahoma City with a full orchestra and a 130-piece choir. The entire composition is a tremendous spiritual experience but when the cho rus of voices kicked in, the hall levitated,” Chuck expressed in awe.

During a break in a sound check before the group’s gig at Spa Park Little Theatre, bass and trumpet player, Chris Brubeck was asked about his experiences making music with Chuck in the quartet. “It is a joy,’ he reports enthusiastically. “An artist has nothing unless they have ideas and Chuck has fresh new ideas all the time. We have a lot of fun on stage responding in the moment to each other, and the audiences really pick up on that.”

Chuck has recorded six albums and performed on several others. He has appeared in venues around the world, including Jazz At Lincoln Center, N ew port Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Fe stival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Mon treal Jazz Festival, Hollywood Bowl, Blue Note (Tokyo), Rochester Jaz z Festival, Syracuse Jazz Festival, and Freihofer’s Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs.

You can also find Chuck locally in venues such as Spa Park Little Theatre, Ca ffe Lena, and Universal Preservation Hall. Caffe Lena Executive Direc tor, Sarah Craig says, “Chuck put Caffe

Lena on the map of Capital Region jazz fans. This means I can program more jazz throughout the month, knowing the crowds will come. Pre- covid his monthly 2nd Tues day series would pretty much always sell out. It's getting back to that level now.”

Through the years, Chuck had the opportunity to repeatedly cross paths with multi-talented upstate musician, composer, and recording artist, Ria Curley. The two artists had so much in common they ultimately decided to follow destiny and become life partners, and now share a studio in Saratoga Springs where they put together a digital music room that pro vides total control over the recordings they each create and their collaborations together.

When Chuck and Ria perform together, as they did in their W MHT special or in Caffe Lena, they create an intoxicating blend of unique talents that is stimulating to behold live on stage. At the same time, their creative

Chuck Lamb Trio with Lucas Pino at Caffe Lena

Ria and Chuck Jazz After Hours - Jazz n Caz

Ria and Chuck at WMHT concert at piano

ou tput is greatly en hanced by b eing able to ex periment, grow, and ultimately share their music at the highest professional level through the use of their in-home studio and the internet

friend, Jorge Gomez who I was already working with, to see if he would like to remote -jam with me.” Jorge i s the highenergy Cuban - born, 3-time Grammy - nominated, multiin strumentalist leader of the vibrant Cuban timba band, Tiempo Libre.

The result of the collaboration between these two artists is a digital album titled Take 2. It is a sparkling collection of eight cross - cultural tunes performed by two world - class musicians without any restrictions or guidance from outside influences.

“I was composing mostly cheerful music during the pan demic,” Chuck recalls, “I thought that was what the world needed. When I had some of the new work together, I contacted my

Ch uck’s experiences working with literally thousands of musicians through the years h ave shaped him as a supportive a nd cooperative mate in performance. He lifts other musicians; he does not direct them.

Jorge Gomez in Studio

Jorge Gomez, Studio Selfie with Chuck

“Chuck is one of the most giving musicians out there,” Susan Brink, Director of Development Jazz Journalists Association and Jazz Sanctuary Radio D.J. tells me. “He allows space with the other musicians h e is sharing a tune with. That is not always the case with world-class talents like Chuck. You can hear it in the fullness of his sound and see it w ith the sense of unity h e creates on stage with the other musicians.”

Likewise, Jorge is a master of collaboration. He has gone from being a little boy on a Havana rooftop listening to Miami music with a coat - hanger-antenna tran sistor radio to being the leader of one of the most vibrantly explosive bands working and touring today.

Jorge’s Latin-flavored influence mixed with Chuck’s mastery of the many forms of Jazz under scored by the classical training both musi cians experienced

makes for brilliant melodic textures while revealing great art can be created in hard times.

“When Jorge plays the solo in a tune, he is a fantastic musician no doubt. But when he goes into the Cuban thing, I mean, oh man, it ignites! That sound was part of Jorge when he was a child in Cuba just as the music that was born into me in upstate New York is part of me now. It is not something you can teach. It is not a product you can buy. It is a natural part of a person at birth. A gift that must be shared through art.”

“Exactly, music in the key of DNA.”

For private and public bookings, keyboard les sons, or contact info for other musicians highlighted in this story:

Chuck Lamb

https://linktr.ee/chucklambmusic

https://www.facebook.com/chucklambchops

Chuck with Dave Brubeck

A Legacy Acquired for the Ages The Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library

by Rona Mann

What is it that makes a legacy?

Is it merely the gift outright? The scope of the generosity itself? The benefactor of that legacy?

Or perhaps it’s more a matter of the beneficiaries to whom it’s gifted.

In the Mohawk Valley of New York State, there’s a village within the town of Montgomery called Canajoharie that at first blush appears to be just another small dot on the much larger map canvas representing the vastness of New York State. But upon closer examination, Canajoharie is a place that begs the traveler to stop and take a look. Then, another look. And then slowly, purposefully discover what so many have for the last 98 years. For within its smallness, there is indeed a vastness, a legacy that evolved from the desire of one man who yearned to share his pas sion for art with the town and townspeople he so loved, and thus was born the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library.

No, it’s not “just another museum” nor “just another small town library,” for here in perfect view from the Thruway, yet tucked away in a rural part of New York State some 45 miles west of Albany, is what visitors often exclaim to be, “A gem, a real treasure.”

The name “Canajoharie” was given to the village by the resident Mo hawks and literally means, “the pot that washes itself,” a nod to the whirl in the Canajoharie Creek, some 20 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep at the base of the falls. Throughout its history, the people who settle here continue to be self-sufficient and inventive. People like Bartlett Arkell, the founder and president of Beech-Nut Packing Company which even tually rose to fame for making baby food products and chewing gum. Begun in 1891 when its only product was hickory-cured ham, Arkell kept adding products as his success grew; at one time the biggest money-maker was Beech-Nut chewing gum.

His undeniable success enabled him to indulge his great passion for art, and Arkell made it his mission to acquire art that was at the forefront of excellence and to then share these masterworks with the people of his community. He commissioned some copies of European masterpieces, but his focus became primarily American art, along with the history of the Mohawk Valley and the artists who represented New York during

Bartlett Arkell, ca. 1925

Canajoharie Library & Art Gallery (now Arkell Museum), ca. 1927

its early Dutch heritage. Arkell felt so strongly about this that he frequently lent art from his own prized collection to com munity buildings, eventually gifting these precious paintings to what was to ultimately become the Arkell Museum.

Built by Arkell, the Canajoharie Library opened in 1925; the attached art wing (the feature gallery and core of the Arkell Museum) opened in 1927. As one writer offered, “The institution has evolved into more than just an art gallery with a library attached, it is an art gallery with a small town attached.”

Suzan D. Friedlander, Executive Director and Head Curator chimes in “We are a rare museum and library with an extraordinary art collection. We attract visitors from across the county and around the world, while serving our residents as a public

library.” Friedlander adds that they are especially proud of all that the library offers because the or ganization is not supported by municipal or school budget funding, also rare for libraries in New York State.

As Bartlett Arkell’s collection swelled and he gifted more and more to the museum, more and more people heard of what was contained and exhibited there and wanted to see it for themselves. Arkell personally owned 21 Winslow Homer originals all of which he gifted to the museum along with work by early 20th - century American artists such as

Original "Signature" Gallery

William Merritt Chase, The Connoisseur In the Studio,1885

Albert Bierstadt, El Capitan, ca. 1872

William Merritt Chase, Gilbert Stuart, Andrew Wyeth, and other notables. Additionally, Arkell’s penchant for the region’s Dutch heritage led him to develop a lifelong interest in the Dutch Masters. Although he could not purchase an original, Arkell commissioned a scale copy of Rembrandt’s “Night Watch,” the closest he could come to owning and sharing the priceless original which hangs in the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. All of this makes for an extraordinary acquisition of art amassed in one venue. “We honor Arkell’s legacy with the permanent collection,” Friedlander adds proudly.

Yes, there is a tremendous source of pride invested in this very special museum and library situated in the middle of rural New York State, but geography and coordinates on a map do not dictate the value, the commitment, and the scope of what a gift this has been to the Mohawk Valley and what a testament it is not only to one man’s love of art, but of his undying commitment to the residents, the early Beech-Nut workers, and the curious lovers of art who would eventually travel to see what exactly was happening in Canajoharie, New York.

In 1964, an addition enlarged both the children’s and teen library areas, also providing the first regional art exhibi tion spaces. Yet another addition, opened in 2007,

William Wall, New York and the Erie Canal, 1862

Julian Alden Weir, Still Life, Roses, ca. 1882

Winslow Homer, Shepherdess and Sheep, ca. 1878

George Luks, The Player, 1926

provided new museum and dedicated Regional Art Gallery exhibition spaces, in addition to a classroom, meeting room open to the entire community, and expanded storage for collections and offices.

To date, generations of school children, Mohawk Valley residents, and travelers from around the globe have visited the legacy that Bartlett Arkell

provided. The museum is grateful to the endowments, grants, individual donations, and memberships that enable its continuance, offering a special t ip of the hat to their significant sponsor the Arkell Hall Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for their ongoing contributions. This year a paid summer internship has been enabled thanks to the generosity of NYSCA.

A legacy may be simply defined as money or property left in a will as a bequest, but in the case of the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library that just doesn’t seem to fit. Its wording is too cold and not what we would deem Bartlett Arkell’s real purpose and intent to be. Rather, his legacy was something greater. It both unlocked his life’s passion and powered his generosity so that a lasting impact would be passed down throughout the generations in perpetuity.

Bartlett Arkell’s legacy offers appreciation and education, beauty and knowledge, and remains a gift to a town and a people he dearly loved. And a gift as well for those who might stop for a time to

appreciate. Wills and money and legal jargon aside, that is what a true legacy is all about.

So, come visit! That pot still washes itself, and you are more than welcome to come and see how the collaboration works. Bartlett Arkell would want to show you around and share all he had...and gave away.

The Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library are easily accessible off Exit 29 of the New York Thruway in either direction. 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie. Www.arkellmuseum.org and www.canajoharielibrary.org (518) 673-2314

Amelia Earhart Studio Portrait by Ben Pinchot NYC ca 1933-36

Shirley Booth as a Beech-Nut Sample Girl in My Sister Eileen ca 1940 NYC.

Bessie Beech-Nut Statue outside Beech-Nut Plant, Canajoharie, ca. 1915.

Art of NY Annual Juried Art Show - Ken Rutsky, Third Avenue Watervliet, oil

Art of NY Annual Juried Art Show - Ann Larsen, Long Gone, oil

Memories of a Reluctant Summer Camper

by Karen Richman

I never had a burning desire to go to camp.

Many of my friends did. First, there was day camp, then perhaps a church retreat or scout camp for a week, then the big gun - sleep-away camp - and most of them loved it. Sure, there were one or two who cried from homesickness and demanded their parents come and rescue them, but most thought this was just great. A chance to sleep outside in sleeping bags, get eaten alive by mosquitoes, cook over a campfire, swim in an ice-cold lake with a sandy bottom, be taught how to get to the outhouse in the middle of the night and learn all kinds of nifty arts and crafts. I was NOT one of them.

Nevertheless, I went along with it because I desperately wanted to be “in” and do what the popular thing was to do, and to my circle of friends that was the adventure of camp. But it’s never as simple as leaving school for the summer, packing a duffel bag, and pro ceeding to hop on a bus singing “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” loudly and off-key over and over. First comes “the list.”

“The list” is something parents usually prepare after getting another “list” from the camp office, a rec ommended enumeration and inventory of what clothes should be packed, a reminder to sew name labels into cotton underwear, notifica tions of allergies, and medications to be taken. Years ago, they never bothered with such things as gluten-free, vegetarian choices, or peanut allergies It was as simple as this: the camp served the food three times a day, so eat it! If you don’t like it, you can always buy a candy bar from the canteen during certain hours, but other than that, food choices were a matter of eat it or don’t. Menu choices were not offered and sub stitutions not even thought of. It was a matter of here’s the mystery meat, soggy vegetables, lumpy mashed potatoes, tuna fish with way too much mayo, and fruit cocktail from a can. Little was fresh or appetizing, but that was camp food, and those over-zealous campers didn’t care. It was part of the experience!

My friends adored arts and crafts. Not me. It seemed like every camp arts and crafts program was obsessed with teaching us to make lanyards. I couldn’t master it without a whole bunch of help. There were four basic

twists to this “art,” none of which interested me, but the arts and crafts counselor was one of “those.” Extra-exuberant, overly enthusiastic, and a dyed-in-the-wool lifetime camper. She decided to set the directions for making a lanyard to music and would sing, “Twist that plastic left and right, just make sure it’s really tight. When it’s finished we’ll aah and ooh at the wonderful lanyard made just by you!” I had other lyrics, but we’ll forego them for now. The way I got around all this was to buy extra candy at the canteen, and I’d bribe some of my bunk mates to make an extra lan yard for me. Cheating? Nah. I looked upon it as just “acquiring another skill that would serve me well throughout my life.” That’s what the camp director said in his welcome speech every year, “camping is learning life skills.”

Actually, the one camp activity I really did like was the campfire. I was intrigued by learning how to go into the woods and get sticks that had fallen off trees (we were always instructed to never cut down a living thing). Then Jill, the head woodsy counselor would whip out her Swiss Army knife and cut the tips until there was a clean stick under the bark. The best camp food was never in the dining hall, but out in the woods because instead of mystery meat, we roasted hot dogs, drank lemonade from canteens, had bags of chips, and always had marshmallows for dessert. S’mores really weren’t “invented” back then, but nothing beat the taste of those marshmallows singed on top and dripping and gooey in the middle. Then as the crickets sang to us, we would watch stars come out, huddle under blankets or in sleeping bags and someone would tell the kind of ghost story that made every little hair on your arms stand straight up.

When I look back all those many years ago I can barely remember the things I didn’t like, but what still glows brightly in my memory is sitting around the campfire in a circle, hand over hand, singing “Kumbaya” (a plea to God to “come by here”), watching the sky turn dark, and the stars appear. Then the fire was snuffed out, the air still redolent with the sweet smell of marshmallows, and sleepy girls around that circle somehow bonded together. With not a lanyard in sight.

Taking The Sting Out Of Your Sunburn

Taking The Sting Out Of Your Sunburn

by: Crystal Cobert-Giddens, LE

School is out. The days are longer and summer is finally here. It’s time to hang out at the lake, nap in that hammock or find the closest beach and lounge in the sun.

Many families will try to take a vacation or escape for a few days this summer. These trips are fun and exciting and in that excitement, some one almost always forgets their sunscreen. If you realize you have forgotten your sunscreen, please go buy a bottle.

If you don’t forget your sunscreen, you should know you need to apply a lot of sunscreen about 30 minutes before any sun exposure. Use at least a double shot glass full of sunscreen for your body and a quarter size for your face and neck. No…having an SPF in your skincare doesn’t count. Sorry.

If you forgot your sunscreen, or you didn’t reapply or use enough, chances are that you will feel that familiar heat in your skin. In order to calm the intense, sometimes throbbing pain that sunburns can cause, it is important to know how to treat them. Of course, prevention is always the best advice, but for those times when you get a sunburn anyway, it is important to know several ways of treating your skin and keeping yourself comfortable.

What is a sunburn? A sunburn is a reaction to the UV rays on your skin. Too much sun can damage your skin’s cells and cause those cells to die. You’ll start this cascade of inflammation and your blood vessels will dilate and your skin will begin to turn pink or red. Sometimes it can take several hours for this to occur which is why so many of us don’t know that we actually have a sunburn until it’s too late.

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, five or more sunburns can double your risk of developing potentially deadly melanoma. Just one blistering sunburn during childhood more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.

What happens when we burn? Well, it hurts. You can expect to feel ex tremely tender and sore for up to a week.

One of the first things that you should try is drinking plenty of water. This is important be cause it helps to ensure that your body is fully hy drated. If you are dehydrated, it will cause your skin to dry out, which can make your skin tight and dry. Your skin will have a much harder time healing from the sunburn. Drinking plenty of water helps ensure that you are getting all of the fluids that you need, not only for your health, but also to increase the water content of your skin. If you can’t drink enough water, snack on hydrating fruits and vegetables.

Take a cool shower with no soap or body wash. Soaps are drying and warm water will be uncomfortable on your skin.

Try po pping an aspirin... Or Acetaminophen... or Ibuprofen. These over the counter remedies can help relieve the pain, itching and swelling of mild to moderate burns.

Take a cool bath with either baking soda or colloidal oatmeal. Now is not the time to exfoliate or use body scrubs.

Wear lightweight fabrics like cotton and linen so there is less weight and friction on your skin.

You should avoid topical acne treatments and retinol while you have a sunburn. These topicals can increase pain and may further damage your skin.

If you blister, leave them alone. Blisters are a sign of severe skin damage, and they need to be treated with care. Your skin is act ing like a large bandaid, so don’t pop them or peel the tip skin of the blister off.

With some patience, most sun burns will heal. Trying to wait until they heal all on their own is not always possible. We have pretty busy lives. The pain and discomfort can make it ex tremely difficult to concentrate, work or get the

your sunscreen often and use lots!

Crystal Cobert Giddens, LE

FACES of Saratoga

55 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 518-396-7403

Another effective remedy is using the pulp or gel from the aloe vera plant. This holistic rem edy is available in gel form, purees and can also be used directly from the plant. If you have access to an aloe vera plant, it is a wonderful way to infuse moisture into your skin. Used for more than just sunburns, an aloe plant is also great at treating bug bites, rashes, welts and can even be used as an effective moisturizer. It feels best if it is used chilled. Make sure you use an organic gel that does not contain alcohol, fake colors, and fra grance that could further irritate your skin.

Cool milk compresses work well too. It is important to use cool milk, not cold. If you use milk that is extremely cold, you will often find that it is uncomfortable. To get the biggest benefit possi ble from the cool milk compresses, you should take some cotton gauze or even some very soft cloth and soak them in the cool milk. You will then hold the compress onto your skin for a few minutes or until you feel relief.

Culinary Destinations: Chef Trip by Taconic Trail-Part 1

By Chef Armand Vanderstigchel

It always gives me great pleasure recommending culinary des tinations that I experience first-hand during road-trips in my precious spare time as a chef. A final top destination is decided upon and then impulse stops are applied encompassing a palate of various trades within the artisanal food purveyor’s spectrum.

After watching a fascinating online culinary video blog featuring one of New York’s oldest restaurants in Brooklyn, Gage & Tollner-anno 1879 - in which the pastry chef was showcasing her “Baked Alaska” work of art, the attraction and pull to visit was sealed and delivered! As a 21st century Oyster and Chop house institution offering timeless traditions of classics, it is a destination to add to one’s bucket list.

I start my journey to Brooklyn in the morning by partaking in breakfast at Alexis Diner in Troy, NY as the first stop. Having lived on Long Island (diner mecca) for years and now in Saratoga Springs operating a restaurant, I was de lighted by the quality of chefdriven food at this diner that has never comprised the oldfashioned diner standards. The owner Alexis Lekka is always there in the morning to greet his loyal customers with a warm smile and hug. The Crab Cake Benedict is a great breakfast choice, in addition to the great omelet selection. Gently poached

Eggs are nested upon a savory Crab cakes, drizzled with Hol landaise and accompanied by Home-Fries or Fruit. If you happen to visit at lunch-time, do not pass on the home-made soups or the smoked meat specials such as the BBQ Brisket Quesadilla’s. The house-made Spinach Feta pies are delectable and made once week if you can catch them! The Alexis Diner has won the capital region “Best Diner” award 7 years in a row and praised for its affordability in these costly times.

From Troy on the next stop is Golden Apple Farm on 3074 US-9, Valatie, NY. Established 60 years ago, the farm has been offering locally sourced Fruits, Vegetable, Dairy, Cider Donuts, home-baked Pie’s, and fresh Cider.

For more than 50 years, one single press has made all the cider at Golden Harvest Farms. Originally built for local farmer Elliott Smith, the press was already famous when it was relocated to the road stand in the 1960s. Except for a few modifications, the press still operates in the same

Spinach Feta Pie & Greek Salad

Alexis Lekka

con figuration. On a busy day it can turn out up to 2,000 gallons of cider.

The massive apple Orchard is a great vi sual from the road and once in the parking lot you will also find a distillery called Harvest Spirits and a great road-side Harvest Smokehouse nourishing hungry visitors. The brilliance of cross utilization of the apples and its by-products, are show-cased here all around the market location-the Apple-wood smoked Meats, the house Spirits such as Apple Jack and artisanal Vinegars. In the market shop you have Apple Cider, Pie’s, and Cider infused Donuts. The circle is complete!

I decided to have an early lunch not being able to resist the aroma of meats on the slow-smoker permeating the smoldering applewood under the watchful eye of pit master Andrew. The Baby Back ribs were moist and meaty, accompanied by a side order of house made Frites and fresh coleslaw. A heaping Jerk Chicken sandwich met e xpectations of a BBQ themed sandwich do ne right-moist and perfectly spiced. The seating of wooden picnic benches is ca sual and the service very friendly.

Upon recommendation, I walk over to Harvest Spirits, an artisanal distillery located in the posterior area of Golden

Harvest Farms - a special place as they say, where the "lucky" apples go to become immortal, p re served forever in the form of award-winning Vodka, Applejack and Brandy.

Established Harvest Spirits in 2007, ingeniously utilizes surplus apples, preserving agriculture in the Hudson Valley. In addition, they purchase locally grown fruit from farms across New York to distill.

The tasting room is housed within the distillery itself, adorned with artistic hand-painted aging barrels. In addition to tastings spirits and vinegars, one can order a custom cocktail or a craft Beer/hard-Cider on tap produced locally. Outside is a lovely picnic area with Adirondack Chairs and a fire-pit to enjoy your beverage. A highly recommended cocktail to enjoy is the “ Junipeño” made with Core Gin, fresh Lime, Jalapeño Simple Syrup. The BlackBerry Hard Cider on tap is very refreshing on a hot summer day.

In 2013, Harvest Spirits began making small batches of immuneboosting "fire vinegar" for friends. By 2014, they were experimenting with

Balsamic style Apple Vinegar, converting Ap plejack Brandy bar rels to Vinegar. The Bal samic Vinegar, upon tasting in my opinion, is excellent in taste and quality, effortlessly matching high-end co mpetitors from italy a truly world class product. For medicinal pu r poses the Turmeric Honey Vinegar is certainly a pur chase to contemplate as well. Distillers and hosts Derek and Peter are knowledgeable and eager to educate visitors during a complimentary tasting.

With the acquired wealth of a newly discovered culinary destination, I continue my journey south towards Taconic Parkway in anticipation of more discoveries en route to Brooklyn.

To be continued

Baker of pies at Golden Harvest

Junipeno Cocktail Kinderhooker Cocktail

Apple Walnut Caramel Pie

Pulled Pork Sandwich

July 1 - 23 Canajoharie

Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show - This an nual show features a wide variety of artistic styles and mediums; oil, acrylic, gouache, and watercolor paintings, photography, and sculpture submitted by artists from across New York State. Juror Eden Compton selected 42 pieces by 37 artists. Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie, NY 13317. For more information, please visit arkellmuseum.org or call 518-673-2314.

JULY EVENTS

July 2 Saratoga Springs

Live Painting Demo & Book

Signing with 8 x National Book

Award-Winning Artist Anthony Richichi July 2nd out front in our alcove at SOAVE FAIRE! 449-451, 449 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

July 1 - August 6 Schenectady

Bear and Bird Gallery presents ALL IN: Local Artist Showcase. An inclusive salon style exhibi tion showcasing the artwork of over 40 Cap ital Region Artists of all kinds. An artists' re ception will be held Saturday July 8 from 3-5pm. Learn more at www.bearandbird.com

July 1 - 29 Clifton Park

To everything there is a season… The Blooming Artist celebrates this wondrous time here with our newest exhibition, In Season. A visualization of this miraculous season and all of its manifold attributes, this show features the works of all local artists. We warmly invite you to experience this collection of seasonal testimonies with us and our community. As always, please expect live music & light provisions. The Blooming Artist Gallery, 675 Grooms Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065. (518) 280-4928. www.thebloomingartist.gallery

July 1- 14 Albany

Albany Center Gallery (ACG) presents Organic Im pressions, featuring the work of three regional artists: Jessica Fallis, Iain Machell, and Leslie Yolen. Organic Impressions is free and open to the public; Tuesday - Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. With a focus on the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the rhythm of life-c ycles, Organic Impressions provides a contemplativ e exam ina tion of our position in the vast workings of nature and the universe. Learn more at albanycentergallery.org Learn more at al banycentergallery.org

July 1 - 30 Schuylerville

Flight. Featured Artist: Allen Grindle & Wendy Williams. Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday 12pm – 5pm. The Laffer Gallery, 96 Broad St, Schuylerville, NY 12871 www.thelaffergallery.com.

July 1 Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Food Tour. Our experienced guides will tell you the inside history of Saratoga and the area’s food culture while we visit several of the city’s most iconic restaurants. During the tour, we’ll stroll down Broadway and learn why it was voted one of the most beautiful downtowns in America. You’ll leave with a full stomach and new appreciation of our beautiful city. Saturday, Jul 1, 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Olde Bryan Inn, 123 Maple Ave Saratoga Springs, NY

July 3 - 31 Glens Falls

NCA's  Annual Juried Photography Show 2023 in the  Friend's Gallery at Crandall Public Library, 251 Glens St., Glens Falls Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Reception & Awards: Thursday, July 6, 5pm at Friend's Gallery, 2nd floor.

“Point of View” in NCA Gallery #120 at The Shirt Factory with featured  artist Conard Holton in the Betty O’Brien Gallery continues through Aug.12, Thur-Sat 12-5pm. The Guild of Adirondack Artists featuring work in all media at NCA's 2nd Floor Gallery, 42 Ridge St., Glens Falls continues through Aug.4, Mon-Fri 9am-4pm  info@northcountryarts.org

July 4 Albany

New York State's 4th of July

Cele bration presented by Price Chopper and Market 32 at the Empire State Plaza. New York State’s 4th of July Celebration is recognized as the biggest and best in upstate New York. This event features an exciting program filled with incredible live music by the 'Queen of Percussion' Sheila E., great food and beverages, and the best fireworks display in the region! Tuesday, Jul 4, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12210

July 7-30 Argyle

“A Barn Full of Art” exhibit, offered by Whiting Studio Gallery, will in clude guest artists; equine and landscape artist, Ken Wilson, selfdescribed “Adirondack Impressionism artist” Susan Beadle, and sculptural works by fabric and found objects artist, Kris Gregson Moss. This bian nual event offers local artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work. This event is free and open to the public. The Opening Reception is July 7th from 5-7pm providing the public with an opportunity to meet the artists. The Galley will be open from 10am to 4pm July 8th through the 16th. The exhibit can be viewed and purchased by appointment July 17th July 30th. 105 Holmes Road, Argyle NY, 12809 www.whitingartwork.com

July 7 Glens Falls

Hot Club of Saratoga, the Capital Region’s premier gypsy swing en semble, plays a repertoire that reflects the spirit and style originated by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in The Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Friday evening from 7-8:30 PM. The Crandall Park Bandshell, Fire Rd, Glens Falls, NY

JULY EVENTS

July 7 Old Chatham

Romeo and Juliet at Sabba Vineyard. The Rooted Voyageurs presents Romeo and Juliet at Sabba VineyardOn Friday July 7th, The Rooted Voyageurs presents Romeo and Juliet at Sabba Vineyard, directed by Devante Owens. Admission is free and Sabba will be open to the public for the performance! Enjoy a glass of wine while snacking on food from the Pizza Trails food truck and enjoy a great performance. Friday, Jul 7, 2023.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Sabba Vineyard, 383 Pitts Road Old Chatham, NY 12136

July 9 Clifton Park

Big Sky Country. A high energy modern country band, made up of the Capital Region’s best musicians, all having a great time putting on a fun show of modern country music for their fans.Sunday, Jul 9, 7:00 PM. Note: All per formances are at Clifton Common Stage (next to basketball courts and Clifton Park Senior Community Center). Lawn chairs are welcome, and refreshments for the Wednesday evening family series are free courtesy of Starpoint Church. Clifton Common Stage, 7 Clifton Common Boulevard Clifton Park, NY

July 12 - 21- 29 Saratoga Springs

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys

Wednesday 7/12/23, 7 p.m. The footstomping, hip-swaying Cajun sounds of Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys get the party started with their ener getic Louisiana spirit

Folk Heritage Series: Jerron Paxton with Dennis Lichtman. Jerron Paxton & Dennis - Friday 7/21/23, 8 p.m.

Lichtman play “handmade” acoustic folk and early jazz that will transport you back to music of the 1920s and 30s

Ann Hampton Callaway - Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration! - Saturday 7/29/23, 8p.m. A gifted pop/jazz musician, singer and improviser, Ann Hampton Callaway will perform selections from Peggy Lee’s six decades of iconic songs

Caffe Lena 47 Phila Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

July 13 Schenectady

Jazz on Jay: Tarik Shah Trio. Jazz on Jay is back with free lunchtime concerts throughout the summer. Exceptional singers and instrumentalists from across the region bring their bands to the corner of State Street and Jay Street in Schenectady for mesmerizing performances on Thursdays from noon-1:30pm. Thursday, Jul 13, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. Jay Street and State Street

Schenectady, NY 12305

July 13 Rock City Falls

Join us for Stella Katherine Cole Has Standards! This unique young singer/actress is a throwback to another era; everything about her - her voice, her personalityshe glows with the burnished shine of timeless quality. It's no wonder that she has a natural affinity for songs of the Great American Songbook. More importantly, she has the talent to sing them like they were written for her! Stella's show is music directed by John Fischer and produced and directed by NYC impresario Scott Siegel. Thu. Jul 13, 2023 at 6:00pm. The Mansion of Saratoga 801 Route 29, Rock City Falls, New York

July 18 - 23 Ballston Spa

2023 Saratoga County Fair. Enjoy a variety of events at this annual summer fair, such as ani mal shows, truck, tractor, and lawn mower pulls, demonstrations, live music, and more. Tuesday, Jul 18, 2023 until Sunday, Jul 23. Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 162 Prospect Street Ballston Spa, NY

July 27 Cohoes

Rock the Block: The Refrigerators. Enjoy free outdoor concerts at The City of Cohoes' Rock the Block Concert Se ries! They will take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Bring your own lawn chair. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at all concerts. No outside coolers or alco holic beverages allowed. Thursday, Jul 27. Concerts will be held at 72 Remsen Street (Canal Square) in Cohoes.

July 27 Rock City Falls

Elizabeth Ward Land: The Songs of Linda Ronstadt. The evenings performance is based on a new album from Broadway vocalist Elizabeth Ward Land - Still Within the Sound of My Voice: The Songs of Linda Ronstadt - which has been released on CD and digital. Touching on genres including rock, country, folk, big band and mariachi, Elizabeth Ward Land finds her perfect vocal match in this salute to the great Linda Ronstadt. The concert version we are bringing to The Mansion was honored with the 2020 Bistro Award for "Outstanding Tribute Show. Thu. Jul 27, 2023 at 6:00pm. The Mansion of Saratoga, 801 Route 29, Rock City Falls, New York

July 28 Glens Falls

Girl Blue. If you like Alanis Morissette, Brandi Carlisle, and crying in public, you’re going to love Girl Blue. Writing deeply emotional songs with strong singable hooks, singer-songwriter Arielle O’Keefe is absolutely one to watch. Friday evening from 7-8:30 PM. The Crandall Park Bandshell, Fire Rd, Glens Falls, NY 12801

July 28 Ballston Spa

Meet the Three Sisters - This summer, the Saratoga County History Center is delighted to present the return of the popular series, "Fridays in the Garden".  The programs are to be held in the beautiful gardens of Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Ave, Ballston Spa.  July 28th, 2:30pm. All programs are free to attend, though donations are welcome and appreciated.  The programs will be led by Kathleen Royka, with guest speakers, Jere Blackwelder and Mina Dunnum.  At each talk, questions and discussions are encouraged on any gardening issue.  .  Guests will also have the opportunity to visit our exciting new exhibit, "Saratoga County: Our Home!" For more information, check out our website www.brooksidemuseum.org.

July 28 - 29 Saratoga Springs

Haunted Saratoga Ghost Tours. Hear the stories that have lived on in our city for hun dreds of years. They will enchant, enter tain, and perhaps even scare you. Our 90-minute long walking tour will take you in search of the countless ghosts rumored to haunt the city. Total walking distance is less than a mile, covered at a very leisurely pace so that you can enjoy Saratoga’s many infamous ghosts and haunted locations. On Fridays and Saturday at 7:00pm. Friday, Jul 28, 2023 until Saturday, Jul 29. Saratoga Tea & Honey, 348 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866