The Yearender: 2020

Happy (almost) weekend and Happy 2021!

Gosh, what a year. And while we don’t think we could be more excited to welcome a new year after this one, 2020 did have a few silver linings. More time with family. Connecting with extended family in thoughtful, meaningful ways. A return to simple pleasures - reading, game nights, trying new recipes at home, long walks around the city, quiet nights on the porch with a glass of wine.

We saw rainbows in windows, uplifting messages written on sidewalks in chalk, candles lit on porches to celebrate our essential workers and medical professionals, and cars driving by with balloons and signs for birthday parades.

My goodness, this was a hard year, and though we may face more struggles as we head into 2021, we appreciated this quote from Amanda Kloots, a woman from Los Angeles who sadly lost her husband to Covid this year - “Don’t wish time away. Time is precious, even when it’s hard.”

So here’s to being present in the moment, being kind to one another, appreciating time with family, supporting our community and small businesses however we can, and being grateful for what we’ve got.

Speaking of grateful, we’re so very grateful for all of you. Every time you read one of our stories, like or share one of our posts on Facebook or Instagram, or send us a note, we feel your support. Thank you. We’ve got a few exciting things in store for 2021, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Happy 2021! Best wishes for a healthy and happy new year!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: December 18 - 20

Happy weekend and happy snow day! And to think the other day we were just lamenting that we wouldn’t have a white Christmas ;)

What are you up to this weekend? We’ve got big plans to finally decorate the tree (just lights so far!), finish our shopping, bake some sweets, and have a virtual happy hour or two. Here’s a few other things that caught our eye:

Holiday House Scavenger Hunt: If you’re going on a ride to see the Christmas lights this weekend, take a peek at this map of festive homes from the Glens Falls Collaborative (and vote for your favorite when you’re done!). They’ve also got a scavenger hunt if you’re looking to take things up a notch :) Find it all here!

Letters to Santa: Now that downtown is looking extra festive with the snow, a stroll through the city to admire the evening lights and a stop at City Hall to mail a letter to Santa sounds like a pretty perfect pre-holiday night. The special mailbox will be out front until Christmas Eve and all the letters will go straight to the North Pole. We’d better get writing ours, too ;)

Greenwich Lighted Tractor Hunt: Like most things this year, the Lighted Tractor Parade was cancelled due to Covid-19, but we were psyched to see that tractors are lit up throughout Greenwich for you to view on your own! Here’s the map of tractors if you’re up for a ride to see the lights!

Cider around the Campfire: Hicks is serving up craft cider around your own private campfire this winter! You can pick a package from their campfire menu (sign us up for the grilled cheese and tomato soup!), order drinks a la carte, and hang by the fire or take advantage of winter hiking in the orchard. Sounds like so much fun! Grab the details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: December 11 - 13

Happy weekend! Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Or perhaps a better question - have you started?! We have NOT, so you can guess what we’ll be up to this weekend. ;) Here are a few other things that caught our eye:

Shirt Factory: Always a favorite for unique gifts (and supporting local!), The Shirt Factory has over 40 shops and vendors to browse at their Holiday Open House this Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 - details here!

[farmacy] & Philanthropy: Prepare an amazing meal in the comfort of your own home with help from Chef Dave at [farmacy] - and support a great cause while you’re doing it? Sign us up! The SUNY Adirondack Foundation has partnered with Chef David MacIntosh and [farmacy] for a virtual, in-home dining experience to benefit the SUNY Adirondack Fund and we couldn’t be more psyched to step our take-out date nights up a notch! Grab the info and reserve your meal kit here.

Dinner and a (Holiday!) Movie: Not this weekend, but plan ahead! The Park Theater will be showing the Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life along with an accompanying 3-Course Prix Fixe menu on Wednesday, December 16 and I’m already dreaming about the Butternut Squash Ravioli (and Cranberry Bread Pudding for dessert!). Find the details and purchase tickets here!

Grist Mill Benefit: By now I’m sure you’ve all heard about the devastating fire at the Grist Mill restaurant in Warrensburg. The team at Radici is stepping up to help with a benefit this coming Monday, December 14 - a portion of all dine in and take-out proceeds will be donated to the GoFundMe for the staff at the Grist Mill. Amazing food for a great cause. Stay up to date on the details here!

Holiday Festival of Lights: Have you been yet? This Lake George event has been such a success that we haven’t included it in past weeks since it’s been sold out! Good news: they are now accepting walk-ins! This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at 4pm folks can purchase a ticket at the gate for $5 - grab the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: December 4 - 6

Happy weekend and Happy December! With a couple of snowflakes in the air yesterday and a few in the forecast for this weekend (maybe?!), we’re slowly getting into the holiday spirit around here. We’re psyched to bring home our tree this weekend, and maybe even watch a Hallmark Christmas movie or two (right, Tom?) ;)

Here’s what’s on our radar:

O Christmas Tree: If you’re on the hunt for a Christmas Tree this weekend too, we put together a list of local tree farms you may want to try - find them here!

Holiday House: Are your halls decked?! Enter your exterior display in the Holiday House Competition put together by the Glens Falls Collaborative. The deadline is tonight - December 4 - and you can register here.

Hometown Holiday: We’re going to miss the traditional in person Hometown Holiday celebration this year for sure, but Santa will still be making his way through the city on Friday night via fire truck! He’ll begin his trip at 6pm, and you can find the map of his route (and the additional socially distanced activities) here!

Flight Market: If you haven’t yet heard, Fresh ADK has transitioned to Flight Market and Deli. They’ll have the same breakfasts and lunches that we all love from Fresh, with the addition of market essentials. Their grand opening is Friday and we can’t wait to check out the changes! Details here. Stay tuned for our First Look at the space next week!

Holiday Sweets: Excited to see an amazing holiday collaboration between three of our favorites - Darling Doughnuts, Alchemy Bagel, and The Muffin Top Baker. They’re offering two holiday boxes this month - the first is a Hanukkah pack including mini doughnuts, French macarons, and sugar cookies (and stay tuned for a Christmas Eve box, too). We’re drooling already. Order here!

Virtual Cambridge Valley Fine Art Tour: Like most events this year, the Art Tour has gone (mostly) virtual! Browse some of our favorite Washington County artists from the comfort of your couch this weekend, and snag a gorgeous piece for yourself or as a gift. And if you feel like a drive, Matt Chinian will still be welcoming folks in person this weekend. Grab the details here!

Virtual Chronicle Book Fair: Sensing a theme here… Another way to shop and support local from the couch this weekend! A variety of books from local authors - and bonus - 25% of each sale benefits the Wood Theater. Shop here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: November 20 - 22

Happy weekend! Just us or is the holiday season sneaking up fast this year?! Thanksgiving is next week, Christmas trees are popping up in windows, and we saw the lights going up downtown this week. Thanksgiving prep will be in full swing this weekend, and here’s a few other things that look good:

Plant and Sip: Told ya holidays were sneaking up! Sipping wine while making an evergreen wreath sounds like the perfect way to ease into the holiday season. Get the scoop on this event at Toadflax Nursery here!

LARAC Holiday Shop: We say it every year, but this year, we’re really going to get a head start on our shopping :) The LARAC Holiday Shop is always a win - pick up a unique gift, and support local artists. Find out more here!

Thanksgiving Prep: Whether you’re hosting a small meal at home, or dropping pie at a loved one’s door, might as well make it festive! Bri just stumbled upon some extra stock of Thanksgiving cocktail napkins from her shop and we’re offering last minute porch delivery for neighbors in 12801, 12803, and 12804 - snag some here and the ol’ Wagoneer will drop them off this weekend - if it doesn’t break down first ;)

Thanksgiving To Go: Thanksgiving will look a little different this year for sure, and if you’re not used to cooking the turkey yourself, might as well call in the experts. Lots of great options from downtown favorites, including a Take and Bake option from Morgan and Company, and Thanksgiving To Go from The Queensbury Hotel and Farmacy!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: November 13 - 15

Happy Thursday! It’s been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks, and we’re looking forward to slowing down this weekend, soaking up some time at home with the pups, and of course, heading downtown to check out a few favorites like these:

Farmers Market: While we’re missing our warm Saturday morning strolls to the Farmers Market, we’re thrilled to see them transition over to the Cool Insuring Arena for the winter. Especially since we’ve been in a total rut with way too much take out, it’s time to grab some fresh produce and get back into the kitchen ;) Grab the details here.

Sunday Brunch: Big news from a downtown favorite - Radici will be offering brunch starting this Sunday! We can’t wait to see what they have in store - if their dinners are any indication, brunch is going to be amazing. Details and reservations here!

Radium Girls: After watching the trailer for this film (that was filmed in this area!) and recognizing so many Glens Falls and Lake George locations, I’m even more excited to see it! Based on true events from the 1920’s as women painted glow in the dark watch dials in a radium factory, the story is as much of a draw as the local ties. You can stream it at home starting Monday by clicking here, and bonus - your purchase benefits the Wiawaka Center for Women.

For the Kiddos: In lieu of their family holiday party this year, The Wood Theater is bringing the party home by offering a craft Keepsake Kit package. It includes materials for four holiday crafts along with video instructions from the Ice Queen - such a cute idea! Grab the scoop and purchase here - looks like they’re going fast!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: October 30 - November 1

Happy weekend and Happy Halloween! We know this Halloween might look a little different than most, but we hope you’ve got big plans to indulge in some candy and perhaps some pumpkin cookies anyway (sharing a recipe below!). And in addition to the treats, here are a few ideas for the weekend:

Devils Night Downtown: In lieu of the traditional haunted house, how about a self-led haunted stroll through downtown? Grace Siplon and Megan Stacey created an audio experience that will immerse you in the story of suspicious deaths, creepy book clubs, and people with extra shadows. You control it from your phone and complete it at your own pace, and after reading the story teaser, we can’t wait to dive in - details here!

Haunted Nights: If you’re up for a little something spooky this weekend, Haunted Nights has a paranormal investigation scheduled at the Old Washington County Jail in Salem. Tickets are going fast, so head here for details or follow them on Facebook for future events!

Trick or Treat on the Farm: Nettle Meadow Farm in Thurman is hosting a family friendly, socially distanced event on the farm this Saturday. Kiddos can meet and feed the animals (who will also be dressed up!), and get some safe trick or treating in too. Find out the scoop here!

Pumpkin Cookies: With more cold and snow (?!) in the forecast, you can bet I’ll be baking this weekend. A major fall favorite for us are pumpkin cookies, and the recipe says it all - they really do melt in your mouth. So good. Here’s the recipe if you’re baking this weekend too!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: October 23-25

Happy weekend! Hope you’ve got a fun fall weekend on tap. We have a feeling we’ll have a rake in hand for at least a few hours of it, and we’re hoping to squeeze in a few of these things too:

VOTE: Do you have a plan to vote yet? Early in-person voting for Warren County residents starts this weekend at the Warren County Municipal Center and runs through Sunday, November 1 with lots of flexible hours so that you can get over there and get it done ahead of time. Of course, you can still vote at your usual polling location on Election Day, too. Get all the details here!

Halloween Houses: Everyone seems to be stepping up their Halloween decorations this year and we are here for it! The Downtown Collaborative put together a map of some of the best dressed houses in the city, so pack up the car with some sweet treats, cruise around to enjoy the Halloween Houses, and vote for your favorite here.

Pumpkins & Pints: Speaking of Halloween, we’re loving this idea of pumpkin carving - adult style - over at Slickfin Brewery in Fort Edward. Enjoy a couple of beers and a classic horror movie while you carve, and wrap things up with a costume contest. Get the scoop here!

Juicin’ Jar: They’re open in their newly expanded space with a newly expanded line of goods including a market and gift shop! Can’t wait to check it out - sneak a peek here and stay tuned for our first look next week!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: October 16 - 18

Happy weekend! Peak colors, sunshine, and hopefully a little relaxing in our future. If you need a couple of ideas for the weekend agenda, here’s a few that caught our eye:

Abby’s Cookie Jar: We’ve all been waiting for a place downtown where we can grab something sweet after dinner, right?! Enter Abby’s Cookie Jar - opening this Saturday! We’re psyched to see that she’ll be offering cookies, coffee, chocolate and more - and classes, too! Grab the details here.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Seen any ghosts downtown?! The Glens Falls Collaborative has hidden cut-out ghosts around the city - if you’re able to find all ten (and snap photos of each one), email your pictures to ourglensfalls@gmail.com and you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a gift certificate for $25 to the Glens Falls business of your choice! Get the full scoop here.

Moreau Lake State Park: Have you been recently? We popped over this week for a quick photo shoot and the colors were amazing. Such a gem in right in our own backyards. Pack a picnic and enjoy lunch on the beach or head for a hike (here’s a trail map). If a guided hike is more your thing, we stumbled across this event on Sunday (and it appears it includes cider donuts!).

Walk to End Alzheimer’s: Saturday looks like a beautiful day so why not get out and walk for a good cause? As with many other events this year, the 2020 Walk has gone virtual, but we’re hoping to see lots of folks out and about helping to raise money to end Alzheimer’s. Get the details and sign up here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: October 9 - 11

Happiest weekend! Lots of festive fall events on the calendar this weekend and a little taste of Halloween, too! Here’s what looks good:

Ghouls in the Garden: Toadflax Nursery is prepping for a wicked good time (see what they did there?) this weekend with a haunted greenhouse, crafts for the kiddos, a pumpkin carving contest, a bonfire, snacks, oh, and beer from Common Roots, too! Grab the scoop here. 

Movies in the Pumpkin Patch: Washington County Fairgrounds is hosting a full weekend of socially distanced movies to benefit The Salvation Army of Warren, Washington, and Saratoga Counties. Bonus: you can grab dinner and popcorn from their food truck corral before the show! And they’ve picked some classics to show, including Jurassic Park and Ghostbusters! Get the details here. 

Fall in Love with Maple Tour: Since we all missed out on Maple Weekend this spring due to COVID, we were psyched to see a Maple Weekend on the calendar this weekend! Take a ride, peep the leaves, and sample all sorts of maple treats from area farms. Details and a listing of farms here!

Landscapes for Landsake: We loved attending the popular Landscapes for Landsake art exhibit/sale and getting to know more local artists last fall, and this year they’ve transitioned to an online event due to COVID. Grab a glass of wine, peruse the gorgeous artwork, and know you’ll be supporting the Agricultural Stewardship Association (which helps to preserve farmland in Washington and Rensselaer County) with any purchase. Shop here starting Saturday.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. Hocus Pocus is playing at the Glen Drive In this weekend. Just sayin’.  

The Weekender: October 2 - 4

Happy weekend, and Happy October! Settling into all things cozy as the temps dip again, and we have big plans for comfort food, apple pie, and finally getting mums and pumpkins this weekend. And maybe our first fire of the season? Here’s what else looks good:

Exhibit Opening: LARAC is opening their annual Juried Art Exhibit, “This is America”, tomorrow from 5-7pm and it’s so nice to see things like this on the calendar again! Bonus - they’ll have live music (weather permitting) outdoors! Details here.

Open Studio: Speaking of art, one of our favorite local artists, Mark Tougias, is having an open studio (and yard!), this weekend (Sat 11-4 and Sun 1-4pm). He’s located at 29 North Park Street in Cambridge, and if you go, be sure to check out some of our favorite things to do in town here.

Farm to Fiber Tour: We love all of the tour style events in our area and were thrilled to stumble across this one! 30 farms, fiber studios, makers, and a mill are participating across an eight-county region in upstate NY and VT and it sounds like the perfect way to do some leaf peeping and enjoy some tours, demonstrations and shopping, too! Details here.

Ellms Family Farm: Fun to see some Halloween events popping up and love that this one makes it easy to social distance! The Pumpkin Glow and Light Show Drive Thru starts this weekend at Ellms Farm in Ballston Spa and runs through November 8th - grab your tickets here!

Hiking: Foliage came fast this year, and it’s at peak or near peak throughout Warren County and the Adirondacks. Tom and I were hoping to hike in the Lake Placid area last weekend, but parking was absolutely crazy at the popular trailheads. Here are a few lesser known - but still beautiful - hikes to try this weekend if you’d like to get out and enjoy the foliage without a crowd (but definitely have a Plan B just in case!!).

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: September 25 - 27

Happy Thursday! Fall snuck up fast and it’s hard to believe how much color we’re seeing in the trees already. This pretty season always flies by so we’re hoping to soak up as much as we can this weekend (and bonus - looks like it’s going to feel a bit like summer, too!). Here are a few ideas for the ol’ agenda:

Last Call for Ice Cream: Believe it or not, we didn’t get out for ice cream once this summer, so we’re hoping to sneak in a cone or two this weekend, especially since we just saw that this is the last weekend of the year for the Cooper’s Cave ice cream window - grab one while you can!

Stroll the Canal: Have you ever walked along the Feeder Canal? We’ve been strolling the Glens Falls stretch of it in the mornings lately and love the peace and quiet and the fall colors emerging (we took the photo above this morning!). Here’s more info and a map!

Wool & Arts Festival: Hey, a festival that isn’t cancelled! ;) The Adirondack Wool and Arts Fest is this weekend at the Washington County Fairgrounds and features over 100 local artisans and their crafts, including wool, pottery, wood, and lots more. Plus - craft beverages and all your fav festival foods. Details here!

Pumpkins & Mums…and Pizza: If you’re in the market for pumpkins and mums this weekend, look no further than the incredible Farm Stand at Tiashoke in
Schaghticoke. Complete with a most charming pumpkin house (with cornstalk roof!), and an amazing selection of pumpkins, this weekend they have the added bonus of donuts from Argyle Cheese Farmer on Saturday and wood fired pizza on Sunday! Details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: September 18-20

Hi! Happy weekend. Trying not to dwell on the fact that this would’ve been Balloon Festival weekend - probably our favorite weekend of the year here - and yet here we are, dwelling :) Here are a few ideas to help you still make this an awesome fall weekend:

Fried Chicken Sandwiches: Common Roots is at it again, this time introducing a fried chicken sandwich to their to-go menu! Their pizza has become a favorite around these parts, so we can’t wait to add this to our order this weekend! Details and ordering here.

Apple Season: Alright, we’ve been talking about it for a few weeks, but this is the weekend we’re finally heading out for apples and cider donuts. If this is the weekend for you too, check out our list of local apple orchards to visit here!

U-Pick Potatoes: We did this last year at Goose Island Potatoes and it was so much fun! Truth be told, it was pretty quick work, but it was a beautiful drive and fun to get out in the dirt do something we hadn’t done before. And the mashed potatoes Tom made for weeks afterward were pretty great, too :) Details here! And while you’re out that way, R.S. Taylor Brewery is just five minutes away - just sayin’.

Fall Favorites: There are so many great destinations within easy driving distance of Glens Falls, so last year we put together a list of fall favorites in the Capital Region over on Bri’s blog. Since we’re all staying a little closer to home these days, thought we’d share it here as well in case you’re in the market for a little day trip - thinking we might need to work our way through the list again this year, too. Read it here (and make sure you call or check with each business on Facebook before you go - most are open but there are bound to be some COVID related changes!).

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: September 11 - 13

Hey there and happy weekend! If your kiddos went back to school this week or if you went back to work teaching (special thanks to you!), we hope it was a great first week.

Sixties and sunshine the next couple of days and we’ve got some ideas on ways to enjoy it… Here goes!

Never Forget: There will be a brief 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Friday at 9:30 am at the Glens Falls Fire Department (masks and social distancing are required!). Details here.

It’s Cancelled, but: This weekend would’ve been The Cheese Tour, one of our favorite early fall events in Washington County. The Tour is cancelled this year, but - a couple of the stops are still open this weekend, so we figure it’s as good a time as any to pay one or two a visit and stock up on some favorites…

• Dancing Ewe is still hosting their amazing Saturday night bonfire dinner as well as a Sunday lunch at the farm - details here!

• Grab some snacks from Argyle Cheese Farmer at their Hudson Falls Farm Store - details here.

• …and R S Taylor Brewery and Victory View Vineyard are both open this weekend - enjoy a drink on their patios in the sunshine or grab some to take home.

More Pickin’: Apparently fall isn’t just for apples! Hand Melon Farm has u-pick tomatoes, peppers and squash - count us in for some tomato sandwiches. More info here.

Barn Sale: It’s been a while since we’ve mentioned one, so hey, how ‘bout a barn sale?! We’ve been to this one a few times now and there’s always a new treasure to be found at a reasonable price. Here’s the scoop.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: September 4-6

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Happy weekend, and Happy September! We’re already spotting some yellows and oranges in the trees and yes, we know it’s still summer, but we’re finding ourselves giving in to the cozy fall activities already. Here are a few ideas! 

Apple Season: A few more orchards are opening for u-pick this weekend! Saratoga Apple in Schuylerville, Mad Tom Orchard in Dorset, and Billy Bob’s Orchard in Putnam Station to name a few - and Hicks is open again this weekend and picking Macs - we can smell the apple crisp already :) Here’s a round up of our favorites from last year, and stay tuned for an updated version next week!

Fall Berries: Berry season is holding on! Gardenworks in Salem will have their first fall raspberries ready for picking this weekend - details here. Any other farms still picking berries?!

Corn Maze: Yet another quintessential fall activity, we saw that Schuyler Farms in Schuylerville is opening their corn maze this weekend during their fall festival (which also includes hayrides, cider donuts, and a petting zoo!) - grab tickets online here.

What’s In The Box?: We’ve missed the Adirondack Theater Festival this summer, but we love the idea they’ve come up with while we’re spending a bit more time at home this fall - In the Box shows. They’re ticketed live performances that entertain you from the comfort of your home and there’s an interactive mystery box mailed to your door prior to the event. The first one is in October - learn more and grab tickets here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: August 28 - 30

The last weekend of August already?! It’s hard to believe. I know we’ve got almost another month of summer, but something about September just feels different. Probably just the fact that we don’t break into a sweat every time we step outside ;) Anyway! Here are a few ideas for the weekend ahead - hope it’s a great one!

Shop Till You Drop: Shopping? Yes please! The Glens Falls Collaborative planned a downtown shopping event in honor of Ann Parrish of Milk & Honey, who is retiring next week after more than 15 years. On Friday from 12-6pm, you can grab a discount at participating businesses downtown by saying the words “Milk and Honey” - more info here!

Books on Carts: Crandall Library is hosting the last Books on Carts in the Park sale tomorrow (Friday), and since we’ve somehow missed them all, we’re going to try to dash over tomorrow morning (this one includes 2 for $1 fiction paperbacks!). Details here.

Apple Season: It sounds crazy but we just saw that a couple of orchards are opening for u-pick apples this weekend! Hicks Orchard in Granville will be open and picking Ginger Gold and Zestar (and they’ll have cider donuts and wood fired pizza, too!), and Bowman Orchards in Rexford is picking Summer Mac, Zestar, Sansa, and more. Hellooooo apple pie!

Revolution Rail: Have you heard of Revolution Rail? We’ve had it on our summer to-do list for a while - they have rail biking on closed railroad tracks in the Adirondacks, and they just opened a new South River Run in North Creek which looks awesome. Looks like they still have some availability this weekend -  you can book your ride here. 

…and while you’re in North Creek, check out some of our favorite restaurants and shops in the area that we rounded up here! 

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: August 21 - 23

Happy weekend! Can you feel that hint of fall in the air? Windows are open, AC is off, and we actually needed a fleece for the morning walk today. It’s enough to make you slow down and appreciate these warm sunny days before they fade away, and we’re planning to soak it all up this weekend. 

What do you have planned? Here’s a few ideas:

Radici + [farmacy] at Mean Max: Just heard that Radici has created an exclusive menu that you can only get at the Mean Max taproom! Sign us up for a pint paired with their amazing fried chicken and mac and cheese. And did you know that they serve food from the fine folks at [farmacy] too?! Hellooo lobster rolls! Details here. 

Feeder Canal Alliance Canoe & Kayak Race: As with most things this year, the race has gone “virtual”! So, you can paddle or run the five mile route along the canal, or you may paddle, run, or bike a 5 mile distance anywhere you like and submit your entry for the race. Whichever way you complete the race, don’t forget to register online - your $15 donation supports the Feeder Canal Alliance and its educational programming along the canal. Details here!

Sunflower Festival: Not sure about you, but we could totally use a sunny afternoon strolling in a field of sunflowers. Liberty Ridge Farm down in Schaghticoke (about a 45 minute drive) is having their Sunflower Festival this weekend (and next weekend, too!), and you can do just that. Limited tickets available - grab yours online here!

UNO: We’ve had a random deck of UNO cards sitting in our side table on the back porch for at least three years. We pulled them out a few weeks ago, and once we looked up the rules (we’re a little out of practice), we’ve had a blast playing round after round on weekend evenings with a cocktail. Whether it’s UNO or not, highly recommend hiding your phone for a while and playing a good old fashioned board or card game. 

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: August 14 - 16

How are you all doing? Hope you had a great week. The weather the next couple of days looks so nice, and we’re hoping to squeeze in a dinner out downtown, the farmers market, and maybe a couple of these:

Date Night: In case you missed it, Common Roots launched their artisan stone hearth pizzas to go this week (and we took a first look here)! A 4-pack and a couple of pizzas sounds like the perfect back porch take out date night to us. Details here. Cheers! 

Small Town Bookstores: We shared a list of favorite local bookstores last summer around this time, and we’re feeling that same urge to pick up a few new books as we inch closer to back to school season. If you’re up for a ride into Washington County and a wander through a sweet bookstore (or barn!), we updated the list with the latest COVID-19 changes for the shops - check them out here! 

Corn Maze: We don’t usually think of corn mazes until fall, but Fort Ticonderoga just opened theirs and it seems like the perfect summer adventure. Fort Ticonderoga itself is amazing (check out our post on the highlights here) - don’t leave without a stroll (and a picnic!) in the King’s Garden! Details here.

Round the Lake: Have you heard of the Lake George Land Conservancy’s Round the Lake Challenge? A friend just mentioned it to us and we thought it sounded like an awesome family friendly way to get outside, see the sights, and get some exercise while we still have a few months of warm weather this year. Some of the “missions”, as they’re called, include hiking, paddling, visiting museums and historical sights, and more - check out the details here! 

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: August 7 - 9

Hi guys! Happy weekend! Anything fun on the agenda? We’ve got the usuals on the to-do list: farmers market, baking, yard work, back porch drinks… but we’re also hoping to squeeze in a ride in the Wagoneer if we can manage to get it out of the shop, along with one or two of these ideas:

Live Music: Patio season is in full swing and we’re psyched to see some live music on the menu again this weekend at some of our favorite spots. Morgan & Co has Mark Tolstrup tonight and Tim Ortiz on Friday night, and Doc’s Restaurant has their popular Patio Sessions with Paul Lambert on Saturday - where are you headed?

Canal Street Marketplace: Too late to check it out tonight, but mark your calendars for next Thursday for Fort Edward’s Canal Street Marketplace from 4-7pm. Hoping to scoop up some sweet corn, sunflowers, and maybe a mini pie or two from Auntie Mame’s Pies! Find the details here.

Vineyard with a View: We’re always up for a drive in the country, especially when it ends with a glass of wine amongst the vines on a blue sky day. Victory View Vineyard’s Farm Winery in Easton has been on our list for a while, and this might just be the weekend to check it out! Details here. 

Flower Farms: Our backyard zinnias are doing..eh, just okay..so when we saw a couple of flower farms on Instagram this week, they stopped our scroll. If you’re up for some fresh air and a stroll through a field of flowers to pick your own or grab a fresh cut bouquet, check out Native Farm Flowers in Greenfield Center or Balet Flowers in Saratoga… And if sunflowers are your thing, we saw that Bowman Orchards in Rexford has pick your own sunflowers! Any other local flower farms that we should know about?! 

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: July 31 - August 2

Alright neighbors, it’s the first weekend in a bit that it’s not going to feel like 100 degrees and we are here for it. Sharing just a few ideas to soak up the sunny summer weekend ahead:

The Hyde: The Hyde is re-opening on August 1st! It’ll be by appointment only, and they’re offering a limited number of appointment slots per day to keep things safe and socially distanced for visitors. It’ll be so nice to wander the museum on a weekend afternoon again, and we can’t wait to see their newest exhibition, “J.S. Wooley, Adirondack Photographer”. Perfect for summer. Details here! 

Summer at West Mountain: In case you missed it, we shared a recap of our recent visit to West here (spoiler alert: it was a blast). If you’re headed that way, use promo code wmbl for 10% off your Mountaintop Picnic Package (which also includes the scenic chair ride and hiking!) - book it here!  

Cambridge Valley Fine Art Tour: After having had the best time on the Open Studios Tour last summer, we were psyched to see this event pop up on our Facebook feed - another opportunity to meet some amazingly talented local artists and hopefully scoop up a painting while we’re at it! Get the details here. 

While you’re out that way, another incredibly talented Washington County artist, Jacob Houston, will have a contact free pop-up shop set up at his home in Greenwich on non-rainy days where you can grab his latest cards and prints - details here!

Round House Bakery: While you’re in Cambridge, you may notice that the beloved Round House Bakery Cafe has closed. The good news is that the owners are still offering meals to go, fresh from their farm in Cambridge! You can order online for Sunday pickup (deadline to order is Friday evening), and it looks like they’ve got an amazing selection of bread, salads, pizzas, and treats (our favorite has always been the Ginger Spice cookies!). Details here. 

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom