The Weekender: May 10-12

Happy weekend! Sharing a few ideas for the agenda, including a flea market, Mother’s Day ideas, where to stroll and orchard in bloom, and more…

Second Saturday Flea: Stop by the Second Saturday Flea Market at The Shirt Factory this Saturday from 10am-5pm! Antiques, vintage, collectibles, and more — and all the shops of The Shirt Factory, of course. Find out more here!

Zonta Arts, Crafts & Curiosities Faire: Vendors, food, live music, and activities for the kiddos, all downtown in City Park on Saturday starting at 10am. A perfect stop before or after the Farmers’ Market! Details here.

Mother’s Day Plans: This weekend! Lots of great options, including…

• A brunch buffet in the beautiful Adirondack Ballroom at The Queensbury Hotel, featuring an omelet station and all your favorite entrees and sweet treats - details here

• Brunch (on the patio!) at Park & Elm, including a special menu of breakfast favorites and a variety of craft cocktails - details and reservations here

• Mother’s Day Brunch at Morgan & Co, with a prix fixe menu including options like coffee cake, eggs Benedict and fried chicken and waffles - find out more here

• Radici will have brunch from 10am-2pm with delicious options like brown sugar waffles and a warm Maine lobster roll - details here

• Head over to Mint for brunch from 11am-3pm! They’ll have specials including chicken and biscuits, steak ‘n eggs, and more - find out more here

Blossoms and Babies: Head out to Hicks Orchard on Saturday from 11am-3pm to see the orchard in bloom and meet some sweet baby animals while you’re at it. Bonus - they’ll be selling their fan favorite cider donuts, too! Get the scoop here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Will Fowler

We’re chatting with Will Fowler this week! He shares his favorite memories of growing up in Glens Falls, his new favorite lunch spot, what he’d like to see more of downtown in the future, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! I’m Will Fowler. I live in Glens Falls with my wife, Katie, and our two children, Phoebe and Charlie Bird (we’re really into birds). I’m a co-owner of Sidekick Creative, where I’m a creative director and designer. We’re a boutique graphic design studio located downtown, and we just celebrated our 7th anniversary. We’ve been so lucky to get to do what we love while working with cool people and great clients.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I grew up on Lake Avenue, right across from Crandall Park, with my parents and four older sisters. My grandparents lived on the corner, so we had a very tight-knit family unit. My sisters and I went to St. Mary’s-St. Alphonsus, where our mom taught English, so we were together all day at school, too! Growing up I thought everyone’s family was this close, but now I look back and realize how lucky we were. My sisters and I have moved away to different places (Boston, Hawaii, Florida) at different times in our lives, but always seem to find our way back to the area. The more I travel, the more I’ve come to appreciate the quality of life here. We’re truly spoiled to have such a vibrant, safe, and welcoming little city—and we’re so close to so many great destinations, too. 

On Moving Around The City

Our first apartment was above Raul’s, which was so much fun. We loved living in the heart of downtown and eating tacos for every other meal. When we got married, we bought a house off of South Street Extension, where we lived for four years. When Katie was pregnant with our second, we had outgrown the house, and moved to Windy Hill, where we’ve been for three years. We love our quiet little street and our amazing neighbors. And now we’re closer to playgrounds and the bike trail, which is not as fun as Raul’s, but the kids seem to like it.

On Community

At the risk of sounding corny, my favorite thing about Glens Falls has to be the people. I feel like I know everyone from growing up here, but I’m always meeting interesting new people, too. There are so many good-hearted, down-to-earth folks who live here, who are dedicated to improving our community every day. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect day in Hometown USA would start with a bagel and coffee at Cool Beans with the crossword. It would have to include a round of disc golf at Crandall Park, which has become my new favorite hobby. The course is really well-maintained thanks to the volunteers and the Crandall Park Beautification Committee. Taco Kings Jalisco has become a favorite spot for lunch—I try something new every time and it’s always amazing. There are so many great restaurants downtown, but our go-to spot for special occasions is Morgan & Company (and the porch bar has to be my favorite spot for cocktails). For an after-dinner drink, we might go to Mean Max for a beer and darts, or The Golden Monkey for a specialty cocktail, which is another new favorite spot!

On the Past

Growing up near Crandall Park meant we had a front-row seat for the Memorial Day Parade and the Balloon Festival. Even after my parents sold the house on Lake Ave., we would come back for the Memorial Day parade every year and our old neighbors would save a spot for us, with coffee and donuts to share.

On the Future

I’d love to see more concerts come to the COOL Insuring Arena. My sister rented one of the new boxes for the Goose and Trey show in 2022 and it was such a cool experience. It felt like a renaissance for the arena. I’ve witnessed so many great moments there—from Jimmer and JG3, to this year’s historic season for the Adirondack Thunder—and I’m excited to see it continue to bring excellent sports and entertainment to our city!

The Weekender: May 3 - 5

Happy weekend! Sharing a few ideas for the agenda, including playoff hockey, an antique fair, a farm (and art!) tour, planning ahead for Mother’s Day brunch, and more…

Playoff Hockey: Downtown has been electric with the Thunder playoff wins this week! Catch Game 1 and 2 of the North Division Final this Friday and Saturday at 7pm - grab your tickets here!

Rewind at The Park: The band Harvest and Rust returns to The Park Theater this Saturday at 8pm to perform Neil Young’s Greatest Hits! Grab dinner downtown at Park and Elm and stroll right across the street afterward for the show - details here!

Mother’s Day Plans: Plan ahead for Mother’s Day next weekend and book your reservations now! Lots of great options, including…

• A brunch buffet in the beautiful Adirondack Ballroom at The Queensbury Hotel, featuring an omelet station and all your favorite entrees and sweet treats - details here

• Brunch (on the patio!) at Park & Elm, including a special menu of breakfast favorites and a variety of craft cocktails - details and reservations here

• Mother’s Day Brunch at Morgan & Co, with a prix fixe menu including options like coffee cake, eggs Benedict and fried chicken and waffles - find out more here

Washington County Antiques Fair: One of our favorite events to browse (always with a bag of kettle corn!), you’ll find over 200 vendors at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich this weekend with antiques, collectibles, and crafts - grab the details here!

Art and Ag Tour: New this year, this self guided driving tour is sure to be a hit! Each farm along the tour will introduce you to different types of agriculture and various types of art. Meet the artists and farmers, browse their goods, and enjoy cruising the beautiful back roads of Washington County - find out more here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: April 26-28

Happy weekend! Sharing a few ideas for the agenda, including Wing Fest, a comedy show, a beautiful drive through Washington County, and more…

Wing Fest: We’re excited to see the downtown spring event season kick off with Wing Fest! Loads of wings from your favorite local restaurants paired with live music downtown - sign us up! Tastings start at noon on Saturday and go through 3pm - get the scoop here!

Comedy After Dark: Date night! Grab dinner downtown and then head over to The Park Theater for Comedy After Dark on Friday at 8pm. As seen on Road Comics (currently streaming on Peacock), Shafi Hossain was named one of New York's Funniest Stand Up Comedians and will be performing this week! Grab tickets here.

Washington County Fiber Tour: A spring favorite! The prettiest drive from farm to farm in Washington County, you’ll meet alpacas, bunnies, goats, sheep and lambs, llamas, and more, and shop for unique woven and knitted items while you’re at it. Grab the details here!

Owl Pen Books: Ever been to Owl Pen Books in Greenwich? If not, read our feature on them here! Down a winding dirt road, you’ll find a complex of red barns tucked behind a historic white home. The barns are the bookstore. It doesn’t get more charming! They close each winter and this weekend is their spring reopening (complete with coffee and treats from Canteen Coffee Co) - find out more here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Good Dog: Willow

Good dog, Willow! This sweet Yellow Lab / Golden Retriever mix is living the good life with Alexandra Barbieri! Alex shares what it was like meeting Willow as a puppy, Willow’s favorite places around the city, and how having a dog has changed her life…

On Meeting Willow 

My original intent when looking for a dog was that I would adopt, and I would not get a puppy. However, the adoption process was proving to be difficult at the time. I was living in an apartment, and some rescues are strict with housing requirements and living situations. I was also living with my roommate at the time who had an older dog that I adored, and all parties wanted to ensure the transition would be smooth.

When I found myself wanting to adopt every dog I saw at the SPCA, I knew it was becoming a bit overwhelming and emotional. I decided to take a break from looking, and that exact day my friends from Fountain Square told me there was a litter across the bridge in South Glens Falls with two dogs left. I was hesitant, as I still had it in my mind that I would adopt an adult dog, but I decided to visit after I was given some contact information and pictures.

Surprisingly, it was not love at first sight. At 10 weeks old, “Snowy” was super rambunctious and wouldn’t stop biting my shoe — it was not what I was imagining the first meet and greet to be like. I decided to sleep on it, and of course, I picked her up the very next day. I was completely unprepared for puppy life and all that it entails. We lived on the 3rd floor in a downtown apartment, so potty training was probably the biggest challenge. Still, it didn’t take long for us to get into a groove, get out in the woods daily, and start our life together.

All About Willow 

Willow is incredibly sensitive. She has the outgoing personality of a lab but also likes to be with just her people, especially getting some butt-rubs and showing her affection with a hard lean. She will also make it very clear when she wants me to wake up, with a hard paw or a stern groan.

She loves to hike and run in the woods with me, preferably near water. She doesn’t mind a nice dip, even in the middle of winter. She loves the snow but also likes to lay stretched out in the hot sun.

She can’t wait for the Adirondack chair to return downtown so she can jump on the arms and watch the traffic.

Her biggest quirk is that she does not tolerate skateboards and electric bicycles — she absolutely loses her mind.

On the Importance of Recall 

Once when she was a puppy, I lost her at Hudson Pointe where the floating bridges are. She was still so small at the time, so of course I was imagining all of the horrible things that had happened to her. I began running and calling her name when I finally ran into a gentleman jogging and asked if he had seen a yellow puppy. He said, “Yes! She’s walking with a couple a few hundred feet ahead with a stick in her mouth.” Crying with relief, I started running and eventually, there she was — sitting in the middle of the trail waiting for me like nothing had ever happened. I never saw the couple she was walking with, but I did immediately contact my dog trainer to start some very important recall training.

Some Local Favorites 

Willow’s favorite place downtown is Mean Max, where she can chill with me outside or play with her human (and often dog) friends inside. We also like to check into Fountain Square and Farmacy — thanks for keeping the water bowl out every day! 

Willow and I love going to Haviland’s Cove for some swimming and splashing. Typically, on the weekends, however, we head out of town for a nice hike.

On The Life Changing Magic of A Dog 

Willow changed my life. I always have had an active lifestyle, but it only increased once she joined me.

No matter the weather conditions — rain, heat, snow, below-freezing temperatures — we are walking, running, or hiking. She made me realize that I love trail running more than road running, and I now see the beauty in every step of our hikes in nature instead of just waiting for that final view.

I may not have slept in late for over 6 years, but I honestly wouldn’t want it any other way. She is the best decision I’ve ever made. I adore her and she knows it.

The Weekender: April 19 - 21

Happy weekend! Sharing a few ideas for the agenda, including Earth Day celebrations, sweet treats at The Shirt Factory, where to grab some good BBQ, a 5K to run off said sweet treats and BBQ, a brew fest, and more…

Glens Falls Earth Day Celebration: Celebrate Earth Day in City Park this Saturday from 11am-2pm! With a goal of inspiring sustainable practices to ensure a brighter future, they’ll have interactive workshops, activities, food tastings, art exhibits, and more - find all the details here!

Blue Zones: Have you seen the Blue Zones documentary on Netflix? It’s essentially an exploration of the locations around the world (the Blue Zones) where people live the longest, healthiest, happiest lives and what we can learn from them. Crandall Public Library is hosting the national spokesperson for the Blue Zones Project, Tony Buettner for a presentation on Saturday night at 6pm - and it’s free! Register to save your seat here.

Rotary 5K: Have you signed up for the Rotary 5K yet? Starting and ending at SUNY Adirondack, you’ll run or walk 3.11 miles on Saturday at 9:30am for a great cause (the Glens Falls Area Youth Center and the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra). Sign up here!

Maple in April at The Shirt Factory: Once you’ve finished the 5K, treat yourself to a sweet treat at The Shirt Factory’s popular Spring event, Maple in April! All of your favorite food vendors (with some maple offerings!), craft vendors, and the shops of The Shirt Factory too - get the scoop here!

Brew Fest: Drinks for a good cause! Head to the Cool Insuring Arena on Saturday from 4-7pm to sample beverages from 30+ breweries, along with food and live music! All proceeds benefit the Feeder Canal Alliance. Find the details and purchase tickets here!

Brooks BBQ: Calling all BBQ fans! The Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls is hosting its 3rd Annual Brooks BBQ Chicken Dinner Drive-Through fundraiser this Saturday from 3-6pm at East Field — order online here and cruise over to pick it up on Saturday night

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Before + After: Inside a Baker's Beautiful Kitchen

Originally published April 2, 2019

If you love a good before and after as much as we do, you won’t want to miss these photos of Sandy Petracca’s dramatic (and gorgeous!) kitchen transformation. Sandy loves to bake and cook, so function was important. Equally significant, though, was creating a space that felt inviting and true to the period in which the home was built, and we happen to think she nailed it!

Read on to see and hear about her journey from this…

to this!

C’mon inside and enjoy…

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I am a mother of two grown children. Baking their birthday cakes through the years, I fell in love with cake decorating. That love of baking transformed into a career. I became the lead decorator for a well known bakery in Cleveland, The White Flower Cake Shop.

I then moved to Glens Falls in 2015 and fell in love with the area. I purchased an old home and threw myself into some serious DIY, transforming it into my own. Missing the creative process of cake decorating, I decided to start my own business. Juggling both was a challenge and thrilling at the same time. Unexpectedly, I found new love and began the journey of a beautiful relationship. Tony and I continued with passion to create our own special place. A home to share new memories, filled with laughter, good friends, good food and of course, good wine. A home to live life sweetly.

When did you buy your home? What attracted you to it and to your neighborhood?

I purchased my home in Glens Falls in 2015. Glens Falls has a downtown that echoes the charm of yesteryear, with beautiful parks and tree lined streets, sidewalks to stroll, and homes with friendly porches adorned with American Flags. It is the quintessential "Home Town USA." Each home seems to have its own unique personality that tells a story. I wanted to be a part of that story. With the help of my patient realtor, we finally found the perfect little gem built in 1939 with character and charm along with layers of wallpaper and old chipping paint. I realized that much of the house was a simple case of updating the interior using good ol' sweat equity. The house had good bones, except the kitchen which needed a major renovation, and the bathrooms which also needed modernizing. My love of baking and cooking made the kitchen renovation a top priority.

What were your goals when designing and decorating your kitchen?

My home was built in 1939 and I felt I had to maintain the integrity of the time period while also improving the layout of the kitchen. I chose to update the kitchen using items that upheld a vintage feel but also offered the convenience of modernizing the space. I love to cook, bake and entertain with family and friends, so it was imperative to create a kitchen that would act as the heart of my home.

Where did you draw your inspiration from?

Inspiration for the renovation came from numerous sources. I scoured design magazines, Pinterest, and other things that happened to catch my eye.

What’s your favorite thing about your kitchen?

I love my "Blue Star" stove!! I wanted one for many years. Some women dream of diamonds, designer clothes and status cars, but I dream of kitchen appliances and paraphernalia relating to all things kitchen, cooking and entertaining.

Anything you’d do differently?

I would not change anything about my kitchen. The renovation was truly a labor of love and I invested a lot of time in planning to assure I had no regrets.

Do you remember the first thing you cooked or baked once the kitchen was complete?

Meatballs with cheesy polenta.

What advice would you give to someone about to dive into a kitchen renovation?

Although I had done my homework and had a clear vision for my kitchen renovation, I would recommend working with a professional kitchen designer. When I found my designer we had an instant connection. I knew instinctively that we were a good match and would be a great team. Joël was instrumental in refining my vision and providing possibilities that I did not realize were conceivable. She was vigilant about my budget and offered creative ides to maintain the look without breaking the bank.

Describe your decor aesthetic in three words.

Only three!!! No fair, you're putting me in a box. I am a true believer in doing what you love when it come to your personal space. Now if I had to choose three words I would say: Functional, Stylish, Homey.

You have such great taste - where are some of your favorite places to shop for home decor? Any favorite local spots that you’d recommend?

Glenwood Manor Antiques & More: I am always on the hunt for unique, one of a kind items to display.

Homegoods, and TJ Maxx: I mean, do you know any woman who doesn't delight in the search of a good buy at a low price?

Online shopping: One Kings Lane, excellent source for curated furniture and decor; Williams Sonoma & Food52: These sites fed my addiction for kitchen paraphernalia.

I do wish our downtown had more boutique shopping for gifts and home decor. That would be amazing.

The item in your kitchen you couldn’t live without?

There are a few, but the one that I love and use everyday is my French Press for coffee. I love the ritual and the aromas of making my morning coffee and holding the warm mug in my hands as I contemplate the new day ahead of me.

A favorite meal in regular rotation?


I would have to say, my meatballs and cheesy polenta. This is Tony's favorite. I honestly think it was my meatballs that sparked his love for me!!

What’s one essential every baker should have in their kitchen?

I would say a KitchenAid Mixer. I LOVE mine. I use it often and have a secret spot to hide it away so it doesn't clutter the counter.

We must know - what’s your favorite dessert?

Surprisingly it is not cake! I do love a good donut. Simple and plain. I don't make them but maybe I should teach myself. I do however make a delicious, perfectly boozy Tiramisu that is often requested by my friends, and I must say it is very good!

—————

Resources

Designer:  Joël Jackoski, Designers Studio, Saratoga

Contractor: Jason Petralia, Building Concepts, Saratoga

Realtor: DeMarsh Real Estate - Karen Levison

Kohler Sink and Faucet: Bath Expressions Showroom at Security Supply

White Subway Tiles: Glens Falls Tile

Blue Star Range & Hood, Bosch Dishwasher: Adirondack Appliance, Saratoga Springs

GE Monogram Refrigerator: Best Kitchen and Appliance Center, South Glens Falls

Cabinet & Ceiling Lighting and Electrical: Hills Electric, Glens Falls

Decorative Lighting: Rejuvenation

Hand block Printed Kitchen Curtains: Saffron Marigold

Cast Iron Cocotte: Staub

Mixer: KitchenAid

Thank you, Sandy! We’ll definitely be knocking on your door again for that Tiramisu recipe! :)

Have a before and after you’d like to share? We’d love to consider it for a future feature! Contact us here, or send a note to us at hello@glensfallsliving.com.

The Weekender: April 12 - 14

Happy weekend! Sharing a few ideas for the agenda, including where to find some great chili, a flea market, drinks for a good cause, and more…

Common Roots Spring Gathering: Head down to Common Roots Bierhall on Friday at 6pm for the very first Spring Gathering and Common Roots Foundation benefit! The event is an important fundraiser for the Foundation, which enables them to help local organizations with wellness, sustainability and stewardship projects. Tickets include buffet style fare and a complimentary beverage! Get your tickets here.

Second Saturday Flea: Stop by the Second Saturday Flea Market at The Shirt Factory this Saturday from 10am-5pm! Antiques, vintage, collectibles, and more — and all the shops of The Shirt Factory, of course. Find out more here!

Fan Appreciation Weekend: The Adirondack Thunder are home again this Saturday and Sunday for Fan Appreciation Weekend! Lots of in-game giveaways, drink specials, and more. Puck drops at 7pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday - grab tickets here!

Bands and Beans: Cruise on up to The Fort William Henry this Sunday from 2-7pm for Bands and Beans! Over twenty local restaurants will be serving up their best chili concoctions while nine of your favorite bands, on two stages, will be playing all day long. Find all the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: April 5 - 7

Happy weekend! Sharing a few ideas for the agenda, including a Tom Petty tribute band, springtime on the slopes, a hockey tournament for a good cause, and more…

Rewind at The Park: Head down to The Park Theater on Friday night for Tom Petty tribute band, Damn the Torpedos, performing at 8pm! All of the signature riffs and harmonies that you’ve come to know and love from Tom Petty - along with some fresh twists that are often inspired in the moment. Get tickets here!

Northwest Fest: It’s springtime on the slopes at West Mountain! They’re celebrating this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm with live music and outdoor grilling at the Northwest Base, as well as discounted $40 4-hr lift tickets! Get the scoop here!

Riding in Style: Pop in to The Chapman Museum this weekend to check out their new exhibit, Riding in Style, featuring Seneca Ray Stoddard’s photographs of transportation in the southern Adirondack region at the end of the nineteenth century. All the details are here!

Drop the Gloves with ALS: You may remember Emily Noble from a My Glens Falls feature a few years back. Her husband, Marcus, was diagnosed with ALS in early 2021 at the age of 33. This year marks the second annual Drop the Gloves hockey tournament, which will raise funds for the St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center as well as for Marcus’ care through team registration, raffles and silent auctions, and a GoFundMe page for those not able to attend the event but still wish to make a difference (click here to donate). Games will take place this weekend at the Glens Falls Recreation Center Ice Rink and you can expect live music, food trucks, and beer, of course! Get the details and schedule here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Good Dog: Whiskey

Good dog, Whiskey! This 3 year old Miniature Poodle and Chihuahua mix is living her best life after a chance meeting at the filming of The Puppy Bowl in Glens Falls led to her adoption back in 2021! Her parents, Patrick and Bethanie Lawrence, share more about meeting her for the first time, her spunky personality, and some local dog friendly favorites…

A Chance Meeting at The Puppy Bowl

We adopted Whiskey on October 6, 2021, while I [Bethanie] was volunteering at the filming of the Animal Planet Puppy Bowl at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. At the time, Whiskey was named Raspberry, and she was one of the puppies competing on Team Fluff. I immediately fell in love with her, so I called Pat and let him know that I was bringing a puppy home. I was able to speak with Whiskey's foster mom and the woman who ran Shaggy Dog Rescue, the Texas rescue that sent Whiskey and her sister pups to the Puppy Bowl, and all parties agreed to let us adopt Whiskey that evening. Since I was committed to my volunteer role that day, Pat went to the pet store and got all of the things we'd need for a 3-month-old puppy and put some supplies in my car for me to use with Whiskey at the end of the volunteer shift. I brought Whiskey home that night and introduced her to Pat and our first dog, an elderly little dog named Hank. The rest is history! 

Whiskey on screen at The Puppy Bowl • Photo courtesy of Bethanie Lawrence

On Whiskey’s Spunk

Whiskey is spunky and usually a little nervous when meeting new friends, but she's as sweet as can be and wouldn't hurt a fly. We love to have her fur dyed by her groomer to match her personality. Whiskey loves to talk and play with her dog brother Hank and her friends at Adirondack Sniffari. She's scared of vacuums and other motorized things like electric fans and clippers, but she's very brave and has been working on getting more comfortable around them. 

On Buried Treasure

Whiskey is a treasure hunter and loves to find things under the couch, bed, desk, anything. When she was a baby, she would go underneath our bed and shimmy around looking for dropped pencils, hair ties, socks, and everything we'd lost. She would be so proud showing us what she discovered. 

On Farm Life

We often visit family in rural Pennsylvania and let both Whiskey and Hank off-leash on our family's farm since it's large enough that we usually don't have to worry about them running away. The farm neighbors recently got chickens and those chickens have been coming onto the farmland, and Whiskey met them recently. By "met", we mean she saw them and tried to catch them. She didn't catch them, thankfully, but now she has to be on a leash at the farm. 

Bethanie and Pat, along with Hank and Whiskey

On Local Dog Friendly Favorites

Whiskey loves going to dog camp with Adirondack Sniffari, and Sniffari's Camp Counselor Caitlin Steadman is her favorite non-family human. Her favorite store is Sutherland's Petworks in Hudson Falls; the people who work there are the friendliest and most helpful around. Whiskey enjoys going anywhere with trees and forests and all of the smells, including the Feeder Canal paths and Betar Byway. 

On The Love of a Dog

We love having dogs because they are a source of positivity and comfort for us. Our dogs are always loving and cuddle up with us in the sweetest way. They make us laugh, help us through hard times, and give us so much joy; they're part of our family. 

Good dog, Whiskey! Would you like to nominate a pup to be featured in our Good Dog series (your pup maybe?!)? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com or send us a note here.

My Glens Falls: Kate Austin

We caught up with Kate Austin this week! She shares a bit about the evolution of her business, Advokate, an ode to the amazing Glens Falls arts scene, her favorite downtown restaurants for vegan options, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

I'm a mom, a community member, an activist, an entrepreneur, and a big fan of Glens Falls. After working at The Chronicle newspaper and managing The Shirt Factory, I started my business, Advokate, LLC, in October of 2010, without a clear direction. 

At first, I thought I'd help artists hang up posters for their art shows or mail out postcards, and Advokate has now evolved into a design, marketing and communications agency with a team of twelve, plus three interns. 

I am also co-founder of the Arts District of Glens Falls, a board member with the Glens Falls Business Improvement District, and involved with the Jackson Heights PTA. Last year, New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner named me a Woman of Distinction! 

My kiddos are Ellie (6), Danny (8), and Henry (11). We have a dog named Sasha and a cat named Jones. I'm divorced and live part-time with my partner, Jeremy. We were high school sweethearts!

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I grew up in Killington, Vermont, and went to high school in Woodstock. I kind of landed here quasi-accidentally but fell in love with Glens Falls and put down roots. Now my parents live here in Glens Falls! They are a huge help with the kids.

Once upon a time (back in 2001, if we're being precise) I wrote down a wish list of everything I wanted out of a place to live. I wanted cafes, lots of things going on, a downtown scene, to feel safe, public transportation, and for it to be an hour away from Rutland, Vermont. Who knew!? I had never heard of Glens Falls back then. But it's right here, the city I always wanted.

I have lived in Glens Falls since 2006 or 2007. My former husband Cory and I bought our house on Morgan Avenue in 2009. I bought a house on Ridge Street last November and I adore it. I miss my old neighbors but I'm just around the corner. When I walked in, it just felt right. It has soapstone counters and an attic, and so many windows. There is a little brick side porch that I plan to use as an art studio. And most importantly, each of the kids has their own room. I love the houses in Glens Falls that are Tudor-style. I feel like I'm living in a fairy tale!

On Banding Together

There is so much to love about Glens Falls. I think my number one is the community, closely followed by the arts scene. 

I have seen neighbors taking care of neighbors in so many instances. Folks are welcoming and kind here. They collaborate. They work on seeing alternative perspectives and embracing diversity. I think the "group hug" (that's Glens Falls Director of Tourism and Business Development Amy Collins' catchphrase) philosophy is super strong here. We know how to band together, work as a team, and support one another. We respect one another even when we disagree. There are a number of volunteer-run organizations doing super important work. Such a small handful of people are doing so much for the greater good. I think that spirit of community is extremely strong in Glens Falls.

On The Arts

The arts scene is like no other. The fact that we have three museums within walking distance of one another in a city with a population of less than 15,000 is astounding. The galleries, the theaters, the cultural organizations. We're the smallest city in the country with its own Symphony Orchestra. And now we have murals and public art so you can tell that Glens Falls loves the arts without even setting foot indoors!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Some of my most idyllic Glens Falls days were when the kids were young. I'd walk them downtown, pushing a stroller, and we'd start our day at the Farmer's Market, then head to Crandall Public Library to get a stash of books. We'd relax in City Park, grab a snack from Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe (back when it was downtown), and walk around the shops to see all of our friends out and about, maybe visit the World Awareness Children's Museum, and finish the day with Outdoor Cinema, watching a movie under the stars. 

These days, the kids are bigger. We like to go to the events the Glens Falls Collaborative puts on, especially Take a Bite. I just love when the whole city is hanging out together downtown on a beautiful sunny day. Henry likes to grab sushi from Sweet Rice around the corner with his friends. I order from Juicin' Jar and Alif all the time. Ellie and Danny love Downtown City Tavern's fries and slipper bread. I do almost all my shopping at Finders Keepers. 

On a date night, I'm usually found at Farmacy, because every week they have a different vegan option. I love their cocktails and it's so fun to try something new. I like the intimacy of the Bourbon Room, too, and Morgan & Co. is always a winner. I always end up at Fenimore's after a show at the Wood Theater. And I am loving the Golden Monkey for their vegan options and specialty drinks. The vibe there is so laid back and classy. Oh! And can't forget about Mint on Warren Street, which has awesome plant-based choices as well.

On the Past

I have met most of my favorite people in one of three places, all before like, 2010: At an art show at LARAC, NorthCountryARTS or at The Shirt Factory; at Rock Hill Bakehouse's Open Mic; or at Wallabee's Jazz Bar. Thursday nights were THE nights, back in the day. I think those moments early on were responsible for forming my foundational impression of Glens Falls. 

You'd make friends just by being in the same places over and over again. Everyone was creative and talented. And funny, and a good time. And so incredibly welcoming. The folks who hung out there were a real community of musicians, artists, writers and poets, and the atmosphere was hip, comfortable, and easy. I formed some core friendships in those years.

On the Future

Okay, so I'm super proud of the fact that the City of Glens Falls is running on hydro power through Northern Power & Light. (Full disclosure: NP&L is a client of Advokate's). Renewable energy is cool, and I hope more people sign up for it.

I think we could use more public art, for sure. I would love to see interactive sculpture and bespoke playground equipment around downtown for my children who love to climb on stuff. 

I think a refill/zero waste store is something we need. I would love to see more people shopping at Pure N Simple to take things to that level.

And I think there's plenty of room for more vegan eateries in town, and a broader spectrum of plant-based options at the awesome restaurants we do have. I dine out kind of a lot and there are so many hungry vegans who do, too!

The Weekender: March 29-31

Happy weekend! Sharing a few things for the weekend agenda, including the best bets for Easter brunch, an Easter egg hunt on a farm, a comedy show, two nights to catch hockey, and more…

Comedy After Dark: Date night! Grab dinner downtown and then head over to The Park Theater for Comedy After Dark on Friday night at 8pm. As seen and heard on Comedy Central Arabia, Friday’s show will feature Brooklyn based comedian and writer Atheer Yacoub! Grab tickets here.

LARAC Closing Reception: Bid farewell to LARAC’s temporary gallery space, Mountain Gallery, on Friday night at 5pm at the closing reception of their exhibition Here & There (including the works of 10 regional and national artists) - find the details here.

Hockey Night: Two nights to catch hockey this weekend! The puck drops at 7pm on Friday and Saturday night as the Thunder take on the Reading Royals at home - get your tickets here!

Easter Eats: Leave the cooking to the pros this weekend and make your Easter brunch or dinner reservations downtown!

• Morgan & Company will be hosting both brunch and dinner (so maybe go for both!!). Their brunch specials include Steak and Eggs, Funnel Cake French Toast, and Eggs Benedict, or enjoy Glazed Ham, Roast Leg of Lamb, or Roast Prime Rib for dinner! See the full menu and make your reservations here.

• Park & Elm will have brunch from 11am-3pm (and the Strawberry Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast is calling our name!). See the full menu here, and make your reservation by clicking here.

• The Queensbury Hotel will be seating for brunch from 10am-2pm and will feature an omelet station, two carving stations, breakfast specialties, and lots more! Find the details here.

Easter at West: Head over to West Mountain on Sunday for spring skiing, an Easter egg hunt and crafts for the kiddos, and more - details here!

Easter Egg Hunt: The Kemp Animal Sanctuary at Nettle Meadow Farm in Thurman is hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday from 12-2pm. Kiddos can hunt for colorful eggs filled with treats to feed the animals on the farm (and looks like they’ll have treats for the kids, too!). Catch a glimpse of the sweet animals at Nettle Meadow in this previous GFL story here, and grab the details on the Egg Hunt here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

1980: A Year of Baseball in Glens Falls

Harold Lloyd Jenkins was torn between three potential careers when he graduated high school: music, the clergy, and baseball.

A contract the Philadelphia Phillies offered tipped the scales in one direction, but his decision process was interrupted.

“He never had to choose,” The Post-Star reported on April 15, 1980. “Uncle Sam intervened and Harold Jenkins was drafted into the Army.”

During his Army days, Jenkins, later known as Conway Twitty – a name taken from the communities of Conway, Ark., and Twitty, Texas – formed a band known as the Cimarrons that played clubs around Japan.

By the time of his discharge, he knew music was the career he wanted, even though the Phillies tried once again to recruit him.

To recognize the country music star’s interest in baseball, the new Glens Falls White Sox “drafted” Twitty as an honorary player when he performed May 2 at Glens Falls Civic Center – the first country concert at the new arena now known as Cool Insuring Arena.

East Field in 1980 • Courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

1980 was a year of baseball in Glens Falls, highlighted with Mayor Edward Bartholomew’s whirlwind recruitment of the White Sox, the Double A franchise of the Chicago White Sox, that played at East Field in Glens Falls for five seasons.

Glens Falls was in competition with Schenectady and Pittsford and Worcester, Mass., among other cities, to land the team when Eastern Baseball League President Patrick McKiernan visited on Feb. 29, according to Post-Star archived reports.

On March 5, McKiernan told the city Common Council, “If you can deliver a field, you can have a baseball team.”

On March 12, the Common Council voted unanimously to develop East Field on Dix Avenue as a lighted-multi-use sports stadium.

Team ownership agreed to play home games the first season in the afternoons, if the city could install lights for the 1981 season.

As it turned out the lights were installed partway through the 1980 season.

The contract was signed April 7, and on April 19, Bartholomew, dressed in a White Sox uniform, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the home opener.

“God only knows how the White Sox franchise will fare in Glens Falls,” Post-Star reporter Dan Amon wrote. “But he at least gave a hint Saturday with mid-60s sunshine that attracted more than 6,000 fans to the hone opener at East Field.”

The announced attendance was 6,124, but many more watched the game for free from outside the East Field fence, Amon reported.

It seemed inconsequential that the White Sox lost the game to the Waterbury Reds.

Glens Falls was ready for baseball – and not a minute late.

“It was none of that nine-to-five stuff that got the field ready, but round-the-clock cooperation,” said city Public Works Superintendent Nicholas Sciartelli.

Another big crowd was on hand on Aug. 12 for a double header against the Lynn, Mass. Sailors, when the new field lights were turned on for the second game.

Lynn won the first game, but Glens Falls triumphed under the lights.

“The story Tuesday night may have been the lights at East Field, but the Glens Falls White Sox put on their own light show, bombing the Lynn Sailors 14-3,” The Post-Star reported.

East Field in 1980 • Courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

The baseball theme in 1980 continued on Nov. 2, which Bartholomew proclaimed “Dave Palmer Day,” in honor of the Glens Falls High School graduate who was pitcher for the Montreal Expos.

“Dave Palmer has a lot of friends in Glens Falls,” wrote Post-Star sports writer Jeff Wilkin.

Activities included an afternoon meet-and-greet, autograph signing event at Glens Falls Civic Center, with free admission, free hot dogs and soda for all, and free autographed photos to the first 500 children attending.

About 200 people attended an evening banquet to honor Palmer, in his second year with the Expos.

Speakers included Bartholomew, Hal Williams, field manager of the Glens Falls American Legion team Palmer formerly played on, and Pete Davidson, Glens Falls High School baseball coach.

Palmer, a right hander, pitched six seasons with Montreal, two seasons with Atlanta, one with Philadelphia and one with Detroit.

1984 Season Program • Courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

See more from our History series here.

My Glens Falls: Molly Mattison

We caught up with Molly Mattison this past week! She shares what brought her back to Glens Falls after growing up here (she bought a house a few doors down from the house she grew up in!), lots of Glens Falls nostalgia (including Boston Candy Kitchen and Barber’s Market), a bit about her little library, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m Molly Mattison, a Glens Falls native. I live in Glens Falls with my 5 and 6-year-old boys, Rocco and Rex, and my husband Dale. 

I work remotely as Chief Operating Officer for the International TEFL Academy. We certify more than 6,000 people a year to teach English abroad and online, and help them find jobs. Our alumni are in more than 80 countries worldwide - it’s a really amazing way to get paid to see the world! 

I’m also the steward for my beloved GF Little Library. Come borrow a new read!

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I grew up in Glens Falls on Lincoln Avenue. When I graduated, I went to college in Virginia, studied abroad in Italy, then spent several years living and working in Boston and Chicago. My husband is from Lake George, and we couldn’t imagine a better place to raise our family than Glens Falls. After 12 years away, we returned and bought our house — also on Lincoln Avenue, three doors down from my parents and the house I grew up in. Truly full-circle. 

Our home was built in 1911. One of our neighbors grew up in our home as a child in the 1950s. She shared how they had a boarder who worked for the Post Star as a photographer and used a small room in our basement as his dark room. There also used to be sleeping porches on the back of our home. My most vivid memory of this house from growing up was the impeccably manicured lawn - a reputation known far and wide, and one we’ve definitely fallen far short of - ha!

On Community

Without a doubt, what I love most about Glens Falls are the people - they are salt of the earth, and truly a community. When our family has faced tough times, our neighbors have been there to shovel, to bring a meal, or just to check in. Likewise, we try to give back to our community and the boys’ schools as much as possible. It’s truly a village I’m so appreciative of. I also love holidays here - like the hundreds of trick-or-treaters on Halloween or enjoying breakfast on the porch with friends and family before the Memorial Day parade. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect Glens Falls day would start with a walk downtown, and breakfast and a coffee at Kru. I’d then swing by Crandall Public Library with the boys, before getting fresh flowers from River ‘Rangements at the Farmer’s Market and/or from Oopsy Daisy Flower Farm and delivering a bouquet to my mom. 

If our day isn’t dominated by birthday parties or sports, we love to check out the local event calendars or take a daytrip. For dinner, we would head back downtown. A newer favorite for us is Rocco’s on Glen. Great vibes, great food, and my son Rocco calls it “his place” and loves to greet the owner. We might top off our night with a trip to Rude Betty, a favorite with us and the kids. 

On the Past

I had a pretty idyllic childhood in Glens Falls - my friends lived on the block, our bikes gave us the ultimate freedom, and we just had to make sure we were home by dark. I loved it as a kid, and I love it even more watching my kids as they’re just now taking off on their bikes - and their friends, too, live on our block. 

Growing up, my Dad and I were both early risers and we would sneak out of the house early on weekends and go have breakfast together at the Boston Candy Kitchen (Downtown City Tavern now lives there). They made ribbon candy on site, and had a little chocolate and candy storefront at the front of the diner. Since I came back to town, my dad and I kept our morning time together, taking an hour-long walk to kick off the day. 

We also loved Bill’s Ideal Diner and we go to Massie’s for every family birthday - a tradition that’s persisted in our family for more than 70 years. One thing I miss is Barber’s Market - it was a small neighborhood market on Shippey, and I would love to see something like that come back. 

On the Future

It’s been amazing to see the transformation downtown over the past few decades - I’m excited to see the ways South Street and the downtown area can continue to grow, hopefully with more locally-owned, small businesses. Overall, I just love Glens Falls for what it is and hope it will keep its essence as it continues to evolve (though I wouldn’t say no to a Trader Joe’s!)

The Weekender: March 22-24

Happy weekend! Looks like there’s winter weather headed our way, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that it changes to rain :) Here’s what looks good for the agenda either way!

Hockey Weekend: The Adirondack Thunder will be home all weekend with games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Grab dinner downtown and head to the games at 7pm Friday and Saturday, and 3pm Sunday - scoop up tickets here!

Shamrock Shuffle: What better way to whip yourself back into shape after a long winter than a 5 mile road race?! The race kicks off Sunday at 11am at Glens Falls High School, and there will be a Leprechaun Leap Fun Run at 10am for kids 12 and under. All proceeds for both events go to the Glens Falls Area Youth Center - get the details and sign up here.

Out for Ice Cream: More of our favorite ice cream spots are opening back up this weekend - grab a cone at Rob and Deb’s and Sprinkles starting Friday!

A Scoop or Sip of Maple: If you’re up for a Sunday drive, cruise out to Dancing Ewe Farm in Granville on Saturday for a Maple Old Fashioned or a few scoops of their farm made maple walnut ice cream - sounds delicious to us! Details here.

Maple Season: ‘Tis the season! The sap is flowing and sweet treats abound at some of our favorite sugar shacks. We shared a list of four of our favorites to visit here, and this also happens to be the third weekend of Thurman Maple Days which runs through March - check out more on all ten sites of that tour here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Jeremiah and Emily Lewis

This week we caught up with Jeremiah and Emily Lewis! New to town, they share what drew them to Glens Falls, a bit about their work (Jeremiah is a filmmaker and Emily is a natural science illustrator and animator), their favorites around the city so far, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Jeremiah: I’m Jeremiah Lewis. I’m a web developer and screenwriter. My passion is writing horror movies, and I’m lucky that I’ve been able to write a few horror short films that have gotten produced!

Emily: I’m Emily Meredith Lewis and I’m a Natural Science Illustrator and Animator and Library Clerk at Crandall Public Library. We have two dogs named Cider and Miso, and they are siblings we adopted from a rescue in Chicago.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

Jeremiah: We were drawn to Glens Falls primarily so I could be closer to my producing partner (local filmmaker and business owner Cameron Gallagher). We didn’t have a family connection to the area, though we’ve always been drawn to areas in New York such as the Hudson Valley. We’ve only been here about nine months but it’s been a great change of pace from the last few places we’ve lived.

Emily: I’ve been enjoying learning about all the native flora and fauna, both in our neighborhood and the trails at the countless nature preserves. I’m in my final studio for my natural science illustration certificate at RISD CE. For that project, I’m focused on late winter/early spring botanicals and (fingers crossed) their pollinators. A lot of my spare time right now is hitting trails in search of subjects and inspiration. I grew up in the Appalachian region of Virginia. After living in three major cities and three mid-size cities, we both appreciate the sounds of birds and insects over constant sirens.

Jeremiah: I have really enjoyed being able to collaborate directly on filmmaking projects. I first met Cameron when Emily and I were living in Providence, through a project called The Rickety Man, which eventually was made into an award-winning film. Living in Glens Falls gives us the chance to collaborate in person, and it has made things like spitballing story ideas, working out pre-production logistics and actually being on set for filming a much more rewarding experience. We’ve already filmed two shorts and have several other projects in the works, and hopefully you’ll see something we’ve made playing at the local theater before long! And if anyone reading this wants to finance our next film projects, don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Glens Falls Neighborhoods

Emily: We currently rent, but we’re looking to buy a house, if only the market will cooperate! Our neighborhood has been really great, especially for walking our dogs and getting a ton of exercise. We love seeing the beautiful houses on all the streets we walk and have even begun to meet people on our walks (when the temperatures aren’t sub-freezing!).

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Jeremiah: Our favorite thing about Glens Falls is its proximity to so much nature and the small-town vibe it gives (while still having options for art, shopping, entertainment, etc.). Emily is making her way through all the nature preserves in the area: Meadowbrook Preserve, Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve, Cole’s Woods, etc. The amount of places and trails to explore in the area is astounding!

One place that probably deserves more recognition for its opportunities for local entrepreneurs is WorkSmart. Located in a restored historic bank, it’s a collaborative work space that’s inclusive, safe, quiet, and offers independent business owners and office workers the chance to bond with fellow go-getters while maximizing your productivity in a conducive setting. It’s the perfect place to get things done while connecting with some amazing people (not a sales pitch, we promise!).

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Emily: On Saturdays we usually make a trip to the Farmers Market (it’s a weekly staple in the warmer months), then coffee from Kru or breakfast or lunch from Rockhill Bakery and Cafe (try their bread or their Reuben–it’s really tasty!). If the weather is nice we take a long walk with our dogs around our neighborhood, Crandall Park, or the Canal. We love popping into the library and exploring The Shirt Factory (so many fantastic shops and artist spaces) if we have a more leisurely day. We love The Weekender and if something catches our eye for that weekend, we will try and work it in. We also cook a lot at home, but we have gone out to Mint, farmacy, or we will do take-away from Aroy Dee.

On the Past

Jeremiah: Unfortunately, we don’t have any old memories since we’re recent transplants, but we love all the new memories we are making. LARAC’s Arts Festival, picking berries at Ariel’s Farm, The Balloon Festival, Thursday Market & Food Truck Corral at The Shirt Factory, and playing putt-putt up at Lake George, to name a few.

You know what is cool, though? For the first time in a long time we actually sat out on our porch and handed out candy to trick-or-treaters this last Halloween — that was a lot of fun and a reminder of what it’s like to live in a community where you know your neighbors and people can enjoy being out to celebrate something fun and spooky.

Glens Falls is shaping up to be the place where we make these memories and new traditions.

On the Future

Jeremiah: Vegan food has come a long way, and there’s plenty of opportunity for an enterprising restauranteur to open a vegan or vegetarian place that people can enjoy. One of our down-the-road dreams is to open a revival movie theater or space that plays double features of old movies.

Emily: I would also love for there to be a small art supply shop. The closest shop that carries my favorite colored pencils is in Schenectady!

We’re open to adventures, and we’re excited for what Glens Falls has in store for us in the coming months and years.

Good Dog: Honey

Good dog, Honey! This sweet 5 year old Beagle / Boxer mix is living the good life after being adopted from the SPCA in 2019. Her mom, Laura DeCaro-Wehrle (who you might recognize from Honey Bee Grooming!) shares more about meeting Honey at the shelter, her love for the ocean, her favorite local trail, and more…

On Meeting Honey

I saw Honey’s photo amongst a few others on the SPCA of Upstate NY’s Petfinder profile back in 2019. Her name had been Minnie. I decided to go after work with my coworkers to look at dogs there. We looked at a few puppies but they were all on quarantine because they had just gotten there from another state. Honey had been there for a few weeks. All the other dogs she traveled here with were already adopted. She was about 8 months old. She had some burn scars on her side but we don’t know how she got them. Although they’re usually covered by her hair length now, they’re still there. She was a wiggly little thing in the cage, dying to get out and say hello.

We got her out and I could tell she was a sweetheart but I was so scared to adopt my first dog as an adult. Being an animal care professional for over 10 years, I was so conscious of picking the pet that would fit my lifestyle. I have a small home, I worked long hours, I have cats, and I very much don’t like to get up at 5am to run my dog. I was very nervous about picking a dog that wouldn’t thrive in my care. My friends thought I was crazy because Honey was such a doll. Even the ladies at the SPCA had more faith in me than I had in myself. They let me know that Honey had a family coming to meet her the next day at a PetSmart event at 10am. My heart dropped, but then they said, “so make sure to be there at 9am”. I am so grateful to them for that information. They knew we belonged together and that the other family would find another dog to be their own perfect match. Honey was ours. 

It would be my husband (boyfriend at the time) Drew’s, first dog. Ultimately I let him decide. I brought him to the adoption event to meet her. Drew knew immediately. We brought her home that day. Three years later I opened Honey Bee Grooming, where not only did Honey become my logo, but she also became COO and the best shop dog around! It makes me feel really good when people meet Honey at the salon for the first time and say something like, “oh it’s THE Honey?!” Like she is famous or something. It’s great to see that other people think she is as wonderful as I think she is. 

On The Perfect Dog

Honey embodies her name for sure. She is a goofy little dog with a goofy little beagle’s bark. She is so wiggly, jerky and completely uncoordinated. Her favorite game to play with other dogs is chase. Her favorite things to do are to dig, go on sniff walks, sleep, and eat. The first thing people always notice about her is how soft she is. Even before I became a dog groomer, Honey got monthly baths. All that worrying and she is the perfect dog for Drew and I. 

Laura DeCaro-Wehrle and Drew Wehrle with Honey

On Invisible Big Dogs

Honey gets along well with other dogs, but she does this really hysterical thing where if a dog is over about 50 pounds, she kind of ignores their existence. It happens at the salon a lot — although she is always kept separate, she is very uninterested in any large dogs. We will also hang out with our friends who have 3 dogs — two under 50 pounds and one about 70 pounds — and she loves to play with the first two and pretends the other one isn’t there. He is so infatuated with her too. He will try to snuggle next to her sometimes when she curls up on the couch after playing and there’s a 50/50 chance on whether she just gets up and walks away or begrudgingly lets him lay next to her for a while. She is so sassy. 

On Dog Friendly Vacations

Drew and I have never gone on vacation without Honey. We look forward to it every year. Last year we found out that although she doesn’t care for lakes so much, she thinks the ocean is the bee’s knees. I think it has to do with the waves — she likes to dig at them when they come in. They give her automatic zoomies. 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Honey’s #1 favorite thing to do in Glens Falls is to hang out with the peeps and pups from Adirondack Sniffari. They pick her up from the Salon on Mondays. The way she greets Tom and Cait is such a wonderful sight to see.

She also loves to accompany me to my nail appointments at Studio Elements in Glens falls. We see Sam at Nailvira, and the ladies there love her.

During the warmer months we love to grab a bite to eat at Raul’s. Honey loves to sun bathe and watch the cars go by at the circle. Last year was her first year being able to handle that level of distraction and excitement so I am excited to have more lunch dates with her this year! 

Honeys favorite trail to hit around Glens Falls is Meadowbrook Preserve. The lands are a bit marshy which makes for a dirty dog but the best sniffs in her opinion. A dirty dog is a happy dog! 

On Therapy Dog Goals

Honey is an aspiring therapy dog. We still have some work to do before I feel comfortable taking the test with her, but I take her to my appointments to practice managing her excitement in ever changing environments. She loves to sit quietly at the window and watch everyone walk by. 

On Loving a Dog

My favorite thing about having a dog besides the unconditional love is always having a best friend around. She always down for whatever we have in mind. I could never be lonely when Honey is there. I don’t need a social battery to hang out with her. Shes the very best friend a girl could ask for.

The Weekender: March 15-17

Happy weekend! Hope you’re enjoying the amazing weather this week. We’re sharing a few ideas for the weekend, including St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, a food festival, where to go out for ice cream, basketball downtown, and more…

Winter Meltdown Spicy Food Festival: The snow has melted and things are heating up at The Shirt Factory with their Winter Meltdown Spicy Food Festival this Saturday from 11am-5pm. Local vendors and food trucks will be showcasing their bold flavors, and it seems like a perfect way to spend an almost spring day - details here!

Ice Cream is Back: Another perfect way to spend an almost spring weekend? Ice cream! Martha’s opens on Saturday at 11am and we can’t wait to get in line for a taste of summer - details here!

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations: If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough! Celebrate on Saturday night at Morgan & Co with a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, an extensive range of drinks, delicious traditional Irish fare, Irish music from The Hudson River Ceili Band, and more - details on that here! Also on Saturday night, The Park Theater Foundation presents a St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Show, featuring a special performance by Celtic duo, Rakish, and an Irish-inspired 3-course prix fixe menu - find those details here.

Basketball Weekend: It’s Basketball Weekend in Glens Falls with the New York State Basketball Championships starting today at the Cool Insuring Arena (and the Glens Falls game on Friday at 9am!). And if you’re not at the arena, Fenimore’s Pub at The Q will be live-streaming the games all weekend (and they’ll also be opening early on Friday at 11am following the Glens Falls game!). Find the game schedule here.

Maple Season: ‘Tis the season! The sap is flowing and sweet treats abound at some of our favorite sugar shacks. We shared a list of four of our favorites to visit here, and this also happens to be the second weekend of Thurman Maple Days which runs through March - check out more on all ten sites of that tour here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

First Look: Giovanni Fresco

Calling all pasta lovers! We’re thrilled to share a First Look at Giovanni Fresco’s new location in Glens Falls. While they’ve been serving their scratch made Italian food at Farmers Markets across the area for 7 years, their new permanent home in Glens Falls has been open just over two months and is already a fan favorite. We caught up with owner Giovanni Casanica to hear a bit more about the new space, their plans to grow into a neighborhood shop, and the pasta, of course!

Giovanni and Francesca with their new addition, son Gabriele

On the American Dream

My wife Francesca and I moved here from Italy in late December 2016. My parents moved here first, so we came for the summer and fell in love with the area — Glens Falls, Lake George, Saratoga. We decided to move here and start our own business. I always wanted to have something of my own, and I just never could there — so we came here. 

We started our business in 2017. In the beginning our business name was GF for Giovanni and Francesca. My wife decided she’d rather not have her name on it, so we started thinking of something else that could replace that part of the name, and we came up with Fresco, because in Italian, fresco means fresh. And that’s what we do. Everything that we do is made fresh, and it’s made daily. We cook on the spot for most of our catering and markets, so having Fresco in the name just made sense. 

On Opening the Space

We started our business at Farmers Markets, and that continued to grow. Last year we were doing 6 markets every week, all over the area — Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga. We rented out different commercial kitchens to prepare food, which started to become difficult, especially as there was more demand for our product. So, we decided to take the next step, which was to find a permanent location.

Finding a location was really hard, and took us a lot of time. But in the end it worked out great because we were able to purchase this location in Glens Falls last year. We’ve been doing The Shirt Factory events in this neighborhood for the past five years now, so we were getting a customer base and a demand in this area. 

At the beginning we were just using it as a commercial space. We renovated the kitchen and everything else on the interior, but we mainly used the kitchen while we finished out our summer season last year. We wanted to wait a bit before opening the actual shop, but there was so much demand for it. People would knock on the door asking when we were going to open, so we decided to just go for it. 

We opened the shop the first week of December. It’s been incredible. The amount of support and love that we got from the community has been insane. We have a customer that donated our tables. We have a customer that donated the stone countertop. Everyone has been supportive of not only our food, but of our store as a place in the community.

When we were purchasing the building, we found out that this was historically an Italian neighborhood, so I was excited to bring that back. We have so many customers that have told us stories about growing up in the neighborhood, and they relate to our food because it brings back those good memories. Unfortunately through the generations, Italians have lost some connection with homemade cooking. So we are able to give them that connection, those memories, and that’s incredible. We’re happy that we are able to bring that nostalgia back to the neighborhood. 

On The Importance of Family

We have a poster in our shop that includes the line ‘Bringing Family Back Together’. Every day we have a different family meal that feeds 4-6 people. For us it’s very important. In Italy, family meals are the most important thing. Everything closes at 1pm, you have a 3 hour break with all of your family for lunch, you go back to work, and then you have dinner all together later. So that’s the type of feeling we want to bring back and give to the customer with our family meals. It’s affordable, made fresh, made daily. It’s important to us to continue doing that. Here in the US, people are so dedicated to work. Always thinking about work, and just constantly working — which is great because there’s a lot of opportunity. But every now and then, I’d encourage people to take a break, we’ll take care of dinner, and just enjoy the family and enjoy the moments. 

On Authentic Italian Food

I’ve always loved cooking. I cooked all the time with my grandmother, and I wanted to bring back those old recipes and ways of making the food. It’s been great for customers to see the pasta getting rolled and cut in front of them at the markets and events that we do. It’s something they’ve never seen before. 

We want to give customers the same flavors and tastes that we grew up with. The sauces are made just like we made in Italy. Everything is based on fresh ingredients in a good ratio. Our sauces cook for hours just like we did in Italy. That makes a big difference. We don’t add sugar, and our customers say that they don’t suffer from acidity from our sauce like they might with others here. It’s just those fresh tomatoes cooking for hours. 

On Fan Favorites

Our most popular item is our fresh pasta. That’s what we’re known for, and there’s a lot of demand for it. We have it here to sell for customers to make at home, but a lot of customers prefer for us to cook it — so don’t worry about it, we’ll continue doing that here as well! 

Our fried items are popular as well. We have four different kinds of arancini — traditional, Sicilian, mushroom and sausage, and spinach, and we also do a fried mac and cheese. Those are available every Friday and Saturday at the shop, since those are our frying days. 

On The Future

Our next step is to evolve our space into a one stop shop. To us, this isn’t just a take-out place, it’s a neighborhood shop. We’re going to be carrying more authentic Italian goods and local favorites, for example Puckers Pickles and North Hudson Coffee. We’d like to have fresh produce and eggs this summer. We also have Villa’s Bread delivered fresh every morning, steaming hot. We’re trying to get the best ingredients and products out there and bring them to our shop. 

Giovanni Fresco
47 Lawrence Street, Glens Falls
Website / Facebook / Instagram

My Glens Falls: Carly Samach

This week we caught up with Carly Samach! She shares a bit about the history of her charming craftsman home in the city, the unique Glens Falls location for her wedding, an awesome idea for a downtown business that someone should scoop up, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! I’m Carly Samach, I live with my husband, our two pups and our mischievous orange cat right outside of the Crandall Park area. Professionally I am a clinical therapist that specializes in the treatment of obsessive compulsive and anxiety disorders. I own my own practice in town treating individuals locally and all around New York State, and also provide education on these disorders to schools and medical teams that often interface with them. The disorders I treat are so common throughout the world, but I feel especially grateful to do the majority of my work here in our community. Anyone living with OCD and anxiety deserves to know that things can get better — I witness my clients create that truth everyday! 

I am also lucky to teach Kambal Yoga at Restore Balance - or as I fondly refer to it, sleepy time yoga. I love art, music, good food, being outdoors — all of which I strongly believe Glens Falls is an expert at curating and providing! 

On Life In Glens Falls

Glens Falls was a chance situation for my husband and I. Back in 2017, we found out we’d have to move from the home we were renting very quickly. The universe set its sights on Glens Falls for us, because at that point in the year we could not find a place to live anywhere in the Capital District, except a very sweet apartment on Glen St in Glens Falls. My husband grew up in and around Glens Falls, so for him it was a lot like returning to a nostalgic home. For me, Glens Falls was a space I hadn’t explored yet, and it's safe to say I fell in love fast. 

It's been 7 years since that fateful move and we now own a home in the city and are so happy to have built a life and community here. The primary variable that keeps us here is the very evident heart of the people in this town. It's illustrated through the beautiful businesses, the care individuals take in their older homes, the smiles you are greeted by when taking a walk around the park and the willingness to help one another out when needed. We’ve made friends that are now family for life in this community. 

On Historic Homes

Our home is a gorgeous craftsman with some pretty cool history. Thanks to our neighbors, we learned that our home was owned by one of the twin daughters of the Mayor of Glens Falls way back in the day. He built ‘twin craftsmans’ for his daughters and through our neighborhood and the previous owner we learned that the original owners lived here until they eventually passed. We’ve found love notes and sweet pieces of history as we’ve been slowly restoring it. Having grown up in an old farm house in Maine, this is what drew me to the homes of Glens Falls — they all have love in their stories. 

On Local Talent

One thing I wish more people knew about Glens Falls is what incredible art is here. Not only the newest murals at The Shirt Factory, but around town and built into the homes and buildings that have stood the test of time, and the many incredible artisans at The Shirt Factory. And I can’t forget to mention the number of incredibly talented musicians that reside here. Whether I’m catching a jazz night with The Daley News at The Bourbon Room or rocking out to Tom’s House at Mean Max — there is never a shortage of incredible music to enjoy! 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

A perfect day in Glens Falls for me starts at Kru Coffee — my husband and I love their cortados and an avocado smash to fill up on. In my opinion, one of the best parts about Glens Falls is that you can spend time in the city to get the day started, and then drive or walk a few miles out and be in the mountains and the woods. After filling up on breakfast our day would likely take us there with the pups — we love to explore trails in the area and in the 7 years we’ve lived here we never fall short of finding new spaces to check out. From there our day is all about yummy food, or doing some light shopping in town, like stopping by Minky Mink, Fountain Square Outfitters, and Rude Betty to name a few. Whether we cook at home and then go in town for dessert or do the whole shindig in town we are never failed by the likes of Farmacy, Radici or Mint! 

On the Past

Fun fact: in May of 2021 my husband and I got married in the alleyway between Farmacy and Radici! Every time I pass that space between the two buildings I think of the beautiful Sunday afternoon where our incredible friends at Farmacy helped us create a magical and sweet day. To have our nearest and dearest standing with us in an alleyway that had been dressed in flower petals and loving mementos literally took my breath away. We couldn’t have asked for more. 

On the Future

My wish list business for Glens Falls would be a coffee shop bookstore that turns into a cocktail reading hang out in the evening. My friends and I fantasize about how awesome that would be all the time. Please somebody go for it! I promise regular reading coffee / cocktail visits by so many!