This week, we’re chatting with Brenda Manra! A higher ed professional by day and stationer by night, Brenda shares what brought her to our little city from Southern California, the moments that have made her wonder if Glens Falls might be Stars Hollow, and so much more…
Tell us about yourself!
Hi! My name is Brenda and I am the Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at SUNY Adirondack. I live in Queensbury with my husband, Michael and our orange tabby cat, Churro. I am a higher ed professional by day and I run my side hustle, Lovely Amanecer, a stationery and gifts Etsy shop celebrating Latinx culture, by night.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I moved to the Glens Falls area in the summer of 2017. I am originally from Southern California and moved here to be with my now husband. We bought our little home in the summer of 2019 and one of our requirements was that it would be close to downtown Glens Falls since we love the atmosphere so much!
One of the things that I have enjoyed so much about living in this area is the amount of space that we have. We would never be able to have even half an acre of backyard in Southern California. Another thing I love about Glens Falls is the charming small town feel it has. One day I went in to get a cup of coffee from Cool Beans and realized that I forgot my wallet. The cashier told me, "No problem! Pay me when you can!" I was shocked and it was such a nice gesture during a stressful day. I went back to pay her that afternoon. That was one of those moments where I thought to myself, "Am I living in Stars Hollow and is this Gilmore Girls?". There is just something so cozy about that small town feel.
I think Glens Falls has amazing dining. Some of our favorites are Radici, Morgan and Co., Farmacy, Alif Cafe, Aroy Dee, and Docs!
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My ideal day in Glens Falls would start bright and early at Crandall Library! We would grab a couple of books and bring them over to Spot Coffee to read with a latte and a smoked salmon bagel. That would be the perfect combination of some of my favorite things: books, coffee, people watching, and carbs! From there, we would probably head over to the Farmer's Market to get some groceries and share a crepe from Dickison's Delights! I would also like to peruse the different shops at the Shirt Factory. I love seeing what the artists and crafters are up to! My ideal day would DEFINITELY include a massage and facial over at the Spa Studio. We love their Adirondack-y atmosphere and have been going there for years now! We would end the night by grabbing dinner at one of our favorite restaurants above. Something warm and cozy, clearly I am a fan of the "hygge" life.
On the Past
This is one of my favorite memories during my first winter in Glens Falls. When I first moved here, I worked at the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce back when it was on Glen Street. We are a one car family and one evening it was snowing and my now husband texted me to say he was outside to pick me up. When I walked outside the snow was coming down BEAUTIFULLY! It was that perfect snowfall that you see in movies and my husband was playing Christmas music from the car! I love Christmas and it was just such a cute moment! We ended up driving through Crandall Park and it was so magical, I thought I was in one of those cheesy Hallmark movies.
On the Future
This is a great question! I would love to have a Poke bar downtown. We love Poke bars for the convenience and fresh ingredients, so it would be awesome to pick up some Poke bowls and eat at the park!
