We’re catching up with Cam Cardinale this week! He shares what shaped his passion for our little city, how he spends his free time when he’s not working at Advokate and the Charles R. Wood Theater, his vision for Lower Adirondack Pride, and more…
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Cam Cardinale and I’m the Director of Marketing and Communications at Advokate, LLC, as well as the Operations Associate at the Charles R. Wood Theater. I’m a proud dog-dad to my soon to be two year old German Shepherd, Hudson! Hudson and I enjoy walking local trails such as Betar Byway and the Warren County Bike Trail.
My wonderful family resides in South Glens Falls and owns Cardinale’s Car Care. Growing up in a small family business really impacted my views of Glens Falls and shaped my mindset on supporting small, local businesses. At the repair shop, I am the Director of Business Development and Marketing. I am so thankful for the constant support of my family - including my parents Michelle and Pete and my brothers Gavin and Trey! Plus, I’ve got a new niece and I’m excited to share all of the greatness of Glens Falls with her.
Additionally, I am a huge advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and have found that we need more programming for these individuals in and around Glens Falls. Currently, I am working with a group of folks to bring The Bridge, now known as Lower Adirondack Pride, back to life to provide a social outlet for LGBTQIA+ individuals - especially youth!
I also owe a huge shoutout to Kate Austin, who has immersed me even more into the Glens Falls arts, events, and happenings! Through the last eight months at Advokate, I’ve been shown so many different perspectives of Glens Falls. It’s an honor to work with clients such as the Glens Falls Collaborative and the Warren County EDC to show how great of a place Glens Falls and Warren County as a whole are! Also, Emily Murphy and Shelley Fairbanks are my constant hype people and go along with (most) of my crazy ideas.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I grew up right across the bridge in South Glens Falls but have always had a strong love and passion for what’s going on in Glens Falls. The thing that really drew me into Glens Falls was the constant flow of events happening right here! From Wing Fest to Pet Fest, GEM Fest, and more, there are always events at any time of the year.
There are so many things I wish people knew about Glens Falls. The wonderful food, events, and community. The variety in local restaurants is wonderful, and you can enjoy a different type of cuisine every night of the week!
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
A perfect day in Glens Falls would start off with a breakfast sandwich from Birch Bark Eatery (or Sunday brunch from [farmacy] restobar!) followed by a stroll through City Park on the way to the Advokate office. My mid-day lunch run usually takes me to Juicin’ Jar for a wrap or Mikado for a Bento Box! After lunch, I make it a priority to attend any event that may be happening around the city. A few of the recent events I’ve loved were the LARAC June Arts Festival and Chuck Schumer’s visit to Glens Falls. Dinner is by far my favorite meal of the day. My go-to spots are [farmacy] restobar, Raul’s, Downtown City Tavern or Alif Cafe. After dinner, I often enjoy a sunset bike ride on the CDPHP Cycle bikes that you can find all around the city!
On the Past
One downtown business I was sad to see leave was Aimie’s Dinner & Movie. This would have been such a cool venue to be able to bring local films into - but I’m glad we have spaces like the Charles R. Wood Theater, Crandall Public Library, The Hyde, and The Park to show the masterpieces that local directors and filmmakers have produced.
On the Future
Glens Falls is a great city - and is on track to be an even better city! I am thrilled to see new businesses bringing so much variety to the downtown area. I also can’t wait to see Rude Betty’s new space!
The Arts District of Glens Falls is constantly brainstorming and executing projects such as bike racks, painted electrical boxes, and sidewalk stamps. I am excited to see what this group of dedicated individuals comes up with next!
I have an extraordinary vision for Lower Adirondack Pride and I know with the great group of people we have involved, it’ll do wonderful things for the community!
