This week we caught up with Lauren Cygan, who you may recognize as the Executive Director of the Glens Falls Y! She shares what drew her family to move to the area just over a year ago, the joys of fixing up a 1930’s cottage, her version of a perfect Glens Falls day, and more…
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Lauren Cygan. I am the Executive Director of the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area and lucky enough to call myself wife and mother in an energetic family including my husband, three teenaged children, two dogs, and two cats.
It is an honor and a privilege to be able to work for the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area. I am thankful that my past experiences as an educator, fitness professional, small business owner, and director opened this incredible opportunity to serve the outstanding community of Glens Falls. Like the community it serves, the Glens Falls Y is the embodiment of the town, its people, and its values. Each day I am humbled and grateful as I go into this incredible nonprofit, nestled between Cole's Woods and Crandall Park, serving people through youth programming, health and wellness initiatives, community engagement, and social responsibility.
The Glens Falls Y, like the town, has a longstanding and rich history. I love grabbing a latte at Spot which is now housed in what was the original location, and imagining what it was once like when the original Y first opened its doors there in 1892.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
My family and I chose to move to Glens Falls a little over a year ago. It is said that every cloud has a silver lining. While no one can dispute the challenges of the COVID pandemic, Glens Falls is our silver lining. The pandemic created changes in work, shed a bright spotlight on family, and even highlighted different ways to stay connected with friends and loved ones regardless of distance. These shifts created an opportunity for us to look at life differently. For instance, remote work meant that we no longer needed to live within a certain radius of our jobs and could choose to live in an area that better met our collective needs, interests, and lifestyle. While my husband and I had always said we wanted to move to a walkable downtown when the kids were out of school, as the pandemic started winding down and the opportunity to move presented itself, the kids absolutely astounded us when they asked us why we were waiting. Turns out, they were up for the adventure too!
We chose Glens Falls for a multitude of reasons. Not only were we looking for an established town with older homes on treelined streets, downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment, and schools, parks, and recreational opportunities, but Glens Falls also brought us right to the foothills of the Adirondacks and Lake George. My children and I have been coming to the lake and the surrounding mountains our entire lives (and my husband his entire life with me). My parents were first introduced to the area by friends in 1970 when they vacationed at Silver Bay YMCA Conference and Retreat Center. From that day on, the lake, the mountains, and the people in this area have been an integral part in the fabric of all of our lives and a perennial fixture for fun vacations from a quick overnight to a season-long stay. We love hiking, swimming, biking, and boating in the warmer months and snowshoeing, skiing, and skating (preferably on natural ice) in the winter.
On Renovating an Old Glens Falls Home
It did not take us more than one visit to town with our realtor to find our forever home in the form of a 1932 fixer upper, or as the real estate description so eloquently described it, a house "on the brink of being a stunner". Many close community connections have been forged through working with the absolutely astounding craftsmen our house has introduced us to. From slate roofers to cedar shake siding specialists, vintage metal cabinet refinishers, to electricians, plumbers, painters, contractors and more, bringing our beautiful cottage back from "the brink" has not only been a year-long labor of love, but the gateway to beautiful friendships and a network of incredible people whose passion, creativity, care, and competency shows in all they do.
On Warm Welcomes
While the house is indeed a labor of love, the community took no work at all to be completely enamored with and to instantly feel a part of. I am absolutely overwhelmed and eternally grateful for the people who make "Hometown USA" just that, our home. We did not feel like newcomers for long. From the moment we arrived, our neighbors jumped right in with warm welcomes, friendly conversations, and lots of town information from leaf collection schedules and back to school information, to the best places to eat and stories of themselves and the history of this incredible town. Even as teenagers, the kids had the same experiences, meeting new people through school, sports, and clubs, and rapidly forging friendships that feel like lifetimes in the making. This is a town and a community where no one is a stranger and everyone is welcomed right into the fold. We chose Glens Falls for the incredible place it is, it will forever be home because of the people who make it so.
Some Glens Falls Favorites
Trying to identify a hidden gem in a sea of treasure is a daunting ask. If I had to say, the gem is the community and its thoughtful accessibility to everything including art and culture, theater and entertainment, exceptional dining, outdoor recreation opportunities, and easy access to natural wilderness. We love that many of our fast-favorites are only a walk or a bike-ride away. We value that we can just as easily be immersed in Cole's Woods, Crandall Park, or Haviland's Cove as we can check out the most recent installation at the Hyde, listen to live music at bars, restaurants, and theaters, or take in some local history at the Chapman Historical Museum. Where else can you ride your bike to and from Lake George Village on the same day as you enjoy a thoughtful farm-to-table meal and view exquisite works of art including Homer, Rembrandt, Degas, Renoir, and Picasso?
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My perfect Glens Falls Day depends heavily on the season and who I’m lucky enough to share the day with. There is so much to do and see, a day, a week, even a year, are never enough to do it all. So, given that it’s summer, I am harnessing the longest day of the year so I can try to fit in as much as possible.
I would awaken early and go for a walk or a run through Cole's Woods with my husband, daughter, and (always) the dogs. After, we would walk over to the Farmer's Market to get some of our favorite staples for the week and either grab a smoothie from Jenny Jo's or pick up a latte from Kru or Spot before walking back home to get our bikes.
A late morning ride with the whole family along the feeder canal or the Warren County Bikeway would not only give us the opportunity to take a quick swim in the lake or the river but would also bring us back for a little shopping at the Shirt Factory and lunch and some bakery takeout items at Rockhill Bakehouse. With a family that includes a vegan, two vegetarians, and two omnivores, the dining options in Glens Falls are plentiful for all, but Rockhill Bakehouse's vegan menu is an easy win.
On our way home, we might stop at The Hyde, The Chapman, or do some shopping on Glen with fun stops at Fountain Square Outfitters, Minky Mink, and Rude Betty, or we could swing by the Y for a racquetball round robin, open court basketball, cardio and strength on the wellness floor, or an amazing group fitness class.
Then, it would be time to head back home to get ready to head out for a night on the town. Dinner is nearly impossible to choose since there is just so much to love. A nice dinner out might be shared at Morgan and Company, Mint, or Park & Elm, all of which share exceptional menus and beautiful outdoor dining options.
If we are in the mood for drinks, food, and fun, we always love the friendly atmosphere of Bullpen (where we shared our very first dinner in town as a family), chips and margaritas at Raul's, or sitting outside just over the bridge at Common Roots enjoying a craft made local beer.
There's great beauty to staying in and enjoying takeout too. A night around the fire pit might include Thai Siam Sushi, Downtown City Tavern, or any number of possible pizza options from Harvest to Angelina's and our "most like we remember" pick I Love New York Pizza.
On the Past — Memories
While our past may not go back too far, we already have collected millions of beautiful memories of this town and the people who give it meaning. Within a year we met the most amazing people and gathered a rich tapestry of beautiful moments in and around this incredible town.
From being able to hike our favorite Adirondacks (even after a full day of work and school), to squeezing in a refreshing morning dip after watching the sunrise over Lake George before starting our day, the accessibility to the natural world creates opportunities for breathtaking memories too regularly not to feel completely indulgent.
We treasure the milestones and memories intricately woven into this past year, from walking to Fourth of July Fireworks in Crandall Park or the Memorial Day Parade up Glen, to Ladies’ Night Out Downtown and the Christkindlmarkt in City Park creating festive fun with friends, every holiday offered an opportunity to engage with community. The high school sports' seasons are town events not to be missed. With kids in the schools and on the teams, we loved our time in the stands, especially when the varsity boys’ basketball team made it to the Section 2 Basketball Finals right here at Cool Insuring Arena!
On the Future — Dreams
Downtown has such a beautiful balance. Art and entertainment, dining and retail, creative cooperatives, and a vision for future development that honors and pays homage to the past. I would love to see that continue with deliberate small businesses filling the beautiful historic storefronts. I think an independent bookstore would be an asset to downtown. I would enjoy seeing the diversity of dining and shopping experiences continue to expand and flourish. Some ideas to add might be gift shops, a counter-service confectionary, and specialty shops, markets, and grocers, in short, anything that continues the beautiful progress downtown has already so thoughtfully created. I love that the town is so community-centric and invests in art, people, and social and environmental initiatives. I would relish opportunities to continue that forward growth as we as a community work together to honor the past as we proactively strive for a bright future.
