We’re chatting with Mle Rubin this week! She shares the inspiration behind her alternative floral business, Epithet Floral, a perfect Glens Falls day itinerary (including where to go for the best pizza, live music, and cocktails!), a new kind of shop she’d like to see downtown, and more…
Tell us about yourself!
Hey! My name is Mle Rubin (MLE the phonetic pronunciation of Emily) and I am an Alternative Floral Designer here in Glens Falls. I started my own floral business, Epithet Floral, last April (2020). I focus primarily on "Wearable Florals"; flower crowns, floral jewelry, etc., hence the "alternative". I build wearable flowers for weddings, events and just everyday! I'm sure if you see me around town I'll be rocking a crown or floral earrings, my personal favorites.
Epithet is a word that most people don't use in their daily vocabulary, which is why I picked it for my business name. An epithet is a nickname with an adjective in it. For example, Batman is an epithet - you can picture a man dressed as a bat just by reading that. So, a flower crown could be a physical epithet, something to put on and wear and describe yourself to the world.
Florals and plants are my passion but not the only thing I'm up to these days. I also pick blueberries for Winney's Farm (this is my 6th summer!), sling slices at Giuseppe's Pizzeria in Lake George, hostess at Doc's Restaurant, and do freelance floral work for Renaissance Floral Design in Albany.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I grew up and went to high school in Hartford, New York, and moved from there to Glens Falls in 2013. I remember growing up with this city and watching it blossom into the awesome place it is now. I love being a part of this community and participating in all of the events, from live music to LARAC to Taste of the North Country to Balloon Fest.
Growing up in Hartford, we had to drive everywhere if we wanted to do something. I love living close to downtown Glens Falls because I can walk! A few of my friends also live within walking distance of me. I know I sound crazy but I love to just have the power to walk around.
I love the community here. I especially love the restaurant industry community here. We all know each other and I love being able to go out to any restaurant downtown and people know my name. And vice versa when industry people come into Doc's and Giuseppe's. It's a big family!
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
To describe a perfect day in Glens Falls I need to preface it by saying that I wake up early...every day. So I am lucky enough to be able to squeeze the most out of the day. If I'm not headed straight to Winney’s to pick blueberries and I know I have the night off from the restaurants, I start slow.
First step: explain to my dogs how much I am obsessed with them. Trip is my 8 year old Great Dane and he has no clue he weighs 160 lbs. He thinks he is teeny tiny! Braum is my 5 year old German Shepard/Malamute mix and he is half the size of Trip but he’s my head of security. My cat is rolling her eyes at us from the corner of the bed.
After a lazy morning checking on each of my plants, sipping some tea, and maybe making a random flower crown (because, why not?), it's time for caffeine, so I head to Spektor. My order is an espresso for here and a large Happy Happens iced tea to go. I love to sit and chat with my friends that work there while I sip my espresso, maybe grab a Chronicle and sift through.
A perfect day means perfect weather, so I am definitely going paddleboarding. I'll hit up Glen Lake for a few hours to swim, read and listen to WEQX. Their Sunday Rewind and Retro Lunch are my favorite shows.
If you know me, you know I love a good lunch time beer, so I'll head to one of my favorite spots, The Full Moon. After that, I’ll head home for a fire with friends and order an early dinner from Angelina's Pizza. I get a large cheese and add a little Frank's Hot Sauce and blue cheese to dip it in.
Now it’s time to wander back downtown for some live music I can dance to (probably wearing a flower crown) either at the Park Theater, Downtown Social or Grateful Den.
After, if I'm feeling mixed drinks, Doc's is the place (I know I work there and I am biased, but they are the best). The Summer Sangria is my current favorite.
Basically my perfect day is eating and drinking my way around Glens Falls, wearing flowers on my head and listening to music!
On the Past
Balloon Fest has always been a favorite of mine, from going to Crandall Park and the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport with my parents and siblings when we were kids to taking my dogs "Balloon Chasing" in my Jeep these last few years. We love balloon season and look forward to it every year.
On the Future
I think downtown needs a cool plant shop! Nothing crazy, just small and eclectic, and if they also sold beer or cider that would be ideal. Somewhere I can wander and touch plants, sip a beverage and spend all of my money!
