This week we’re catching up with Shane Donaldson, who we initially connected with on Instagram after seeing the cool wood merch he creates in his shop Rustic Overtones. He also works in IT at SUNY Adirondack, has an 1850 farmhouse he’s renovating with his family, and shares a lot of favorites and memories of life in Glens Falls! Catch our chat below…
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Shane Donaldson. I work as a full time IT staff member at SUNY Adirondack along with my partner, Holly Irion, who also works there as a mental health counselor. I am a Veteran of the Army National Guard and served a deployment in Iraq in 2003/2004. I also have side business as a lettering creative, providing handmade wood signage as well as laser engraving services. I consider myself a creative, with my hobbies and passions always flowing and evolving. I’m a visual and kinesthetic person, and love learning new ways to use my hands. I enjoy the opportunities that my creative pursuits have opened up for me, both within our community and through social media. This has allowed for friendships and networks that would not have been possible without the platforms that help us to share and connect. My environment has always been littered with art supplies, tools and inspiration. I wholeheartedly believe that it is our right and privilege to create on a daily basis, and I’m certain I will forever be learning and pursuing new creative outlets. My children, Sophia (17), Jack (16) and Jane (4) seem to have inherited that creative gene, as well. My daughter, Sophia, is a very accomplished artist and well on her way to success in whatever path she chooses.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I grew up in Whitehall and moved to Queensbury around 2007. I will always love my hometown, but I have a great fondness for the Glens Falls community. Holly has a deep interest and appreciation for the history and architecture of Glens Falls, and this interest is now something that we share together. Since we met (and expanded our family) we have spent much of our free time enjoying all that the city and surrounding area has to offer. We have so many fond memories- attending Take-a-Bite, the lighting of the Christmas tree, Food Truck Corrals at the Shirt Factory, just to name a few. Holly and I love to socialize, and so many of our friends share the same love of downtown Glens Falls - it never takes much convincing to get friends together for dinner or drinks. Aside from the community and culture in the city, I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful landscape. On any day, we are just a short drive from the beautiful lakes, rivers, streams and mountains.
In 2016, one week before the birth of our youngest child, we purchased an old farmhouse on upper Luzerne Road in Queensbury. Built in 1850, the farmhouse served a largely utilitarian purpose, and renovations throughout the years have stripped our home of much of its original character. We are slowly restoring what we can (most recently we exposed and refinished the original wide-plank pine floors on the second level), and we cannot wait to breathe more life into it as time and funds allow.
Some Hometown Favorites
My favorite thing about Glens Falls is that there always seems to be something to do. On any given day you can wander downtown and happen upon a small festival or gathering, or swing into a variety of small businesses, and chances are you will run into somebody that you know. The longer I’ve been living in this community, the smaller it feels, and I love that.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
A perfect Glens Falls day for me would start outdoors - perhaps some kayaking, hiking, or just walking around somewhere new. I would follow this up with wandering around Take-a-Bite with the family, including our miniature schnauzer, Frankie. The day wouldn’t be complete without grabbing a pitcher of margaritas at Rauls or some beer at Mean Max with friends.
On the Past
Most of my childhood memories of Glens Falls involve the Civic Center, including wrestling (both high school and watching professional wrestling), hockey games, graduations, concerts, and the annual Christmas Eve Road March. It’s nice to have a community space that can serve so many functions.
Some of my sweetest and most fun memories are more recent - our family is made up of several April birthdays and we celebrate annually with a big hibachi dinner at Mikado. While we had to celebrate at home this past April, we’ve gone several times in recent months to make up for it.
On the Future
As we adjust and recover as a community, I would love to see more music and live entertainment in smaller settings. To me, there is not much better than grabbing a craft beer and listening to a live performance.
