We’re chatting with Will Fowler this week! He shares his favorite memories of growing up in Glens Falls, his new favorite lunch spot, what he’d like to see more of downtown in the future, and more…
Tell us about yourself!
Hello! I’m Will Fowler. I live in Glens Falls with my wife, Katie, and our two children, Phoebe and Charlie Bird (we’re really into birds). I’m a co-owner of Sidekick Creative, where I’m a creative director and designer. We’re a boutique graphic design studio located downtown, and we just celebrated our 7th anniversary. We’ve been so lucky to get to do what we love while working with cool people and great clients.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I grew up on Lake Avenue, right across from Crandall Park, with my parents and four older sisters. My grandparents lived on the corner, so we had a very tight-knit family unit. My sisters and I went to St. Mary’s-St. Alphonsus, where our mom taught English, so we were together all day at school, too! Growing up I thought everyone’s family was this close, but now I look back and realize how lucky we were. My sisters and I have moved away to different places (Boston, Hawaii, Florida) at different times in our lives, but always seem to find our way back to the area. The more I travel, the more I’ve come to appreciate the quality of life here. We’re truly spoiled to have such a vibrant, safe, and welcoming little city—and we’re so close to so many great destinations, too.
On Moving Around The City
Our first apartment was above Raul’s, which was so much fun. We loved living in the heart of downtown and eating tacos for every other meal. When we got married, we bought a house off of South Street Extension, where we lived for four years. When Katie was pregnant with our second, we had outgrown the house, and moved to Windy Hill, where we’ve been for three years. We love our quiet little street and our amazing neighbors. And now we’re closer to playgrounds and the bike trail, which is not as fun as Raul’s, but the kids seem to like it.
On Community
At the risk of sounding corny, my favorite thing about Glens Falls has to be the people. I feel like I know everyone from growing up here, but I’m always meeting interesting new people, too. There are so many good-hearted, down-to-earth folks who live here, who are dedicated to improving our community every day.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My perfect day in Hometown USA would start with a bagel and coffee at Cool Beans with the crossword. It would have to include a round of disc golf at Crandall Park, which has become my new favorite hobby. The course is really well-maintained thanks to the volunteers and the Crandall Park Beautification Committee. Taco Kings Jalisco has become a favorite spot for lunch—I try something new every time and it’s always amazing. There are so many great restaurants downtown, but our go-to spot for special occasions is Morgan & Company (and the porch bar has to be my favorite spot for cocktails). For an after-dinner drink, we might go to Mean Max for a beer and darts, or The Golden Monkey for a specialty cocktail, which is another new favorite spot!
On the Past
Growing up near Crandall Park meant we had a front-row seat for the Memorial Day Parade and the Balloon Festival. Even after my parents sold the house on Lake Ave., we would come back for the Memorial Day parade every year and our old neighbors would save a spot for us, with coffee and donuts to share.
On the Future
I’d love to see more concerts come to the COOL Insuring Arena. My sister rented one of the new boxes for the Goose and Trey show in 2022 and it was such a cool experience. It felt like a renaissance for the arena. I’ve witnessed so many great moments there—from Jimmer and JG3, to this year’s historic season for the Adirondack Thunder—and I’m excited to see it continue to bring excellent sports and entertainment to our city!
