Lily's Little Library

There’s a new librarian in town! At just 9 years old, Lily Murphy was inspired to start a little library for her Glens Falls neighborhood, and with a little help from her uncle in the form of a beautiful purple book box, the library is now open! We caught up with Lily to hear a bit more about the project - and the books - below!

Hi Lily! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I'm 9 years old and I go to Kensington Road School, and I'm in fourth grade. I live with my Mom, Step-mom, my sister and my dog and cat. I like to draw and read.

Every year I raise money through a lemonade stand and my birthday and donate it all to Cindy's Retreat in the Glens Falls Hospital Cancer Center. So far I've raised $2550 in three years. I do this because my Aunt Marcy died from breast cancer, and I was really close with her. Aunt Marcy used this foundation so I want to continue to help them.

We’d love to know - how did the idea for the library come about?

I used to live on a different street that had a little library and when we moved my Grammie told my Uncle Henry that I missed it, and he built one for me!

The library itself is beautiful! We’d love to hear more about the inspiration for the design and who helped to build it.

My uncle wanted to include a lot of really cool details, and I got to make a lot of the choices. There's books on the side and our entire family got to give him ideas for titles to include. My favorites are on there, like Smile and Charlotte's Web, which has been read together by our whole family. He was able to get an artist, Amy Forbes, to paint the book spines and they look awesome. He included a dragonfly because my Aunt really loved dragonflies, and he also made a hot air balloon because he knows I love them. Before he retired and started building things, my uncle was a librarian so he was really excited.

Tell us a bit about how the library works - can anyone stop by to borrow a book anytime? Do you have to leave a book if you take a book? Do people return the book when they are done?

Anyone can stop by anytime and take a book, you don't have to leave one to take one. People can keep the books that they take, I hope they enjoy them!

What types of books can neighbors expect to see in the library? Is this just for kids or all ages?

All ages can use the library. There's chapter books, picture books, and even reference books. I'm happy to include anything neighbors are interested in.

How do you plan to keep the library filled? Are you accepting book donations?

I will accept book donations. My sister and I have a lot of books we can donate and my uncle brought me many to start with. I also hope some people will bring books, when they pick out a book, to help keep it filled too.

Have you seen any neighbors stopping by the library already?

I have! I get excited to see people use the library. On my way to school today I saw a mom and son picking out a book, so that was cool. I've seen a lot of other people stop too.

Just curious - do you happen to know if there are any other little libraries in Glens Falls?

Yes! There was one by our old house, it's on Morton Street and it's orange.

I didn't know it before but there's actually a registry for little libraries, and you can find them all over! My library will be on the registry soon, and we'll get a plaque to hang on it in the mail with it's own charter number. You can find the map at littlefreelibrary.org.

[Editors Note: If you know of any other little libraries in Glens Falls, we’d love to know in the comments below!]

Lily’s Library
Find the library on Crandall Street between Coolidge and Horicon Avenue.

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P.S. If you have any tips on hometown news, we’d love to hear - email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com!

My Glens Falls: Amy Troelstra Meijer

This week, we’re chatting with Amy Troelstra Meijer! She shares what brought her back to Glens Falls after college, the fun way she met her husband (and the coincidence that confirmed it was meant to be!), some favorite family memories of Glens Falls, and a little family history, too!

Tell us about yourself! 

My name is Amy Troelstra Meijer. I’m currently a stay at home mother as well as an interior designer. My husband is Lodewiek Meijer and we have a 3 1/2 year old son, Willem, and a baby girl Elselina “Elsa” born March 9. I met my husband who is from The Netherlands on Travers Day at the Track through a mutual friend, and it turned out he knew my second cousin from Holland — it was just meant to be. We have a Teak horse on our front doorstep that we named Traver after the day my husband and I met. 

I was born at the The Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital and grew up here (I’m a 2004 graduate of Glens Falls High School) until moving away for college. I attended Massachusetts College in North Adams, MA, double majoring in History and Political Science with a concentration in Sociology in 2008. From there, I went on to Suffolk University in Boston, MA where I obtained my ABA Certified Degree in Paralegal Studies in 2009, and then I continued on to get my Interior Design degree from the New York School of Interior Design in Manhattan in 2011. You could say I was going the professional student route for a while. 

I returned to Glens Falls in the summer of 2011 as I did not have a job or internship lined up, my lease was going to run out and most importantly my grandparents health was on the decline and I really wanted to spend what time left they had left with them. 

On Family History 

My mother’s parents came here to Glens Falls in 1962 when my grandfather took the position of Athletic Director and Physical Education Professor at Adirondack Community College, now SUNY Adirondack. My grandmother was originally from Pennsylvania and my grandfather from Ohio. They met at Oberlin College where they were both studying at the time — my grandfather was the football/basketball star (and going there on his GI bill from fighting in WWII as an Edson’s Raider in the United States Marine Corps), and my grandmother the beauty queen of the dorms. My grandfather retired in 1991 from the College but was inducted into their “Hall of Fame” in 2013 before he passed away later that year (just about seven months after my grandmother passed away - true love).

My father’s parents came to the United States from the Netherlands in 1955 and arrived in Glens Falls in 1967, purchasing Oedekerk’s Nursery (Garden Center) on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls and turning it into the Garden Center we know it as today — Garden Time. They later expanded to their Quaker Road location and then in 1982 they opened The Silo Restaurant. They came over knowing only a couple words of English to build their American Dream, which I think they did a fantastic job of. They are both still alive today, though divorced, but you can still find my grandfather at Garden Time every day with my dad. 

My parents technically met in youth group at the First Baptist Church on Maple Street in Glens Falls, but both attended Glens Falls High School and were high school sweethearts. They were married on Halloween in 1981, the fall after my dad graduated college. They purchased their first home, had my older brother in 1984 and I followed in 1986. The “family business” is what has kept us all here for all these years, and it was always a joy for me to return to during summer break from college. The family turned out to be not just biological but also the colleagues I worked with and very much so the customers as well!

On Life in Glens Falls 

My husband and I own a home in the Broadacres neighborhood here in Glens Falls. It has been a featured picture on the Glens Falls Living site quite a few times which makes us feel extremely honored and proud! 

The home was the first to be built in the neighborhood by the founder of the neighborhood, George K. Walker. The home is almost 100 years old, made mostly of brick, and was built to last the test of time. I love older homes (my degree In Interior Design is focused on Historical Restoration), so when we were looking for a home, this was the first one we looked at and we knew this was ours. You don’t get the kind of bulit-ins, old charm, or the glass doorknobs in the newer homes (not authentic at least), and bringing back the colors and traditions of the home from the time when it was built always gives me the “feels.” 

What I love most about the neighborhood are the people. There is a nice mix of people, empty-nesters, younger families (friends of mine also living in “the hood” now too), people with all ages of kids and even the “older” neighbors; our next door neighbor who is my parents age has become our son’s best friend and it’s just the cutest thing. During the COVID Halloween, one mother in the neighborhood put together a map of homes that were participating homes in safely handing out candy - it was no small feat, and she did an amazing job for the kids (and the parents as well), during a very uncertain time.

Some Glens Falls Favorites 

I love everything about Glens Falls. The people in the community make this city such a magical place to grow up. You feel safe, comfort, and a sense of “home” when you’re here — something my husband is just now finding out after living in Glens Falls for five years. He understands now why I have made it so clear that I wanted to raise our kids here. The history of this area is also incredible, you just can’t beat how amazing this city is!

One of my favorite spots is Cole’s Woods. The trails are so nice to walk/snowshoe/nordic ski and it is available to anyone, any time of the year! Other than that, you know I have to say Garden Time and The Silo, those are my gems! The restaurant/family owned business community here is second to none. Before COVID, my mom and I had our “Tuesday nights at Jack’s Bistro” and for our “Sunday family dinners” would usually be at Siam Thai. Both of these places and their owners know how to make people feel like family and essentially have become a part of ours.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day 

My perfect day in Glens Falls has changed so much from when I was in my 20’s to now, and it’s been even more different due to COVID. That being said, I will give you a pre-COVID perfect day. It would be the weekend (obviously), and we would get up and make breakfast at home. I love the smell of food cooking at home — it brings me back to when I was little and my mom would cook or bake and fill the house with all the good smells of love and a great childhood. If we felt like being lazy and not cooking, we’d go to The Silo.

After breakfast, we’d go on a hike in the Adirondacks or a stroll in the neighborhood or Cole’s Woods. We’d head home for lunch, and if I had it my way, we’d be eating something yummy from Kelly’s Roots. Then we’d do some yard work and chat with the neighbors (we have some pretty amazing neighbors) and most likely go for a nice long bike ride on the bike trail. We’d pick up ice cream from either Sprinkles or Coopers Cave (depending on which way we chose to ride that day). 

Since my husband and I don’t do date night very often, we would try to go somewhere we haven’t yet been, but ALWAYS someplace locally owned!  We would then come home to put our kids to bed!

On the Past 

As I said before, I just have too many great memories to file through. I loved making cookies and candies with my Gram, and having sleep overs at their house when my parents went out of town. My grandparents were truly the most amazing people. We would have little adventures when taking walks “around the block,” and sometimes my brother and I would join my grandmother in picking up groceries from around the corner at Barber’s Market on Shippey Street. 

I have only the greatest of memories here — the memories I shared growing up learning life lessons from my mom’s parents, them taking me and my older brother to Crandall Park, and the Memorial Day parades my grandfather marched in every year. I too marched in 13 or so parades between Girl Scouts, Little League, and band. We would always have a picnic in the park that my Grandmother prepared after the parade.  

Sporting events at school, especially when the teams would make State finals, traveling with friends to support the Red and Black was always so much fun. Balloon Festival time (always my favorite-usually ends up being my birthday weekend).  

Growing up there aren’t very many memories that don’t include my Grandparents, my Gram taught me to bake, tie my shoes, sew and my Grandfather was an excellent craftsman (especially of wooden toys- I still have the “Three Bears House” that he made for me and my brother when we were little and my Gram handpainted all of the bears, beds (with quilts that looked like the ones in their house), stools, and even the bowls of porridge.

On the Future

What is the area missing?! IKEA, I would die, just die for an IKEA… oh please, an IKEA!

P.S. See more from our My Glens Falls series here.

P.P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

The Weekender: April 23 - 25

Snow today, spring sunshine tomorrow! Hoping to sneak in a couple of walks around the city this weekend with everything in bloom, and here’s what else is on our radar:

Earth Day: There’s no shortage of events to help clean up the area this weekend - just pick your favorite part of the city, grab your gloves, and pitch in! For details on the Feeder Canal event, click here; for the Crandall Park event, click here, and for the Downtown Glens Falls event, click here!

Fiber Tour: A spring favorite! The prettiest drive from farm to farm in Washington County, you’ll meet alpacas, bunnies, goats, sheep and lambs, llamas, and more, and shop for unique woven and knitted items while you’re at it. Grab the details here!

Spring Marketplace: We’ve mentioned Vischer Ferry General Store a time or two, and this weekend they’re hosting their Spring Marketplace! They’re celebrating the season with a group of vendors offering antiques, crafts, and home decor - grab the details here (and if you go, don’t forget to pre-order your picnic lunch here!).

Book Cabin: We were excited to see this sweet book store opened recently just north of Lake George village. There’s something special about browsing books in person vs. on Amazon, and we can’t wait to pop in to see what’s new - follow along with them here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

On the Trail: Feeder Canal

Each year, hundreds of visitors come to the Feeder Canal to walk, run or bike along its towpath trail, or to paddle the smooth flowing water. The canal was built nearly 200 years ago to feed water into the Champlain Canal, but despite being a busy thoroughfare, vital to life and industry in the North Country, it hasn’t always been the picturesque tributary we see today.

Photo: Briana Lyons

“The canal trail had been abandoned since the 1920s,” says Jeanne Williams, Executive Director of the Feeder Canal Alliance. “People would throw tires and furniture in it, and there were trees growing in it, so it had to be reestablished.”

While the Canal itself has been owned and operated by the New York State Canal Corporation since the early 1990s, the Feeder Canal Alliance have made it their mission to maintain the towpath trail and waterway as a scenic recreation spot.

The Alliance, a 501C3 nonprofit, is an entirely member and volunteer-based organization. “There’s no obligation to being a member, other than to help keep this trail going,” Williams says. “We ask people to help, whether it’s cleanup or helping us with our field school, or just volunteering in the office.”

The Feeder Canal was built in the early 1800s to feed water into the Champlain Canal near Fort Edward, and was then expanded in 1832 to accommodate boat traffic. “The Canal was the Northway of today,” says Howard Raymond, president of the Feeder Canal Alliance. “All of the commodities in the area went down the Feeder Canal into the Champlain Canal, and all the way to New York.” In its heyday, people shipped lumber, sawdust, produce, furs, and locally made goods along the canal, where it would go on to New York City and beyond. In return, barges would come back laden with coal from Pennsylvania, until the canal became obsolete in the 1920s.

Photo: Tom Lyons

Since the canal was reclaimed as a recreation destination in the 1990s, the seven-mile long trail has become hugely popular. “You can go from the Feeder Dam, in Glens Falls, to the bottom of five combination locks in Fort Edward,” Williams says. The towpath now links to the Empire State Trail at the five locks as well. “If you got on your bicycle in Glens Falls, you could ride to Fort Edward, and then all the way to Fort Ann.”

In addition to the trail, the Feeder Canal also offers five miles of paddling for canoers and kayakers, from the Feeder Dam to the Martindale Boat Basin. “When you get down in the canal, it’s like you could be in England or Europe, or anyplace,” Raymond says, “it’s just a great thing.”

Paddling has become such a popular pastime on the canal, that the Alliance has created an annual canoe race. “Over the years, it’s been a good fundraiser for us, and we’re looking forward to continuing with it,” Raymond says. Typically the first weekend in June, the race draws both casual paddlers and professional racers from across the state. “It’s a fun day for families who want to get out on the canal and explore.”

Despite the pandemic, the Alliance was still able to hold the race last year. “We had it virtually at the end of the summer,” Williams says. “And this summer, we’re going to be having it virtually again, unless things lighten up.”

Photo: Briana Lyons

The Feeder Canal Alliance also hosts a volunteer-based annual cleanup event, called ‘Clean Sweep’, which is organized by New York State Canal Corporation, and Parks and Trails New York. This year’s event will be held on April 24, but due to the pandemic, pre-registration is required.

“This year, the Canal Corp. has put restrictions on Clean Sweep across the State, and people have to register first, if they’re going to be coming to clean up.” Williams says. This year’s event will be the same as in years past, with the addition of Covid restrictions, such as masks and distancing. “We’re going to keep people in family groups, and we’ll have people clustered along the canal, and spaced out so that groups go to different sites.”

While clearing brush and gathering litter along the canal is the primary goal of the “Clean Sweep,” it also provides an opportunity for the Alliance to get out and inspect the canal. “It’s inventorying the canal to let us know if the water is still down, or if there’s anything in the canal that needs to be taken out,” Williams says.

Though the Feeder Canal has come a long way in nearly 200 years, the Feeder Canal Alliance has more in store for the years ahead. The group recently acquired the historic coal storage silos located on Maple Street in Hudson Falls, and are working to both preserve them, and use them as a field school. “We’re looking at the STEM curriculum, and how the past all ties into the future,” Raymond says. “So, the repurposing of the silos is sort of taking a different twist to it.”

Photo: Nicholas Chowske

The silos, which were used to store coal brought up the Hudson River, were acquired via a preservation grant, and are now being made into an education destination. “We have school programs coming to visit the silos,” Williams says. “We have several of the silos turned into classrooms, and we’re building a hands-on environmental lab in one of them, too.”

With a foot in the past and eye on the future, the Feeder Canal Alliance has made their mark as stewards of this priceless resource. “We’re doing it for you, and for the community,” Williams says. “There’s so many people who haven’t experienced walking on the Feeder Canal Trail, and it is just such a gem.”

The Feeder Canal Alliance Clean Sweep is this Saturday, April 24th from 8:30 -11:30 am. If you'd like to participate, due to Covid guidelines, you will have to pre-register by calling their office at 518-792-5363 or by emailing info@feedercanal.org.

For more information on the Feeder Canal, visit their website here, and for their map, click here.

On the Farm: Nettle Meadow Farm

We headed north to Thurman this month to chat with Lorraine Lambiase and Sheila Flanagan of Nettle Meadow Farm about their delicious cheese and their commitment to caring for their goats well after they’ve retired from production. Cheese just tastes better when it’s made with kindness, don’t you think?!

FROM LEGAL TO FARMING

We got involved in farming and bought Nettle Meadow as a bit of a mid-life major change in direction. We had both worked in the legal field for several years and did not find it fulfilling. We made cheese as a hobby and saw an ad for the farm in Thurman and we took the leap. I come from many many generations of Irish dairy farmers so it was not too far of a leap for me, though it was a huge change in course for Lorraine.

Sheila Flanagan and Lorraine Lambiase at Nettle Meadow Farm

THE GOATS

At our peak we had well over 500 goats at the farm in Thurman but as we have gotten older we decided to start leasing the goats out to local family farmers and buying the milk back. It gives the animals more acreage and more barn space, and this way we can continue to grow our brand while maintaining animal welfare as one of our core company principles.  

We have always promoted mixed breeds for hybrid vigor and we particularly have promoted cross breading between boer goats and saanens and boer goats and nubians.  Both are extra tough, high volume, and butter fat rich goats with the health and capacity to make it through - and even enjoy - cold Adirondack winters and warm summers.

THE PROCESS

We use only freshest milk from our sheep and goats and Jersey Cows. We are very well known for making "mixed milk" cheeses combining milk from different species. We also use infusions of herbal teas and alcohols that add unique flavors to so many of our cheeses.  

We start making cheese around 2am each day and the final batches usually are not complete till around 7pm in the evening.  Every batch is hand poured, whether it is 10 gallons or 100 gallons.

We make three basic kinds of cheese - fresh cheeses in a variety of flavors; semi-aged cheeses aged in a bloomy aging cave for two to three weeks; and hard aged cheeses washed and rubbed on their rinds and then aged for 90 days to one year.

THE CHEESE

We make over 60 different cheeses and butter and goat cheese ice cream. We make approximately 225,000 pounds of cheese each year.

We sell cheese from the eastern-most islands in Maine to Anchorage, Seattle, San Diego and Hawaii. We have distributors and national chains that distribute our cheese around the country. We deliver directly to many restaurants in the Glens Falls area and specialty shops like Oscars in Warrensburg, 4 Seasons in Saratoga, and Izzy's and Hudson River Trading Company in North Creek. Hannaford and Price Chopper have both been wonderful supporters of Nettle Meadow this past year when the pandemic has been wreaking havoc on artisan cheesemakers. We also have two of our own retail shops - one at our farm and sanctuary in Thurman, and one at our new facility at the Old Hitching Post in Lake Luzerne.

THE SANCTUARY 

When we arrived at the farm there were a few older goats who had really reached the end of their productive life. At first we let them live out their lives with the other girls, but as they aged, they needed a little more peace and quiet, so we took a portion of one of the barns and set it aside for retired girls. Soon we needed a retirement community and assisted living facility, so we built a new area for the really aged near the main house.  

When we started our first kidding season we partnered with a couple of upstate livestock sellers who contracted to only sell our baby goats for dairy, brush clearing, and 4H and family set ups. But sometimes we had left over boys, and soon our "bachelor pad" was created for boys who did not find homes.  

Over time, people contacted us who were moving out of agriculture areas, or no longer had the resources to care for their animals. We have had horses, donkeys, mini-horses, mini-donkeys, llamas, turkeys, chickens, peacocks, ducks, pigs, cats, dogs, cows, a bull calf, and many many elderly goats and sheep and differently abled goats and sheep in our sanctuary program over the years. We have had some animals in the sanctuary since 2005 and every year it has grown.

ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT

People have supported us in lots of ways. Some people leave change at our shops in the tip jars for the sanctuaries. Some people donate their skill sets - we are always looking for a good plumber or electrician for barn repairs. Some people donate food for the animals, or tools, or fencing. Some people support us by buying our cheese, attending our events, and asking for our cheese when they don't find it in their local stores. There is also a donate button for our sanctuary animals on our Nettle Meadow website and our Kemp Sanctuary at Nettle Meadow website.

ON THE FUTURE 

We are working diligently towards finishing construction of our new cheese plant in Lake Luzerne and hope that we will be able to open the tavern and cheese tasting room with a small plate menu at that location some time this summer. We also hope the extra space will allow us to expand our goat cheese ice cream selections by 2022.

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Special thanks to Taste NY for making this series possible!

Taste NY at the Adirondacks Welcome Center offers nine state-of-the-art vending machines featuring food, beverages, and gifts from the Adirondack Region and across New York State. Find locally roasted coffee, cold beverages, chips, nuts, snacks, baked goods, milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, maple, honey, chocolate, candy, and artisan gifts.

Taste NY at the Adirondacks Welcome Center is operated by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks for supporting the organizations that support Glens Falls Living!

The Weekender: April 16 - 18

Ready for the weekend?! Same here. We’re trying to ignore that snowflake we saw in tomorrow’s forecast, and the weekend looks promising! On our agenda: planting pansies, more raking, and finding a cocktail and a patio downtown. Hope you’ve got a fun weekend ahead, and if you need a couple of ideas, here they are:

Patio Season, Continued: After a hiatus for the winter, Davidsons is back - it was so nice driving by and seeing a full (socially distanced, of course) patio last night! And really, it’s been so nice seeing all of the downtown patios open for business (just look at [farmacy] sitting pretty up there!). Spring is in the air, for sure.

April Maple: The Shirt Factory is hosting April Maple this weekend - food trucks and vendors will be offering maple products and maple flavored dishes, and well, what could be better? We’re eyeing maple fried chicken, maple cotton candy, and a brew from Mean Max for good measure. Details here.

Gardenworks: A sure sign of spring, Gardenworks is re-opening this weekend as well! If you’re in the mood for a drive, head out to the barn in Salem to pick up your pansies, and while you’re out there, swing into R.S. Taylor Brewery to pick up a growler to go!

Wine with a View: Another Washington County staple, Victory View Vineyard in Schaghticoke is re-opening for outside tastings and wine by the glass this weekend! Might as well hit a few of our favorite antique shops while you’re out that way too (find them here!).

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

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P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

My Glens Falls: Neha Golwala

This week, we’re chatting with Neha Golwala! She shares what brought her family to the area, how Glens Falls compares to her hometown in India, her family’s Saturday morning tradition, and much more below!

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Neha Golwala. I am a physical therapist working at Zuppa Physical Therapy P.C. in Burnt Hills. I live in Queensbury with my husband and a daughter.

I grew up in India and I did my Bachelor's of Physical Therapy from India. I did my Doctor of Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University, Arizona, and then I worked in New York City for one year. My husband and I moved to upstate NY in January 2011.

Here, I worked for Adirondack Physical Therapy and Fitness for 10 years and now I work at Zuppa Physical Therapy P.C. as of December 2020. My passion is to work on a holistic approach and body mind awareness and I enjoy my work.

On Life in and Around Glens Falls

My first port of entry into the USA was New Jersey in 2008. We lived there for two years. In the summer of 2010, we visited Lake Geroge. We fell in love with the beauty of the region. We dreamed of moving here.

In September, 2010, our dream came true. My husband got a job at Hannen Engineering in Queensbury and I ended up moving here in January 2011.

My husband and I grew up in small town in India, so the Glens Falls area is perfect for us.

We own a home in Queensbury. We love our neighborhood. People are very kind, nice, and friendly.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

I am connected to the arts. Glens Falls has many beautiful places such as the World Awareness Children's Museum, the Hyde collection, and Crandall Public Library. I volunteer at World Awareness Children’s Museum for Indian cultural activities and kids yoga.

The Thursday night Shirt Factory events, Friday outdoor family movie night in Glens Falls City Park, and Cooper's Cave ice cream alley are fun places to visit in summer. We enjoy the Adirondack Balloon Festival in the fall. West Mountain, Lake George Winter Carnival, and watching ice hockey in Glens Falls Recreation Center are winter fun activities for us. We enjoy the garden centers and local hikes in spring. Glens Falls Farmer's Market is a fun place to visit all year round.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

We have many beautiful memories in Glens Falls. Every Saturday we eat lunch at Juicin’ Jar. I love to have a coffee date at Spot Coffee with my friends. My husband and I like to visit Davidson Brothers, Morgan & Co., and Gourmet Cafe pasta night for date night.

I love to walk around Glens Falls when weather is nice. In winter, when my daughter plays in the play area of Crandall Public Library, I love to sit close to the big window and read the recipe books and enjoy the city view. We enjoy skiing, snow tubing, ice climbing in winter, hiking all year around, white water rafting in spring/summer, and several events in summer.

On the Past

One of my favorite memories in Glens Falls is when I hosted Diwali - the festival of lights at World Awareness Children’s Museum. I received an overwhelming response from the community. Kids and adults sat and patiently listened about our culture, enjoyed Indian crafts and snacks, and asked me questions. What a fun day!

On the Future

I would love to bring an Indian temple and Indian restaurant in this area. I miss them the most.

See more from our My Glens Falls series here.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

New Addition: River Marnette Linendoll

The Linendoll Family welcomed their adorable baby girl, River Marnette, in January! We caught up with them recently to hear all about what they’re loving about life with River so far, the significance of her name, and a few words of wisdom for parents-to-be. More below, with beautiful images by YM Photography.

We are Gerry and Christine Linendoll. We’re currently based in Queensbury and we both grew up in Gansevoort and went to South Glens Falls High. We welcomed our daughter River Marnette on January 13, 2021, but for us our story began a long time before that. 

We met in middle school and “dated” when I was 14 and Gerry was 16. Though that didn’t last long, we met again my sophomore year in high school at a Silverstein concert and became best friends very quickly. We spent the next couple years having so much fun with our group of friends. One day that all changed and 13 years later we are happily married with our little girl and 2 dogs (Lilly, our chihuahua and Ember, our pit bull husky mix). 

We love everything about living where we do. I am Adirondack obsessed. We love hiking, kayaking, and doing anything outside. When we are not staying active outside as a family or taking care of our girl, Gerry is usually coding for his business Switchback Web or slinging pizza in the air at Mama Mias in Saratoga, and you can catch me serving at Downtown City Tavern.

On Sharing the News 

When we found out we were pregnant we were very surprised and very excited. Knowing our families have been waiting for this, we bought some cute shirts and went over to tell them. My mom noticed right away, but my Dad — not so much. We got him a new #1 grandpa mug and he responded, “Oh nice, but I’m not a grandpa”.

Gerry’s mom took a little bit of nudging (lots of moving, straightening our shirts) and eventually I gave her a card that said Baby Linendoll 2021. Gerry’s dad knew before we even came inside. 

We planned our gender reveal party and found out as soon as we could. I had a feeling from day one she was going to be a girl. I even dreamed about her being a girl — so weird how mothers just know!

All About River

On January 13th at 3:42 am (exactly on her due date), we welcomed our 6lb 13oz 19in long baby girl River Marnette Linendoll. Perfect in every way. We decided on the name River before she was even a thought. I have always wanted my daughter to have a unique name. Gerry is a 4th, so if she was a boy it was going to be baby Gerry. Her middle name, Marnette, was my great grandmother’s name, who I was lucky enough to have until I was in my 20s. She lived until she was 103, so I knew I wanted my daughter to have a piece of her legacy. 

River is honestly my twin. She looks like her momma and has her daddy’s laid back attitude. Not bothered by a thing.

We are so blessed. She has brought so much joy to our lives in her 3 short months of life. 

On Parenthood 

Becoming parents has changed our lives. It has taught us to be patient, not only with the baby and the day-to-day, but with each other. I have learned that being late isn’t the end of the world and the dishes can wait to be washed — it’s fine if River is happy. Making time for our family always comes first. We have become the best versions of ourselves and we were truly meant to be parents. 

Words of Wisdom

The best advice I have received is the same advice I will always give. “Don’t worry about everything everyone tries to tell you about being a parent. Do what’s right for your baby and your family and everything will work the way it’s supposed to.” Also, “Nap when the baby naps”. 

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Special thanks to Glens Falls Hospital for making this series possible!

You’ve been planning for this moment for 9 months, but the team at The Joyce Stock Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital has been preparing for over 30 years. While each birth is unique, their exceptional care stays consistent.   You'll be supported 24/7 by a specialized care team that puts you and your family’s needs first.  

Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.  The reasons more babies are born at The Joyce Stock Snuggery.

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A Beginner's Guide to Disc Golf

Name a sport you can play outside year-round for about $10 bucks or less? If the headline was a clue and you guessed disc golf, ding, ding, ding! You’ve literally hit the jackpot of laid-back, outdoor recreation at its best. 

Even better, the sport of disc golf (golf with discs and no greens fees) is on a hot streak in our area, with a brand-new course at Crandall Park in Glens Falls and another one coming soon to the Harry J. Betar Jr. Recreational Park in Moreau, plus existing courses in Greenwich, Saratoga Springs, and another one planned for Garnet Hill in North River.

The sport has been around for nearly 100 years — it gained traction with the Frisbee in the ’70s and has exploded in popularity thanks to the pandemic driving people outside. To learn more about it, Glens Falls Living recently tagged along for a round of nine “holes” with three local pros at Crandall Park.

One of them was Jaimen Hume, a Hudson Falls middle-school band teacher who has been central to disc-golf development in the Capital Region and North Country. Another was Jon Hotmer, who co-designed the Crandall Park course with Hume last year, and the third was Tucker Kozloski, who’s been playing the sport for nearly a decade. All three graduated from South Glens Falls High School and are Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) members.

Jon Hotmer and Jaimen Hume

“It's certainly an exciting time for the sport in the area,” Hume explained. “The boom that we’ve all seen up to this point is, what I believe, to be just the tip of the iceberg. Crandall's baskets were put in the first week of December, so any player we’ve seen has been of the die-hard variety.”

He estimated that the Crandall Park Disc Golf course has been played 400 to 500 times since it unofficially opened last November. It’s been recorded by more than 100 times alone by users of UDisc, a comprehensive disc-golf app with course locations, maps, events, and scorekeeping.

Crandall’s 18-hole, par-3 course — which was built near the existing dog-walking trails — is a result of the work of Hume, Hotmer, and dozens of other local volunteers, as well as the support of the Crandall Park Beautification Committee and Elizabeth Hogan’s ability to secure a $10,000-dollar grant from Stewart’s Shops.

Its official grand opening will be the weekend of June 12-13, 2021, with a Family Play Day, recreational tournament, and PDGA tournament (details can be found on the Crandall Park Disc Golf website).

Jaimen Hume on the course

So how do you play?

Disc golf is just like traditional golf, except you throw a plastic disc rather than hit a golf ball with a club. You start from a tee pad (coming soon to the Crandall course) and try to throw the disc into a basket at the other end of the course. Oftentimes, you can’t see the basket from the tee pad, so look around the trees to locate the basket before throwing (UDisc is an invaluable help). 

All 18 holes on the Crandall course are par 3, but more difficult courses have a few par 4’s and some par 5’s. For more on the rules of the game, check out this Disc Golf 101 explainer.

Etiquette

If another player or group behind you is playing faster and catching up to you, wait on the next tee and let them play through. When playing with others, stand behind the player that is throwing, and try not to talk or move too much while they throw. 

“And if you find somebody’s disc and it has a phone number, call it,” Hume said. “All of our discs have our phone numbers on it and some semblance of our name. Fountain Square [Outfitters] has offered to be the local hub for lost-and-found discs.” 

Also, pick up branches along the fairway and toss them off to the side. And carry in/carry out/don’t litter.

How many discs do you need? 

The pros, like Hume, Hotmer, and Kozloski, have either backpacks or rolling bags (a.k.a. “carts”) holding about 25 discs or more. Like an arsenal of clubs, these come in handy for different types of shots: driving, mid-range shots, and putting. Unlike golf, where you use the same ball until you lose it, you can swap out your discs to complete a hole as long as you throw from wherever the last disc landed.  

One disc per player is fine for starters, and discs can be purchased locally at Fountain Square Outfitters, 42 Degrees, and Inside Edge. The Crandall Public Library is also loaning three-disc sets for 28-day periods. Each set includes a putt & approach disc, mid-range disc, and distance driver. They can be reserved online (search “disc golf kit”), by phone, or in person during the library’s pop-in hours (currently Tuesdays from 10-6, and Fridays from 10-4). They must be returned to the Crandall Library’s customer service desk, not the book drop. 

Discs are constructed and rated differently for speed, glide, turn, and fade (see the four numbers listed accordingly on any disc). The specifics of those flight ratings are technical, so it’s best to consult a user guide or ask a salesperson about the numbers on a particular disc. MarshallStreetDiscGolf.com summarizes most every disc on the market, with visual look at how each disc performs/curves.

Jon Hotmer on the course

How should the disc be thrown? 

While the variety of techniques is endless, the “power grip” for a backhand throw is a good start for beginners. Hold the edge of the disc in the middle of your palm (like you’re shaking hands with the disc) and wrap your four fingers firmly around and underneath the edge, with your thumb lying flat on top.

Turn sideways with your throwing arm forward and dominant foot forward. Think about keeping your body weight on that front foot. Then extend your throwing arm straight back, just below shoulder height. Try to keep your arm relatively parallel to the ground so your throw isn’t angled up or down. Drive your elbow forward, close to the body, snap your wrist, and follow through. If all goes well, your disc will take a low-level flight that goes as far as the power you put into it.

What does it take to be a pro? 

Hume laughed and downplayed the title. 

“It costs a little more as a PDGA member to be a pro, and then just practice,” he said. 

As a musician, Hume picked up the sport after college because it fulfilled his love for practicing. Hotmer is also a musician. And, like they say, practice makes perfect. 

So don’t expect to go out there and win the day on your first try. Throwing a disc is different than a traditional Frisbee. It’s smaller and more dense, and most importantly, it’s meant to be thrown — not caught. Don’t overthink technique, but learn from your mistakes. Watch what works for other players and ask for tips. Then, go home (or to your nearest football field) and practice! A simple web search can lead you down a wormhole of disc golf technique videos.

With Crandall Park’s new course and another one coming to Moreau likely in May, disc golf presents an affordable (even free!) way to get outside with friends and family for some leisurely fun.

“It’s cheap, all ages can play it, and it’s free once you have the discs,” Hume said. “And it’s a socially distanced sport; you don’t need to be near anybody to be able to do it.”

Crandall Park Disc Golf
Website / Course Map / Printable Score Card

Parking Info: Park in the lot next to the bandshell. A practice basket is in the field, and Hole 1 is up the hill in the woods (walking toward Fire Rd).

Under construction: Signs and tee pads should be completely installed by the end of May. In the meantime, look for orange markers for tees and arrows by the baskets to direct you to the next hole.

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P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

The Weekender: April 9 - 11

Happy weekend! The trees are budding, the tulips are popping up downtown, and this spring weather just seems to feel extra good this year. Hope you’ve got plans to soak up the 70° temps we’re seeing in the forecast! Here are a few ideas:

Inside Out at Mountain Gallery: The first exhibit opening for downtown’s newest gallery is tomorrow (April 9th) from 6-8pm. Mountain Gallery will showcase over 40 pieces from 25 plein air artists, celebrating the beauty of bringing the outside in. If you can’t make it tomorrow, the exhibit runs through April 24 - details here!

Patio Season: Don’t know about you, but this weather and seeing some patios opening up downtown is beckoning us out for date night this weekend! A quick swing through and we saw outdoor dining at Fenimore’s, [farmacy], Morgan and Co, Raul’s, Radici, Craft on 9, Mean Max, Flight Market, and more. Cheers to spring!

Back On the Court: Lace up your sneaks - the City of Glens Falls just announced that the pickle ball and tennis nets at Crandall Park will be up as of today, and basketball rims and nets will be in place by early next week! Grab the scoop here.

Celebrate The Park: The Park Theater is celebrating 3 years in business this weekend with a selection of complimentary food and drinks (and a cash bar!), along with live entertainment and a variety of flower arrangements to admire from Epithet Floral. Details here!

Take a Walk: With broken hearts, we said goodbye to our sweet pup, Murphy, last week after 10 beautiful years together. He taught us so much - like how to greet each day with excitement, enthusiasm, a smile, and a tail wag - no matter the day of the week, the weather, or what’s on the agenda. We can’t help but wish for one more long walk with him, to watch his joy bounding from tree to tree. So if you find yourself with some free time this weekend, might we suggest a long walk in the sunshine with your pup or someone you love? There’s nothing we can think of that would make Murph smile bigger (well, except bacon).

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

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P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story and those like it here on GFL, please consider supporting our hometown content by clicking here. With your support, we can continue to share the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our area so special. Thank you - we appreciate you being here more than you know!

My Glens Falls: Alexandra Barbieri

We’re chatting with Alexandra Barbieri this week! A registered dietitian by day and a server at Raul’s by night (yes, that’s where you likely recognize her from!), she shares her favorite places to hit the trails with her sweet pup Willow, the club she’s starting for people who like to run, drink some beer and mingle, and so much more!

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Alexandra Barbieri. I’m an avid hiker, foodie (a fancy term which means I just really like going out to restaurants), rock climber and proud mother of a 3-year-old Yellow Lab/Golden Retriever mix named Willow. We love to get outside in all conditions and seasons to run through the woods and go swimming, once it’s warmer of course. Lake George makes me the happiest girl during the summer, as I’m very lucky to get on the lake multiple times a season. It really is the most beautiful lake. 

I just accepted my dream job as a Registered Dietitian with Hudson Headwaters about 6 months ago. My specialty is working with patients on their journey to living a healthier lifestyle; whether that be through weight loss, increased activity, managing their diabetes or navigating the food aisles at the grocery stores to help pick more wholesome options for their families. I love being part of the preventative side of nutrition instead of just part of the treatment. The network is wonderful and provides my services at no charge to our patients. During the day, I meet with patients about their nutrition and lifestyle and at night you will often find me as one of the old school servers at Raul’s Mexican Grill. I’ve worked at Raul’s Mexican Grill for the last 8 years, which is how most people downtown recognize me. 

My family and I grew up in Hudson Falls. I’ve had strong ties there, as my father and uncle owned Dajon’s, a bridal store right across from the park. They also had a second location right here in Glens Falls on Glen Street. When I was 9 or 10, I remember walking down Glen Street with my dad to get a pair of shoes and thinking how downtown was very bare. My parents had always described Glens Falls as a former bustling small city, however the opening of the mall lead to a decline of small local businesses, including both Dajon’s locations.

After high school, I completed 2 years at SUNY ADK then went away to SUNY Cortland, Sage Graduate School and lastly Syracuse University to complete my schooling. It took a long 9 years to finally finish (“no, I’m not a doctor” I would tell my family). After finishing school, I moved home, but I remember thinking it would just be temporary as I had plans to move to Burlington, VT. However, I soon realized how much Glens Falls had developed and had even become quite the destination. I immediately got a job as a server at Raul’s and started “one last summer of freedom” before taking my RD exam and starting my career. Long story short, I stayed and fully immersed myself in the Glens Falls scene. Willow and I did take a brief hiatus to move to Troy for 10 months last year (right before Covid) but realized that Glens Falls was our home. Here we are closer to the trails, mountains and to the lake. I found an apartment just outside of downtown, and we love it. Willow has a yard and we’re also super close to Haviland’s Cove so we can play in the river with our nearby friends. I’d like to buy a home in the next year or so, but I’m not in any rush.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite part of Glens Falls is the “hometown” community feel. People who work and live downtown are considered neighbors, friends and even family to one another. I was fortunate to live downtown for over 3 years and I loved running in to the other locals every day. Most of the coffee shops, restaurants and stores contain the friendly and familiar faces I enjoy seeing every day. I consider it my own kind of “Cheers” vibe spread throughout this city. 

When I was away during college, I would tell friends about our little “hidden gem” West Mountain, which isn’t exactly hidden. We’re super fortunate to have this right outside of the city, and growing up, I really enjoyed night skiing overlooking the city lights with my dad. I appreciate that I can run home after work, grab skis, and get some runs in before the night is over. I don’t ski as often as I used to, but I make sure to visit West Mountain a few nights every year and prove to myself that I still can ski. I truly enjoy it, just as I did when I was a little kid. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My ideal day in Glens Falls would be one with no set plans. I would start the day with Willow, friends, and their pups on the Hudson Point Trail, or the new expanded Half Way Brook trail right outside of downtown. From there, we’d go visit our friends at Spektor for coffee and an omelet. I may go Rock Climbing at Rocksport, if the weather isn’t optimal for more outdoor activities, and then head back into town to grab my 12th pair of Goodr glasses at Fountain Square Outfitters or my 38th dress from Minky Mink. I’d then make a reservation at [farmacy] with friends for dinner, because I like to attempt to order most of the entire menu. Their staples are a no brainer (sourdough bread and shishito peppers), in addition to whatever new entrée and dessert they have on the menu. My crew knows the deal when they are with me - the night isn’t over yet, and we will make our way to Mean Max or Raul’s for drinks afterwards. 

On the Past

What I miss most about downtown Glens Falls is Bistro Tallulah. My high expectation for what dining and service should be was established at 26 Ridge Street and created by my good friend, the late Chef Shawn Whalen. I would describe the Bistro to many as the party you wanted to be invited to; where great minds, foodies and misfits would gather. 

On the Future

If I could wave a wand, I would bring a music scene back to Glens Falls (can we get another Sandys?). There are many talented musicians who would play at the drop of a hat once allowed, but there are limited venues to do so.

On a smaller scale, a corner store or a bodega would be a fantastic addition. I’d love a place downtown to grab my milk, eggs, fruit and toilet paper on a whim if I need it. You know, the basics.

Lastly, I’d love to see more social avenues for people who want to be active. I have some ideas in mind to start a Runners Club downtown for people to run, drink some beer and mingle (6 feet apart of course). [Editors Note: She already made it happen! Find the Glens Falls Running Club on Facebook here!]

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P.S. Check out more from our My Glens Falls series here!

Just Married: Tony and Kayla Wing

2020 and 2021 weddings have been all about changing plans, and Tony and Kayla Wing were no exception! Hailing from Rochester, they saw the Adirondacks as the perfect place to escape (social distance, if you will) for a romantic winter elopement in lieu of their plans for a 150 person reception. Read on to see and hear about all of the details of their day, with beautiful images by Jason Hupe Photography!

THE COUPLE - Tony & Kayla Wing

We first met in 2013 while attending SUNY Geneseo. We were introduced by Pat and Bri Violanti (who, coincidently, were introduced to each other by Tony 2 years prior). However, the timing wasn’t right and we remained acquaintances for the next few years.

In 2016, Tony returned to Geneseo to visit some friends on the weekend of my graduation. While there, we reconnected at my sorority house. Two weeks later, we went on our first date at Dorado in Rochester, NY. Although it took 3 years before the first date, we knew from the start that we had something special.

Before we even went on our first date, we had jokingly made a 30 year pact to get married and end up together if we hadn’t found our people yet. When we first exchanged phone numbers as friends a few months after making that agreement, Tony put me in his phone as Future Wife, and I followed suit, never imagining that one day those titles would come true.

We are both so goofy and love to adventure and have fun. We love to hike, explore new breweries, and play board games. Tony also is an avid disc golfer and I often caddy for him as funny as that sounds! We have three fur daughters that occupy a lot of our time. Two beautiful cats named Frankie and Georgia and a shiba inu named Nessie that we adore!

THE PROPOSAL

October 21, 2019 was my first day as a Registered Nurse. I came home from work around 8:15 to Tony having dinner already prepared. Tony then showed me a wicker storage basket that “he had bought that day.” I asked many details about it before opening it. When I did, I was only able to open it a crack before realizing it was filled with ring pops. I shut it and immediately started crying. We had a running inside joke for years that I didn’t need a ring, just a blue ring pop when Tony proposed. I turned around to find Tony on one knee. I proved this by tackle hugging Tony while he was still on his knee and almost knocking the actual ring to the ground.

THE WEDDING - March 6, 2021

In light of the ongoing pandemic and current restrictions in our area, we cancelled our planned wedding reception of 150 people in Rochester, NY. We still wanted to get married on our intended date so we began researching elopement options.

The Adirondacks have always held a special place in my heart as I have been traveling to the area with my family for hiking, camping and skiing trips since I was young. Since Tony and I started dating we have vacationed in the area multiple times and hiked some of the High Peaks. We even invited a group of our closest friends up a few summers ago and spent a long weekend exploring the area and sharing our special place with them.

After doing some digging and thinking about what we truly wanted for our wedding and the start of marriage, we decided on a weekend getaway and private Adirondack elopement, with just the two of us. I found the beautiful Friends Lake Inn online and saw that they offered an elopement package which seemed to perfectly fit our needs and simplify the whole process. 

We hope to host a belated reception in a year or two with all of our family and friends when we can safely celebrate our marriage with our loved ones.

The Venue

Friends Lake Inn had every amenity we could have wished for. From the moment we stepped inside we knew we made the right decision. We were treated like family and the stay was everything we could have hoped for and more. The Inn grounds and available activities truly highlighted what the Adirondacks has to offer. Our photographer, Jason, took breathtaking photos of us in the sparkling white snow, we snowshoed for hours on the wooded trails, and soaked in the tranquil views of the lake from our breakfast table. We can’t wait to return in the summer or fall to capitalize on the warm weather experiences they offer.

The Planning

I love planning events and gift giving, so for me the whole wedding planning process was right up my alley. I loved curating our bridal party proposal gifts and our “day of” gifts that we mailed out to our parents and bridal party to thank them for being there for us and make them feel included in our special day even though it was from afar.

The most challenging part was navigating the COVID-19 restrictions which led to us fully planning three different versions of our wedding day. It was exhausting and very overwhelming, but we were so grateful to have the support of our family and friends every step of the way.

The Gown 

I went to try my first bridal appointment with my two best friends over a year before our wedding date. Our plan was just to try a bunch of dresses on to narrow down which style and fit suited me. I tried on maybe 5 dresses and knew that I had found the one. It was simple and classic with elegant details such as buttons all the way down the long train and a low back with delicate thin straps and a bow detail that sold me.

The Details 

Our vision for the occasion was rustic, natural, classic, and earthy. The color palette was mostly neutrals - white, gray, and black with accents of green from the flowers and burgundy in Tony’s shoes and belt. 

For my flowers, I scoured Pinterest for months and decided on simple white flowers with lots of greenery. Our florist exceeded my vision, they were perfect.

I DIY’d acrylic with our vows painted on for us to read during the ceremony. I was so pleased with how they turned out and it ended up being way easier than I anticipated and was cheaper than having them custom made.

Our cake was the most fun, we did a chocolate decadence cake with cookies and cream frosting and filling, topped with Oreos. It was incredible!

We included many personalized accents into our day including champagne flutes, the cake topper, and Tony’s cuff links all from small Etsy shops.

The Honeymoon

We have a honeymoon road trip planned for the end of April. Starting at home in Rochester, NY we’ll head south to Asheville, NC, then hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, then over to Nashville, TN, and finally stopping in Cleveland, OH before we head back home. 

Some Advice… 

Remind yourself what it’s all about and why you’re doing this in the first place. Your wedding is a celebration of your marriage and the love that the two of you share. Try to focus on what will make you two happy as a couple and less on what others will think about your plan. Make sure to set aside time during the day for alone time, just you and your new spouse!

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VENDORS

Venue: Friends Lake Inn

Food/Catering: Friends Lake Inn

Cake: Belle Dolci

Gown: Allure from Heart to Heart Bride

Suit: Calvin Klein from Men’s Warehouse

Photographer: Jason Hupe Photography

Invitations: Ryan Printing

Florals: Rebecca’s Florist

Ring Designer: Kayla - Martin Flyer from Cornell’s Jewelers; Tony - Jewelry by Johan

Cake Topper: Rawkrft - Etsy

Garland: The Garland Guy - Etsy

Champagne Flutes: Personalization Lab - Etsy

Cuff Links: From Willow - Etsy

The Weekender: March 26 - 28

Ready for the weekend? Same here. And while the weather doesn’t look quite as fabulous as last weekend, there’s still time to squeeze in a little yard work, and maybe a few of these ideas, too:

Expressions: It’s the last weekend for the Expressions exhibition at the LARAC Gallery - have you been? It’s open to the public from 10am - 3pm Monday through Saturday, and you can grab the details here!

Easter Pre-orders: Not entirely sure how Easter snuck up so quickly, but we’ll take this opportunity to get ahead of the game on securing the essentials for Easter brunch (and dessert)! Pre-order your bagels, muffins, and macarons from Alchemy Bagel, your cookies from the Muffin Top Baker and Abby’s Cookie Jar, and your chocolates from Barkeater. And if you’d rather let someone else do the cooking, grab your reservation for brunch at The Queensbury Hotel, Farmacy (they’re doing dinner to go, too!), and more.

Dinner & A Movie: Not this weekend, but you’ll want to plan ahead for Dinner and a Movie at The Park Theater on Wednesday, March 31! They’ll be showing the film Yesterday along with a 3-Course Prix Fixe menu and we couldn’t think of a better way to break up the work week! Details here.

R.S. Taylor: If you’re up for a drive this sunny Saturday, we just saw that R.S. Taylor Brewery in Salem will have their patio open this weekend! If you’ve never been, it’s a beautiful spot to sip a beer - grab their details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Bethanie Muska Lawrence

This week we’re chatting with Bethanie Muska Lawrence, who you might recognize as the Director of the World Awareness Children's Museum! After living all over the United States, she shares what brought her to our little city, a bit more about her career journey, and some of the local spots that have come to top her list of favorites over the past couple of years.

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Bethanie Muska Lawrence, and I'm the Executive Director of the World Awareness Children's Museum. I live in Hudson Falls with my husband, Patrick, and we've lived here since February 2018, when we relocated from Nashville, Tennessee. 

I grew up in Northern New Jersey and went to college at the University of South Carolina, where I got my degree in Music Education. I've lived all over the place and have taught in Newburgh, New York, Phoenix, Arizona, Franklin, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and Ramsey, New Jersey. I had never expected to work in a museum, but I got the opportunity to apply for a museum educator job at the World Awareness Children's Museum after my husband and I moved up here, and it changed my career path forever. I went from Museum Educator to Education Coordinator to Deputy Director to Executive Director all in the span of two years. I love my job, I love getting to make a difference in children's lives, and I love that we're able to teach children to be curious about different cultures and people groups. This is sincerely the best job I've ever had.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

We chose the Glens Falls area because of my husband's job. I grew up in Northern New Jersey and he grew up outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania, and we were happy to be moving back north after living in Tennessee for a year. I love being in the northeast because we're close to both of our families, and living in or near the mountains has always been something I've wanted. Something I think about often is that I grew up going to and working at a summer camp in Corinth, and never expected to actually get to live in an area where I have so many fond memories from childhood. It's been wonderful to be able to make the Adirondacks our home.

We rent an apartment in Hudson Falls, and it's perfect for us. We love that people are genuinely kind, and our neighbors are friendly. I am on the Board of Trustees for the Hudson Falls Free Library, and I enjoy being active in the community.

I love that Glens Falls has so many arts organizations! I have always found solace in the arts - I was a music major in college and studied opera and choral music, and went on to be a music teacher for five or six years before moving to New York. The fact that there are so many ways to experience art - whether at LARAC, North Country Arts, the Hyde, the Chapman, and more - makes this my favorite of all the places I've lived. There is also a robust music scene, including the Glens Falls Symphony and local choral groups. I sing with the Hudson River Chorale and the SUNY Adirondack Community Choir (when there isn't a pandemic), both run by Miriam Enman, and being part of those groups feeds my soul more than anything else.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

I love grabbing coffee and breakfast at Rachel's Cafe & Spice Company. Rachel and her team are extraordinarily friendly and have the best food and coffee. My husband and I like to take walks around town and window shop because there's always something great to be found. We like to visit Finders Keepers and see what's new in the consignment shop, maybe grab a drink and a pastry at SPOT Coffee, and enjoy the weather. For date nights, we like to visit Craft on 9 for dinner and drinks, and then go home to watch a movie.

This is kind of silly, but honestly, my favorite place in Glens Falls is my office at the World Awareness Children's Museum. I have a wall of windows next to my desk, and I can look out right down to the circle in downtown Glens Falls. I love being able to people-watch and enjoy the sunshine while I'm working. Even though work can be challenging sometimes, I feel very at peace at the museum. We have a great team culture here, and I get along so well with all of the staff. I love what we do at the museum - teaching children and families about our diverse and exciting world - and spending my weekday here is wonderful.

On the Past

One of my favorite memories in Glens Falls is from when we first moved here. It was maybe my second time at the summer Farmers Market, and I was still fairly new to the area. I didn't know many people yet, but I saw so many familiar faces that morning at the Farmer's Market, and all of them stopped to chat with me. It made me feel incredibly welcome. 

On the Future

I would bring a Trader Joe's to the area. That's definitely something I miss from other places I've lived!

King of the Donuts

By 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings in a charming village 30 miles south of Glens Falls, no matter the weather, the line is already halfway down the block. One patron is so determined to be first in line that he’s often waiting before dawn. Some customers are so besotted that they haven’t missed a Sunday since 2002.

The King Donut Cart

What inspires this devotion? A mobile bakery the locals call the King Donut cart.

The cart part is right—it’s an antique bread delivery wagon bought from Friehofer’s, so old it still has the shafts for when horses pulled it through the streets of Troy. And while the donuts are sublime, the cart offers a lot more than Bismarcks filled with homemade jam, although that remains a customer favorite. There’s a full menu of just-baked date-filled cookies, elephant ears, scones, croissants and more, all made by hand, using carefully sourced ingredients chosen not just for quality but from small-scale purveyors, local whenever possible. Blackberries come from a Main Street neighbor; rhubarb from their own gardens, strawberries and blueberries from nearby fields, eggs, all 20 dozen per week, from the outskirts of the village, dairy from Battenkill Valley Creamery, and bacon (for the sinful maple-bacon donut) from a farm 9 miles away.

A favorite Sunday selection: Traditional Glazed and Maple Covered Donuts

It’s a four generation effort. Sally, the multi-talented mother of the current owners, ran a brick and mortar bakery in Cambridge until it closed in 1997, and still works in the kitchen. Her son Skip, a pilot for UPS, bought and restored the cart and, after the last flight for the week, pulls a 15-hour shift from Saturday evening to Sunday lunch. He also tends the beehives, runs the sugaring operation, and oversees all the gardening. Skip’s wife Jana handles the logistics of the complicated household and business, supervising orders and customer service. Their daughter Holly is the baking master. She works from early on Saturday until early Sunday—every Saturday night is an all-nighter for her too—and her 6-year-old daughter Ella, who’s already announced her desire to become a professional baker, helps out too. 

Donut cart fans are as noted for their passion as for their patience (the wait can be 45 minutes or more) and grace (no grumbling when something is sold out). Christine Hoffer, proprietor of the now-closed Rice Mansion Inn, always served the donuts to hotel guests for Sunday breakfast and continues that tradition whenever her sons come home from college. In winter, Christine would bring several dozen donuts to Willard Mountain on Sundays to sell to fellow ski instructors and students. (“This made me very popular,” she said with a laugh.) Tim Burch, who at age 15 had a summer job frying donuts all day every day at the bakery, used to eat 6 at a sitting and now, several decades later, will drive 32 miles roundtrip for a meltaway, a rich but delicate pastry that literally melts in your mouth.

The King Donut Cart in warmer days

It’s not just the novelty of a horse-drawn cart or the small-town bonhomie of customers chatting as they wait. It’s the freshness, quality and lusciousness of the goods. Holly, an honors student in geology and environmental studies, worked at restaurants beginning at age 14 and found her calling as pastry chef in her early twenties, experimenting with flavors, textures, techniques and aesthetics. She also studied the logistics and management side of the business, a necessity for a small operation with tight margins. Marketing has never been an issue, since word of mouth has been so fierce that demand, especially on Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, outstrips supply. 

Covid has changed the way the Kings do business, not just by mandating the 6-ft. space between customers in line but encouraging online orders through their Facebook page. Order early, and don’t be late for pickup. Your sugar coma awaits.

Editors Note: As mentioned, demand frequently outpaces supply at the King Donut Cart, which is why the address is withheld in this story. Just a little digging on your part will uncover it, and the donuts will taste that much sweeter knowing you found them yourselves!

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The Weekender: March 19 - 21

Happy weekend and Happy Spring! We made it! I feel like we talk about the weather in The Weekender every week, but have you seen the forecast for this weekend?! Sunny skies with 50 and 60 degree temps sounds like a dream, and we can’t wait to soak it up. Here are a few things you may want to add to your agenda:

Winter Meltdown: The snow is melting and things are heating up at The Shirt Factory with their Winter Meltdown Spicy Food event this Saturday. Local vendors and food trucks will be showcasing their bold flavors, and it seems like a perfect way to spend a sunny spring day. Details here.

Rob and Deb’s Opening Day: Another perfect way to spend the first weekend of spring? Ice cream! Rob and Deb’s Frozen Dreams opens tomorrow (Friday) and we can’t wait to get in line for a taste of summer - details here!

Maple Weekend: ‘Tis the season! The sap is flowing and sweet treats abound at some of our favorite sugar shacks. We shared a list of four of our favorites to visit here, so if you’re looking to go for a ride this weekend, this might be your best bet! Find them here.

Howl Trivia Night: Not this weekend, but something you’ll want to plan ahead for - SUNY Adirondack is hosting their popular Howl Trivia Night (in a virtual format this year!) on Friday, March 26. Players can form teams of four-to-six to compete for great prizes while raising money for SUNY Adirondack student scholarships - get the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: March 12 - 14

Happy weekend! What is that we see outside on the ground? Grass?!? Hope you’ve soaked up the sunshine and warm weather this week (and hope it sticks around for the weekend, too!). Speaking of the weekend, here’s what’s doing:

A Taste of Spring: Martha’s opens this weekend, which is always the happiest reminder that spring is on the way! A dish of vanilla with rainbow sprinkles is most certainly in my future. Grab the details here!

St. Patrick’s Day Sweets: If you’re a fan of The Muffin Top Baker’s cookies, you’re in luck (the luck of the Irish, perhaps?!) - she’ll be having a pop up this Saturday and again on Tuesday featuring plenty of festive St. Patrick’s Day options - follow along with her on Facebook here for all the details!

Brunch at Raul’s: We did a double take when we saw a Sunday brunch post on Raul’s Instagram feed - they’re talking cured salmon tacos, chorizo-egg-hash burritos and mimosas - sign us up! Details here.

Curbside at Farmers Market: If you’ve got a hankering for some Farmers Market favorites but haven’t wanted to venture out, good news - you can now shop the Glens Falls Farmers Market online and arrange for curbside pick up! Place your order here, or you can always shop in person at The Cool Insuring Arena on Saturdays from 9am - noon.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Seven Antique Shops to Visit this Season

It’s the perfect time of year for one of our favorite weekend activities - antiquing! We shared a version of this roundup a few years ago over on Bri’s blog (along with a video - watch it here , but we wanted to pass along an updated version with some new favorites here. Happy treasure hunting! 

Fort Ann Antiques | Whitehall, NY 

We’re sure you’ve driven by here a time or two on your way into Vermont on Route 4. Take it from us - it’s worth a stop! We’ve left here with everything from a vintage oil painting, to a blue and white chinoiserie vase, to an old soda crate. It seems like there’s always something new each time we stop, which of course is the beauty of a good antique shop - you never know what will be around the next corner!

The Village Booksmith | Hudson Falls, NY

Another gem on Route 4 - this time in Hudson Falls - we always enjoy a tour through The Village Booksmith. We tend to look to old books for inspiration, and there are shelves upon shelves to flip through here. While I love a great read, I’m also guilty of picking up beautiful old books to use as decor around the house - who can resist adding a title like “Adventures to Come” on their bookshelf? It’s a great bit of inspiration for the day to day. 

Cambridge Antiques Center | Cambridge, NY

With a little bit of everything spanning two floors, you could easily spend the afternoon here. Some of our favorites are always waiting on the landing at the top of the stairs - vintage signage, rustic wooden trunks, and a bit of blue-and-white chinoiserie. Lots of vendors, so there’s always a great mix of formal, country / rustic, and lots of great lighting and rugs, too. 

Jack’s Out Back | Cambridge, NY 

Right next door to Cambridge Antiques, don’t miss popping into Jack’s. If you like vintage signage, this is your place - there’s an almost dizzying variety lining the walls, and you’ll likely want to bring them all home! 

Blacksmith Antiques | Cambridge, NY 

So many treasures to be found here - vintage art and photographs, tin containers and old bottles (perfectly and precariously stacked!). Wondering if the floor boards are going to collapse underneath you is just another exciting part of the experience! ;) 

Black Bass Antiques | Bolton Landing

Filled with local and Adirondack nostalgia - from vintage postcards to old photos, signage, and pennants, we’ll definitely be coming here to decorate our lakeside cabin that only exists in our dreams ;)

Antiques Market Place | Lake George

Twenty quality dealers offering an ever-changing inventory of unique and interesting antiques, vintage and collectibles. With a fantastic mix including Adirondack, Americana, Books, Country, Ephemera, Fishing, Folk Art, and more - there’s definitely something for everyone!

Would love to hear your favorite spots in the comments below!

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My Glens Falls: Nicholas Chowske

We’re chatting with Nicholas Chowske this week! You may recognize him as a contributor to GFL (check out his story on Halfway Brook Trail here!), and we were thrilled to get to know him a bit better. He shares the literal wrong turn that led him to his work in writing and photojournalism, his favorite hidden gem in the city, and lots more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Nicholas Chowske, and I live in Queensbury, with my wife, Andrea, our two boys, Levi (8) and Luke (5), our two cats, Lucy and Terra.

You may recognize me from the Quaker Road Hannaford deli, where I’ve worked nights for nearly six years now, or most recently as a contributing writer to Glens Falls Living, but my favorite job has been stay-at-home-dad, which I’ve been loving for the past 8 years. 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

My wife and I are both from the area - I grew up in South Glens Falls, and graduated from South High in 2001, and Andrea from Queensbury High School in 2002. College and careers moved us all across the state, but it was family that brought us back home. 

I first went to SUNY Brockport, where I earned a degree in Criminal Justice and Environmental Science, which I intended to turn into a career as a forest ranger. I met Andrea the summer before my senior year, while we were both working at the Price Chopper on Glen Street, and we moved to Plattsburgh together after I graduated in 2005, where she was still attending school. In Plattsburgh, I had the opportunity to take a forest ranger civil service exam, but unfortunately, I got lost on the way to the test (who knew there was a Saranac High School and a Saranac Lake High School?). I enrolled at SUNY Plattsburgh to take some photography and writing classes in the meantime, while I waited for another civil service exam, and my wife finished her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. I ended up falling in love with my courses, and graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Photojournalism in 2010. 

After a brief stint working as a photographer and communications writer for Swarovski Crystal’s lighting factory in Plattsburgh, my wife was offered a job as a dietitian at Southampton Hospital, in 2012, so it was off to Long Island. Shortly after arriving, I landed a job as a society photographer, features writer and wine reviewer at a weekly news magazine called “Dan’s Papers”, which covers the Hamptons, Shelter Island, and Long Island’s North Fork. 

Our first son, Levi, was born on the island in 2013. As much as we loved the work we were doing, we had no family in the area, our thoughts began to turn toward home. As luck would have it, an opening for a dietitian came up at Glens Falls Hospital, shortly after our son’s first birthday, and we were back home by fall of 2014. 

In 2015, we bought our house, a 3-bedroom ranch built in 1957, and we absolutely adore it. All through the purchase process, I had a feeling that as soon as we signed the papers, something better would turn up, but here we are six years later, and it’s still the perfect fit for us. We live in a quiet, friendly neighborhood, that’s within walking distance of Cole’s Woods, Crandall Park and Kensington Road School, where our oldest is in 2nd grade. Since we’ve moved in, a number of other young families, with children close in age to ours, have joined the neighborhood, and I can tell they’ll likely be lifelong friends. 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

The best thing about Glens Falls, for me, is all of the wonderful natural amenities the area has to offer. I grew up hiking and mountain biking all over the area, and Glens Falls is in close proximity to so many amazing mountains, lakes and rivers. Being close to nature is important for us, and where we are now, we’re never more than a short walk, ride or drive from an amazing outdoor adventure. 

Aside from the area’s natural beauty, my favorite place in the city is easily Crandall Public Library. Before the pandemic, my family and I made trips to the library nearly every week to stock up on books, or to enjoy their amazing events and programs. The staff there has always been so knowledgeable and friendly, and their children’s programs are absolutely wonderful! I fondly remember taking both of my boys to the baby lap time and toddler story times and playgroups each week for stories, songs and games - we absolutely loved them!

And, even though the pandemic has closed the library’s doors, they’ve done a fantastic job of accommodating the community’s needs with their curbside-pickup service and pop-in library days. Thanks to their hard work, the perfect book is never more than a few clicks away!

This brings me to my favorite Glens Falls “hidden gem” - the library’s quarterly books sale. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve walked into the sale with a couple of dollars in my pocket, and walked out with more books than I could read in a lifetime!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

I love Glens Falls in early summer, when everything is lush, green and full of potential. Everyone is out and about, exploring the city or working in their yards and gardens. My ideal “Glens Falls Day” would begin by hitting up the Farmer’s Market first thing in the morning for some fresh fruits and vegetables, followed by a trip to the library. Then, a cup of coffee at Spot or Spektor- or even better, brunch at the Silo - followed by an afternoon of hiking and swimming at the lake. Then it’s home to clean up, and dinner at Siam Thai - the Drunken Noodles for me, and Sushi for my wife - and drinks at Downtown Social, followed by a stroll around downtown or a show at the Park Theater.

On the Past

My favorite memory of Glens Falls, since moving back home, would have to be our 10th wedding anniversary back in 2018. It was early June, and our parents had taken the kids overnight, so we could have our first “real date” in a long time. Having heard such rave reviews, we decided on Morgan & Co. for our celebratory dinner. The weather was perfect, and we sat on the porch, where I enjoyed what was probably the best steak dinner of my life. After we ate, we decided it was much too nice of a night to turn in early, so we drove home, got on our bikes and rode back downtown to check out the nightlife. We found our way to The Bourbon Room, where I tried one of their signature cocktails, the “Rosemary’s Baby.” It was a great night, and the perfect way to cap off our first 10 years of marriage.

 On the Future

Glens Falls is conveniently situated between two huge tourist destinations - Lake George to the north, and Saratoga Springs to the south. I’ve always felt that the city could capitalize on this by becoming a hub for dining and lodging in the area. Glens Falls could thrive as the place people come to stay and relax or enjoy a great meal between adventures in the outlying areas. The city could bring everything from fine dining, luxury accommodations and day spas, down to tapas bars, food trucks and art galleries, to attract people to this beautiful area. 

The Weekender: March 5 - 7

Happy weekend! There’s sunshine in the forecast, the days seem a little longer, and we’ve got just a touch of spring in our step heading into the weekend. Here’s what looks good:

Craft on 9: They’re back! So excited to see Craft on 9 back open as of today and it looks like they’re offering indoor dining and take-out. So excited to have another of our favorites back in rotation! Details here.

Indoor Dining at Doc’s: Speaking of favorites, we’ve loved getting Doc’s to go the last couple of months, and they’ve just re-opened for indoor dining this week too (and with a fabulous new spring menu, no less - check it out here!).

Adirondack Blooms: Can’t wait to start filling the house with spring and summer blooms, and we were psyched to stumble across a new to us flower farm on Instagram - @adirondackblooms! The owner, Chelsea, will be doing flower subscriptions this summer with pickup at WorkSmart downtown, and she’s offering 15% off subscriptions through March 9 with code WORKSMART. Details here!

Arthur’s Market Grand Opening: We’ve been following along with Arthur’s Market in the Historic Stockade District of Schenectady on Instagram for quite some time now as they’ve restored a neighborhood café built in 1795 (!!). Their grand opening is this weekend, and we’re excited to take a mini road trip to check them out sometime soon. Check them out here (and if you decide to go, they’re asking everyone to reserve a shopping slot here to keep crowds to a minimum this first weekend.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom