A Trip Down Memory Lane: Downtown's New Alleyway Mural Celebrates City History

Take a stroll down the alley between the Wood Theater and Spot Coffee and you’ll take a trip down memory lane. Mike Ferrarell and Nick Capozzoli of Chicago just finished up their incredible mural downtown (part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls) that celebrates the history of our city. We caught up with them to find out how they gathered inspiration, some of their favorite illustrations within the mural, and a few highlights of their experience here in Glens Falls…

Nick Capozzoli (left) and Mike Ferrarell

Tell us about yourselves!

I’m Mike Ferrarell and this is Nick Capozzoli. We’re both from Chicago. We design and paint historic murals that include a lot of nostalgia and things that are relevant and significant to the makeup of smaller towns. 

The two of us linked up at a screen printing studio. We were both working out of the same studio space and we started bouncing ideas off of each other and helping one another with projects. We both have similar interests in terms of art, history, and Americana.

How did this opportunity catch your eye? 

Mike: The Arts District put out a call for artists in the spring, so I applied then, but didn’t hear anything. They asked me to resubmit in August for this new opportunity that seemed like a better fit, and we got word that they wanted to move forward.  

What was the inspiration gathering process like for this mural? 

Mike: Typically the client [The Arts District, in this case] throws out a couple of links for us to review. From there I kind of go nuts with it and see what I can learn and find. I’ll go on Newspapers.com to review old newspaper articles, or go on Flickr and type in “Glens Falls” and go through 15,000 photos that pop up. Then we compared notes with The Arts District to find out what concepts were good and what they thought maybe wouldn’t be as well received. They also put out a call for concepts to get the community involved in submitting ideas, and we narrowed it down. A lot of lists getting combined and narrowed.

What initially jumped out at you from your research about Glens Falls that made it to the finished mural? 

Nick: For me, it was the photograph that we illustrated of the men logging on the river from the 1800’s. Just thinking about the amount of trees that were cut down at the time of that photograph, and Chicago wasn’t even an established city yet! 

Mike: The logging one is great because it was just this old photograph. Nick illustrated that one, and the challenge was figuring out a way to get it on the mural without having a very line heavy photo, so we came up with the idea of putting it on the newspaper to make it a bit more graphic. 

I also like the bridge illustration. There’s a lot of history with bridges here, and we could probably do a whole mural just about the different bridges that have existed here over the years. I think it’s a fun image - kinda wonky - that brings the history of the bridges to life. 

What are some of the challenges you encountered while painting this week? 

Mike: It looks like there’s a lot of straight lines, but there isn’t a single one. There’s a lot of taping involved, a lot of finessing to make things look straight. 

Also, the brick on this particular building doesn’t get any sun, so it’s been really cold this week.

Nick: Paint doesn’t like to stick to cold brick!

Mike: Right, and also the paint takes a little longer to dry. 

Nick: There were some sections where the brick was really porous so we really needed to spend more time packing paint into those areas. 

Mike: Some of the bricks that have more wear were almost like painting over dust. So in those areas, when we took tape of, some of that paint would come off with it, which could get frustrating.

Have you had much time to explore and experience Glens Falls? 

Mike: We were able to go to the hockey game, and that was sick. We love live sports and had a great time. Really great energy there. 

There’s no shortage of places to eat and drink around here! We haven’t been able to do much, but we’ve enjoyed grabbing food at The Bullpen, or right here at Spot Coffee - their sandwiches are great. 

Nick: It was impressive to see the turnout from the Halloween event [Boo2You]. It was packed! It looked like a really good time. 

Another thing that stands out is all of these old buildings. It’s so nice that you guys still have a lot of these. It looks like 221 [Glen Street] just had the facade redone and it’s just - wow. There’s a real sense of preservation about it. 

What’s your take on murals and public art moving forward? 

Mike: It’s a big part of downtown revitalization. It’s a super accessible way to experience art. And with social media to help increase the exposure, hopefully it gets more people out and about in these communities to experience it. 

My Glens Falls: Ben Miller

This week we caught up with Ben Miller, who you’ll likely recognize from Park Street Hospitality (soon to include the new Park & Elm restaurant and market!). He shares what brought him back to Glens Falls after a decade abroad, his go-to spot for a nightcap, his vision for the future of the city, and more.

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Ben Miller. I am the Operations Manager for Park Street Hospitality, the company that operates The Park Theater and Doc’s Restaurant. We are currently expanding to include our new restaurant and market concept - Park & Elm. I am also involved with a number of my family’s real estate development projects across the city.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I grew up in Queensbury, but I left the area to attend university in Burlington, Vermont. From there I moved to the UK and then to Canada, living abroad for close to 10 years. I came back in March of 2020, just at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was something that I had been planning for quite awhile, but I didn’t really know when it would happen. The pandemic drove me to take a more active role in my family’s business ventures here in the city, and I am glad that it did. I have been rediscovering my hometown every day for the last two years.

For the last year I have been managing the development of a new mixed-use commercial/residential building at 15 Park Street. This building will host 10 residential units as well as our new restaurant and market. Part of that process has been designing my personal apartment. Overall, this has been a very challenging but rewarding project. Old buildings like this one have so much character, but certainly come with their challenges as well. Would it have been faster and cheaper to knock it down and start from scratch? Definitely, but in my opinion, these old buildings are one of the things that give our town so much charm. Hopefully these renovations will bring new life to this part of the city, so it can be enjoyed by generations to come!

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite thing about Glens Falls has been watching this city grow. There was a point in my youth when I thought I would never want to come back to Glens Falls. I wanted something more exciting. Now, many of those amenities are right here at home - great restaurants, the arts, etc. We are also incredibly lucky to live just outside the Adirondacks. It can really feel like the best of both worlds.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My ideal day starts on Saturday night, right after getting out of work. If I’m lucky, it’s early enough for my wife and I to grab dinner at any one of the great restaurants that we have in town these days. A rising tide lifts all boats, as they say. We try to support as many of our fellow restaurateurs and restaurant workers as we can.

We follow this up with live jazz and a nightcap at the Bourbon Room. Regardless of who is playing, it is always a treat to see such talent coming out of this city. The cocktails don’t hurt either!

The next morning I cook brunch, or maybe we pop in to Kerrie’s Northway Dinner. You’ve gotta love that old-school hometown charm. The staff there really are the best too. Either way, a cortado from Kru Coffee and a walk up to Crandall Park is always a great way to digest all of that French toast. A lazy Sunday afternoon brings us right back to supper, and time to start over again.

On the Past

My favorite Glens Falls memories take me back to the dinner table, with friends and family at Bistro Tallulah. I don’t think there are many in the local food and beverage industry that don’t know that name. For me, Sean Whalen’s restaurant was a revelation. It redefined what I thought Glens Falls was capable of, and went miles in paving the way for the current generation of restaurateurs in the city.

I also have more than a few hazy memories from the old $2 Thursdays at the Bullpen. Everyone was home from college…there was cheap beer…and shots of peppermint schnapps…and dartboards… What could possibly go wrong? That’s a story for another day.

On the Future

We need people — young professionals, families, retirees, you name it! Glens Falls spent too many years as a city that many like me were anxious to leave. My friends and I turned 18 and couldn’t wait to get out. It has taken years to lift that stigma, but the tide is turning. Every day I meet new people who have chosen to make Glens Falls home, or like me, have returned after years away. We don’t need a magic wand. Let’s just keep working together to make Glens Falls a better place to live and work.

First Look: The Farm Store at Tiashoke

If you’re looking for a quintessential fall shopping experience in the country, look no further! 

Located in Schaghticoke in southern Washington County, Tiashoke owners Jessica and Stuart Ziehm are fourth generation dairy farmers that just so happen to have a lot of fun growing pumpkins, too. Ninety two different varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash, to be exact! Jessica started out selling pumpkins in the fall at their roadside stand (made famous by their adorable pumpkin house with the cornstalk roof!), and as business grew, so did her plans for a year round farm store — which came to fruition this fall! 

The Farm Store at Tiashoke showcases the farm’s dairy and meats, along with a variety of local farm treats and gifts. The star of this season, though, are their pumpkins! With 92 varieties, they have every shape, size, and color that you could hope for, along with a charming atmosphere (yes, the pumpkin house is still there!) and three sweet pups that serve as the Farm Store’s unofficial greeters! 

Inside the beautifully renovated 1800’s barn, you’ll find Tiashoke’s own beef and pork, their Cabot cheeses, and a variety of local products, including Goose Island potatoes, Mapleland Farms syrup, and Borden’s Orchard apples and cider, among others. They also stock a fun selection of farm themed children’s products, home decor, candles, cookbooks, and more. So much inspiration for country living. 

The best news: this is just the beginning! Jessica shared plans in the works for adding an antique section to the shop (2023 update: the barn basement is now filled to the brim with antiques!), events and workshops, as well as future plans for coffee, ice cream, food trucks, and lots more. Can’t wait to follow along as they continue to grow! 

The Farm Stand at Tiashoke
11834 NY-40, Schaghticoke, NY 12154
Facebook / Instagram

My Glens Falls: Ryan Haig

This week, Ryan Haig shares his perspective on moving to Glens Falls from Cape Cod and putting down roots in this community, his go-to diner, the trio of downtown restaurants that would make up the perfect date night with his wife, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Ryan Haig and I am a father, husband and a transplant from Cape Cod. Moving from the beaches to the mountains over a decade ago was quite an adjustment, but I continue to be pleasantly surprised by Hometown USA and the many benefits of being part of this community.

I am a beneficiary of the radical generosity of this North Country community and God’s grace. I moved to this area without knowing a soul or having a cent to my name (a story for another day). Today I have a beautiful wife, two amazing children, a thriving career, lovely home, dynamic church community and a great network of friendship and support.

I work with Amsure, the insurance division of Adirondack Trust, and I partner with many North Country businesses by providing insurance solutions. I work with the best boss, best co-workers and benefit from a great culture. I’ve never had the Sunday night “scaries” and it may be hard to believe, but I actually look forward to going to work each day. My career affords me the opportunity to do what I am most passionate about: create connection, develop authentic relationships, and live out the Golden Rule in the business community.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

Having not grown up in the Glens Falls area, I have a unique perspective which allows me to see what a special community this is. Of course it’s not perfect, but it is a community that values relationship and not just transaction. It has history and class but is also down to earth. It has a rich arts and nonprofit community. It has a growing and healthy business environment. It is a safe community to raise a family and the natural environment surrounding it is second to none.

Glens Falls will always have a special place in my heart as this is where my wife and I were married, had our first baby, graduated college (SUNY Adirondack & Skidmore,) and started a career. We wanted more space before baby number two came along, so we bought a home not far from town. While we do not reside in Glens Falls, our life still revolves around the rhythms of the Glens Falls area with work, social life, and community engagement.

We live in an a generous community and I have benefitted from being a part of it in many ways. I have so many examples of generosity, but one of my favorites is when I was starting night classes at SUNY Adirondack while working three jobs. At the time I was wondering if I had the ability and resources to jump back into academia after being out for over a decade. After my first semester I was praying about what to do when out of the blue one of my customers who I hardly knew, offered to pay for my education. Talk about an answer to prayer! Radical generosity.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

I really do love my job, so I have two kinds of “ideal” days - weekdays and weekend days. For the perfect week day, it would start with my favorite quarterly event called Christian Business Men’s Connection. These breakfasts take place at the Queensbury Hotel where 50-100 men in our community gather to connect and be encouraged by speakers from all walks of life.

From there I would meet up with a client and deliver something delicious from Birch Bark Eatery or Lox of Bagels. It is important to fuel up with some quality carbs in order to tackle insurance related issues for their business.

Afterwards I would meet up with clients and friends on the golf course. Starting up golf this year at the ripe age of 38 is not pretty, but courtesy of PSG Golf it gets better every day. More importantly, at this stage of life, there is no other venue to spend extended quality time with great people and dig into meaningful conversations revolving around family, faith and business.

After searching for lost golf balls in the woods for 4 hours it would be time to put the suit and tie back on and shift gears to my favorite event of the year, the Adirondack Regional Chamber’s annual gala at the Sagamore Resort. The ARCC is a special organization and always seems to attract a crowd of amazing people. This event always reminds me that we are surrounded by community champions who are continuously working and sacrificing to make this region a place that people like me can move to, raise a family and put down roots to live out the American dream.

Family days are the ones we live for. There is always plenty to do in our area and my primary task is rallying the troops (my wife Tiffany, 6-year-old daughter Elsie and 3-year-old son Adam) to seize the day. An ideal day would be a Sunday which would start off with our Pine Knolls church family.

Since I am putting together the hypothetical ideal day, our favorite diner, Poopie’s, would happen to be open on this Sunday (typically only open Monday-Saturday) for a post-church brunch. There is nothing like a classic diner and one of my primary functions as a father is to introduce my children to the finer things in life.

From there we would focus in on kiddo time: Skyzone Trampoline park, Cole’s Woods, a whirlwind playground tour- whatever it takes to let out the crazy toddler energy.

After everyone is wiped out it would be time for date night with Tiffany. Since date nights are less frequent at this stage of life, we like to hit as many of our favorite spots as we can in one outing. This ideal date night would magically skip past any wait times and we would be able to seamlessly enjoy the patio at Doc’s (serenaded by Chris Ristau,) Farmacy, and finally Raul’s for Salmon Tacos (courtesy of JK.)

We’d arrive home just in time to watch our beloved New England Patriots dominate on Sunday night football.

And of course, no Sunday night scaries.

Ideal day indeed.

On the Past and the Future

This is a stretching time of life and it is a season that I will always wish to have back. Moving to the Glens Falls area over a decade ago started this chapter. The anchor points of getting married, welcoming my children to this world, completing a secondary education and starting a career will always be associated with putting down roots in the Glens Falls community. I have been a beneficiary of radical generosity and that generosity cannot be found just anywhere. This is a special community and I am grateful to have stumbled into it. I don’t know all that the future holds, but I do know that my calling in life is to be a servant leader in my home, at my job and in my community. I hope to play my part in giving back and continue to grow this generous spirit that is the bedrock of Hometown USA.

Road Trip: Dorset, Vermont

If you love charming small towns, great food, and beautiful views, then we have the day trip for you! Just one hour from Glens Falls sits the lovely town of Dorset, Vermont and it’s one of our favorite Sunday drives. Read on for some of our top picks while in town…

EAT + DRINK

Mach’s Market: The market of our dreams! You’ll run into Mach’s on your way to Dorset in Pawlet, Vermont. Filled to the brim with everything you could ever want - fresh baked goods, local meat and cheese, wine and craft beer, not to mention their delicious to-go menu! We always order a sandwich to take with us for a picnic at Merck Forest or to enjoy on one of the picnic tables on the Dorset Green. A must!

Dorset Inn + Barrows House: For a delicious meal, drink, or to stay the night, these restaurants / inns would be our top picks in Dorset. We love to drive out on a summer or fall afternoon for a drink on the porch at the Dorset Inn, overlooking the Green, or for a cocktail by the fire on the patio at Barrows House. Owned by the same group, the food is delicious at both restaurants (though we have a soft spot for the cozy atmosphere in the Tavern at the Dorset Inn).

Dorset Union Store: Another favorite, we never leave without one (okay, a couple) of their Ginger Molasses cookies. A quintessential general store, there’s a little bit of everything - an awesome deli in the back, baked goods in front, and all the kitchen essentials stacked neatly on the old wooden shelves. Grab a sandwich (or, ahem, a cookie) and enjoy it on the picnic tables on the Green just outside the door.

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SEE, DO + SHOP

3 Pears Gallery: Beautifully curated with fine art, we love strolling through the gallery to see what’s new - and we often recognize the names of some of our favorite Washington County artists while we’re there! The gallery rotates seasonally, so there’s always something new to see.

Merck Forest and Farmland Center: The view driving up the hill on the approach to the Visitor’s Center is almost worth the trip alone, and what’s waiting for you inside is even better. A quick walk down Old Town Road reveals the gorgeous farm, and more of the amazing view. Pack a picnic from Mach’s Market or the Dorset Union Store and grab a picnic table overlooking Harwood Barn (and the sheep and chickens below!), or explore some of the trails ranging from easy to difficult (maps here). If camping is your thing, they offer cabins, shelters, and dispersed camping, too!

The Kitchen Store at JK Adams: Well known for their beautiful cutting and serving boards (crafted right onsite!), they also curate and stock the very best products for cooking, baking, and home at their Kitchen Store. Always a favorite when we’re in town!

Dorset Farmers Market: We love to stop at local farmers markets when we’re on the road, and the Dorset Market is always a treat. From flowers to fresh produce and bread to local artisan goods, you’ll definitely end up bringing home an armful. Held at the HN Williams General Store during the warmer months, the market just moved indoors to the woodworking shop at JK Adams for the fall and winter season. Sundays from 10am-2pm!

Flower Brook Pottery: A working studio and a gift shop, they specialize in both pottery for daily use and for display (with a selection of the sweetest custom pieces, too!). Only open Tuesday - Thursday or by appointment, so plan ahead if you are visiting!

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Until next time, Dorset! If you have any area favorites we should add to our list for next trip, we’d love to hear!

P.S. Check out more in our Road Trip series here.

My Glens Falls: Erin Glock

This week, we’re chatting with Erin Glock! She shares some of her dog friendly favorites in the city (could her pups get any cuter?!), two of her go-to weekend activities, some favorite memories from the Civic Center, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Erin Glock, and I live on the east side of Glens Falls with my husband Mike and our two golden retrievers, Charlie & Penny. We moved here about a year and a half ago, and purchased an adorable Cape with the best screened in porch that we all love.

Although I have a social work background, I work for KeyBank managing a construction portfolio of income property, healthcare, community development and small business projects. 

On Life in Glens Falls

We chose to live in Glens Falls after we moved back from living in Utah for two years. We love hiking and being outdoors, so we wanted to be close to the Adirondacks and everything it has to offer. Although I didn’t grow up in Glens Falls (I grew up in Clifton Park), I have some fond memories coming up to the area with my family. From learning to ski at West Mountain, attending the Adirondack Red Wings games, and seeing the WWF professional wresting at the Glens Falls Civic Center back in the 80’s (The Iron Sheik, Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Junkyard Dog!). Oh, and I was once put in a headlock by George the Animal Steele!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Recently, I learned to play pickleball and boy is it addicting! You can find me playing bright and early every Saturday & Sunday morning at Crandall Park. I have only been playing for six months, but it’s so much fun and I play with a wonderful and welcoming group of people. If you haven’t tried it, what are you waiting for?

I also love to unwind with classes at Grounded on Glen. It is one of the most beautiful yoga studios I have ever been in. The instructors and classes are wonderful and they change your mindset by the end of the hour. 

Must Love Dogs

When I’m not on the pickleball court or in yoga, I am usually walking the pups around the neighborhood, downtown, or hiking one of the many trails that surround us in the Adirondacks. One thing I appreciate about Glens Falls is how dog friendly it is.  We typically like to include them in most things we do, whether it’s shopping for our outdoor gear at Fountain Square Outfitters, having a meal at Davidson Brothers (they have a dog menu!), or grabbing an adult beverage at Common Roots, they are coming with us. Also, Charlie and I recently completed therapy dog training & testing. I am really looking forward to volunteering and starting our visits to bring joy and comfort to our community. 

On Supporting Small Business

I love that Glens Falls is so supportive of their small business community. I grew up in a family who ran a small business. My dad owned a Goodyear franchise in downtown Schenectady for over twenty years. It’s not always easy for the small business owner and that’s why it’s so important that we invest in our own communities.

We have so many wonderful restaurants (some I still need to try), quaint shops and a thriving arts scene. Being able to access these things just by walking in my own community is something that I always wanted. I love that we can just take a stroll to grab a bite to eat, get our dogs groomed, catch a show at the theater, attend an arts festival at City Park, or grab an ice cream right off the bike path. 

First Look: Barn and Brick Co.

Calling all vintage and antique lovers! There’s a new shop in town, and you’re going to need a cart ;) Barn and Brick Co. held their grand opening at The Shirt Factory this past weekend, and we caught up with owners Sheila Kent and Jeremy Iaquinto to find out more about their transition to brick and mortar, what you can expect to see in store, and more…

How did Barn and Brick Co. come to be?

Barn and Brick Co. is the product of years of collecting, building, and repurposing of a variety of interesting items. We decided to make B&B Co. a reality in 2018 after realizing how hard it is for design-savvy people to source amazing decor and authentic DIY materials. We wanted to make it easy for interior designers and weekend warriors to find the perfect piece.

Barn and Brick takes art, repurposed decor, and original B&B Co. products and combines them with the picking experience of an antique and architectural salvage location.

Our home tells our story and we want to help people tell theirs.

How has B&B Co. evolved over time?

The evolution of Barn and Brick was more like a yo-yo. We started out with the vision for the brick and mortar location we have today, however, we then began to travel the East Coast selling at antique shows and vintage markets on weekends. That was a grueling and energy intensive way to sell. It was a cycle of pack, setup, sell, tear down, pack up, and unload. We took short breaks and then we would repeat the cycle. It was madness. The pandemic forced us to reset. We’d been on the search for a retail location since then. When the owner of The Shirt Factory told us there was space available, we decided to quickly make our first brick and mortar location a reality.

This space was really a mixture born of the necessity to get out of the antique show circuit and our local customers asking when they could come “pick” our inventory. We truly believe we have something special to offer and wanted to share it in central year-round location.

What can people expect to see at Barn and Brick?

People will find farmhouse, chippy, architectural, mid century and antique/vintage pieces. We also have several lines of our own hand-made and designed products.

Sheila is the zhuzh’er. She brings items together in new and interesting ways that makes the decor feel like it was always meant to be there.

I’m the artist and builder. I build one-of-a-kind pieces from repurposed materials, paint UFOs into thrift-store paintings, turn old pianos into bars, and create industrial tool cabinets from wine racks.

We sell antiques but we aren’t a traditional antique store. I tell people we sell home decor and furnishings that tell a story. It just happens that most antique and vintage items have a patina from age that does just that.

What are some perks of the job?

We love sharing the picking experience with people just like us. People send us pictures with items they found at B&B Co. displayed beautifully in their homes. That always puts a smile on our faces.

What's next for Barn and Brick?

Global domination, of course! Actually, we really want to earn trust as being one of the best places around to find great products that tell your story.

We have some really exciting brand new B&B Co. products coming out each holiday season. As for the antiques and vintage products, our goal is to have fresh-from-the-barn products arriving weekly and at amazing prices.

Barn and Brick Co.
The Shirt Factory • 71 Lawrence Street, Studio 101B, Glens Falls
Open Thursday - Saturday 12-5pm
Website / Facebook

My Glens Falls: Mike Gerarde

This week we caught up with Mike Gerarde! He shares his version of a perfect fall day in Glens Falls (complete with his go-to golf course), how our area compares to the many places he’s visited around the world, and a bit of business advice that has helped him as he’s launched his own business, PSG Golf…

Tell us about yourself!

Hey, I’m Mike Gerarde! I operate a golf lessons business (PSG Golf), work with a great friend at The Luxury Box, just accepted the Head Coach of Golf position at SUNY Adirondack and am involved with our family HR/Payroll business, KEENA. I have two beautiful daughters that are just like their mother (in a great way…usually), Josephine and Genevieve. It all keeps me pretty busy but it’s a “happy busy” and a great life.

On Life in Glens Falls

I was born in Glens Falls and raised in Queensbury. I was blessed to be able to travel a lot while I was younger. My mom was always finding new places to go, and my grandparents took us grandkids around the whole country during the summer when we were young. From Samoa and France to the Grand Canyon and bright lights of Hong Kong, nothing compared to home. Maybe I’m just a homebody, but it always seemed like none of these places compared to Lake George, Glens Falls, and Queensbury. We’ve got everything anyone could want up here. Beautiful seasons, great food, all kinds of recreation (particularly some of the state’s best golf courses!), and most importantly, the people. There was no doubt that my girls would grow up here. I’d put Glens Falls up against any other town in America when it comes to raising a family, you just can’t beat it.

We own a home right near downtown Glens Falls. It’s an older home (1920’s) but it’s been kept in great condition and the location makes it so special. We’re walking distance to school, restaurants, bike trail, work, parks, and our favorite gas station (Stewart’s!). Our neighbors are the definition of “neighborly” — we always have each other’s back and look for ways to help each other out.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My ideal Glens Falls day would be waking up slow in late fall and packing the girls up in the car to get a smoothie from their mom’s smoothie truck, Jenny Jo’s, outside Crandall Library. I’d chase the girls around City Park for an hour or so, then I’d steal Haley from the smoothie truck for a dance to “In Your Atmosphere” by John Mayer on the gazebo to remind her that she’s too good for me and how lucky I am to call her mine.

Then I’d head over to The Luxury Box for two lessons. The first would be with a youngster who gets to experience the joy of watching the ball fly after making solid contact for the first time, and the next would be with an older student who didn’t know he or she still had it in them to hit bombs down the middle of the fairway.

After that, we’d all meet up at my mom’s house in Queensbury to catch noon kickoff of a Syracuse football game. We’d eat my mom’s famous buffalo chicken dip while Syracuse beats up on Clemson for four quarters. My sister would be there and we’d laugh about silly stuff going on in the world and there’d be no business talk.

After the game I’d play a quick 9 holes at Hiland Country Club with my favorite foursome: Dave Mucha, Jeff Boss, and Sam Gleason. We’d go to Mullen’s Pub after to watch the Syracuse basketball game in the back room. Local legend JG3 would drop 40 points on Gonzaga and we’d see Jim Boeheim smile.

After that, I’d head back to the Luxury Box to watch the UFC fights on the big screens with my brother and his friends. In between fights, we would play golf mini-games on the simulator and no matter how hard my brother tries I would beat him every time. Golf is the only thing that I can beat him in so I don’t go easy. Sorry Joe.

On the Past

My favorite memories of Glens Falls and Queensbury are Friday night and Saturday football games. The whole community coming together for some healthy competition was probably what lead to my love for all sports. Yeah, the sports were fun and the games were good, but there was nothing like seeing your friends, family, classmates, and rivals all together, rooting each other on and working towards a common goal.

On the Future

I can’t think of anything that I’d change about our city as far as things to do. There’s something for everyone!

From a business standpoint, I think our small businesses would be so strong if they all joined the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce. I don’t really like the word “requirement” but if there was some way to have every new business join the Chamber, I think we’d see more places staying in business and there would be incredible connection in the business community. The cost of membership is peanuts compared to all the benefits that membership can bring to a small business. It would just be so cool to see how much more successful our new businesses could be if they immersed themselves into the business community by joining the Chamber. I should note that I don’t work for them! But I do attribute a lot of the early success of my businesses to them, from the connections I’ve made to the advertising and marketing they do for each of their members — so I probably am biased!

My Glens Falls: Andy O'Rourke

This week we chatted with Andy O’Rourke! He shares his favorite place in the city to visit in the fall, his passion for theater, and introduces his new venture, All Abilities Productions, which is a non-profit with a mission to encourage all people — regardless of disability, race, religion, age, or gender — to participate in theater.

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, I’m Andy O’Rourke! I’m 22 years old. I’ve lived in Glens Falls my whole life. I live at home with my parents and our two cats. 

I’m a graduate of Glens Falls High School (class of 2019) and SUNY Adirondack (class of 2021). I’m currently a student at Empire State College. I’m getting my BFA in Theatre and Music Education, as well as Non Profit Management. I’ve been involved with several theater productions in the area, including Glens Falls High School, Broadway Upstate, and Lighthouse Productions.  

I’m also the Founder, Executive Producer, and Artistic Director of All Abilities Productions. It was founded in April 2022 because I got tired of getting rejected in auditions for musicals because of my disability. I have cerebral palsy. One night, I couldn’t sleep, and at 3am I thought to myself, “I’m going to change this. I’m going to create a nonprofit for people of all abilities to be on stage.” 

I’d like to do a full season each year opposite all of the other art companies in the area. In 2024, when I’m done with school, we’re going to kick off our first season, which will include two full scale musicals. We have our first in-person event and fundraiser on November 13 at The Park Theater. There will be a screening of the Oscar proposed film My Disability Roadmap and an opportunity to participate in a brief discussion about the movie and challenges faced by those that are a part of the disabled community. We’ll then introduce All Abilities Productions and its mission to the community. [Click here for event details.] 

While I have a disability, I haven’t ever let that stop me. If there’s anyone out there in the same boat, I’d like to encourage them to just go for their goals. Just do it. If you’re going to fail, you’re going to fail, but you’ll get back up, and eventually you’ll succeed. I’ve been lucky in that I have a supportive family to encourage me along the way. I’d also like to thank Tracy Sullivan, Miriam Weisfeld, and Elizabeth Pietrangelo from the Adirondack Theater Festival, Emily Murphy from the Wood Theater, and Chris Ristau from The Park Theater for being such an inspiration to me. I could not do it without my amazing team of volunteer board and committee members.  My current board members include Carol Lavelle, Amanda Taft, Sarah Driscoll, Rose Ann O’Rourke Taft, Carol Durant, Deanna Park, Amy Cronin, Carissa O’Rourke, Dylan Lucia, and Terry Kempf.  I would also like to thank Kimberly Strauchon Verner, Esq. for her wonderful pro bono work.

My Perfect Glens Falls Day

It would start with a walk on the Feeder Canal trail. I love it there, especially right now with the leaves changing. It’s so peaceful. Then I’d go to Spot Coffee. I love the Coconut Lavender Lemonade. One of our production managers at Adirondack Theater Festival came up with it (thanks Jackie!). From there, I’d be volunteering at The Wood Theater. After that, I’d go to Gourmet Cafe for dinner and then to Downtown Social for Social After Dark. 

I love Glens Falls. It’s such a creative hub. A couple of my other favorites are the Arts District and the Adirondack Theater Festival. 

On The Past

I loved watching Glens Falls win the football and basketball championships when I was a senior in high school. Being there was so much fun. 

On The Future

I would like to see All Abilities grow into a full season like the Adirondack Theater Festival to encourage all people, regardless of disability, race, religion, age, or gender to participate in theater. 

Our five year plan in the off season is to work with other nonprofit organizations to provide educational programming, such as an all-inclusive dance programs or a play writing class, or an improv acting class. We hope to give our participants experiences and the confidence and skills to share who they are and all they are able to do. We want to be able to break down the preconceived notions about disabilities and build a more inclusive community. It’s important to us to create a safe and respectful environment and celebrate creativity.

Hometown Artist Hannah Williams Completes Downtown Mural

Little did we know that when we chatted with Hannah Williams last fall about her artwork on the Bay Street electrical box, we’d be talking to her again so soon about an even bigger project! Hannah just finished up her amazing mural downtown on Warren Street - one of two murals that are part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls. She shared the inspiration for the project, the challenges and rewards along the way, and more…

For those that don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself!

I was born in Glens Falls and raised in Queensbury! I am a self-taught artist, painting consistently for more than twelve years, and a full-time artist for the past three years. I have been in the mural painting business for a decade. I’m honored to be featured for the second time on Glens Falls Living! Without being too redundant talking about myself and background, folks can return to my first interview where they can learn more about me and my roots in Glens Falls. 

On Pursuing Art as a Career

I am fortunate enough to have figured out my passion as a child - and stuck to it. Ever since I can remember I have been involved with art somehow. I’m mostly self taught, but I have taken a variety of art classes from middle school through community college. 

My business started in 2014 following a year of live painting and vending at music festivals and painting my first mural in 2013. My biggest issue getting started was still being very young and needing to figure out the logistics of what I wanted out of a career in the arts. I had to learn to be patient. I was 20 years old when I painted my first mural. I struggled for a handful of years, working two jobs on top of any opportunity to make money with my art on the side. 

From 2016-2017 I had the opportunity to work at Adirondack Studios in Argyle, NY. I learned so much about the discipline, production and logistical side of painting murals. 

Then in 2020 with the temporary loss of my two jobs during the pandemic, I was able to hone in on my business and create art full-time. 

In the past 10 years, I have painted 22 murals within the Capital Region.

On Local Opportunity

This mural opportunity caught my eye because I am a true advocate for public art and have been desperately wanting Glens Falls to welcome murals for many years. If you know me, you have heard my many rants about this. It’s just something I have been hoping for for so long. 

The application process was typical of any public art submission and I was prepared. When you submit to a public art call, it’s not just showing your portfolio. You need your art resume or CV, you need to show your public art experience, propose a budget and concept sketch, and be comfortable with things like navigating contracts and operating a lift.

On Inspiration

The submission required that the subject for the mural be Glens Falls related. The past few years, I’ve noticed I have gravitated towards nature as a recurring theme with my public art for a few reasons. Most importantly, I want people to connect with nature. It’s universal imagery everyone can relate to, and it can create an interactive and educational purpose.

Originally I chose native flowers that could be found throughout the streets of Glens Falls or in Coles Woods. The interesting thing about the public art process is that the subject can evolve drastically from concept to end result because of all the parts and people involved. Once the Arts District landed me a building owner, I collaborated with them on a revised design because, of course, their opinion matters too. Once I was able to sit down with the building owners to brainstorm a design, it turned out that we all have the same love for nature in common. It took the three of us just one hour to figure it out. Basically, I had them run down everything in nature they loved, from animals, plants, space, insects and earth elements. I created a design that more-so tells a story of where Glens Falls is geographically. There are elements of nature you could find within the city and at the foothills of the Adirondacks, including the bear and owl.

That whole experience collaborating with the building owners completely reignited my excitement for the whole project.

On Challenges and Rewards

The challenges I encountered were typical of any large project, but even more so due to this being the start of a mural program here in Glens Falls. There was so much planning, revision, back and forth, and city approval before I got to the fun part of painting. Truly nonstop for many months, including getting certified in the boom lift, acquiring general liability insurance, figuring out materials, and so on.

The city board meeting for approval was quite the event. There was public pushback, comments and concerns. I stood in front of the room with Kate Austin as she represented the Arts District and I represented the artists. Nothing felt better than having the city board hear us and approve the project unanimously.

I also faced social and societal hurdles, including not being taken seriously by taking this project on by myself. The challenge there was simply not giving up and being my own advocate.

As far as the actual painting process, the most challenging part was painting the barred owl. Such intricate details, as well as wrapping it around on two different planes. It took days to figure it all out to where it translates correctly at a certain angle.

I loved every second of painting this mural. It was truly an emotionally validating experience. This was my first large scale building mural and I am so proud. It’s exactly the career path I've been wanting to go down — to be able to travel anywhere and paint large building murals.

On Supporting Local

A very large chunk of my budget was dispersed back into the local economy, and that was very important to me. Everything that I needed or used was purchased locally, down to the paint, lift rental, insurance and so on. I didn’t want to cut any corners for the sake of profiting more because in the end, the preservation and quality of the art itself is more important. Shout out to: Colbra Painting, Sherwin Williams, Action Equipment, O’Brien Insurance Agency, Liberty Graphics, and March First Media.

On Support

Many folks had different designated titles for my boyfriend, Tyler. My bodyguard, PR appointee, and Humble Assistant to name a few. For anyone wondering, “Who’s that guy that was always sitting there?!”  That was my lovely partner. He deserves recognition for the amount of support and assistance he provided for me every day on the job. He promoted me and my business, handing out cards and telling everyone about the process. He had no complaints about always handing me a tool I needed, cleaning up, or making sure I was hydrated, fed, and had sunscreen on. 

I am extremely humbled by the amount of support the community showed me. I heard every honk, compliment and cheer that came by. This project brought my family together, and other families too. It was something different and exciting to witness and check up on everyday. I made friends and connections. Many thanks to the following people for making this project a more enjoyable experience: Tyler Mammone (boyfriend), Cathy & Brad Williams (Mom and Dad), Ryan Williams (brother), Aunt Lisa & Uncle John, Aunt Gail and new friends Jane & Craig. All of these people stopped by every single day to show their support. 

On Visiting the Mural

Please visit the mural not only in the day, but at night as well. It’s quite magical how the street lights illuminate the moon, stars and other objects giving off a whole different vibe!

Also! There will be a Meet the Artist event at the mural (20 Warren Street) this Wednesday, September 21st at 5pm. Looking forward to connecting with community then!

Hannah Williams Art
Instagram / Website

First Look: Blooming Acres Farm

We’ve seen the Blooming Acres Farm Flower Truck popping up at events around town all summer, so it was high time we chatted with owner Emily Johneas about this adorable new venture! She shares what inspired her to begin flower farming, how she found her 1953 flower truck (and the learning curve involved with driving it!), and more…

Emily Johneas and her 1953 Ford F-100 Flower Truck

First, tell us a bit about yourself! 

I’m Emily Johneas. I am the owner and operator of Blooming Acres Farm. I also run a commercial construction company with my husband in my spare time. When I’m not working or out in the gardens, I’m spending time with my countless four-legged friends.

On Becoming a Flower Farmer

Blooming Acres has been years in the making. I first started gardening during my senior year of college. I studied history, and in my senior year I did an independent study course and learned all about the Braceros (thanks to Professor Flores!). The Braceros were the Mexican farm workers that came to fill the labor shortage and work in our fields during World War II. Being a young woman growing up in the suburbs of Long Island, I was so disconnected from where my food came from. To help understand the challenges of the Braceros as best as I could, my husband made me a raised garden bed to grow my first garden. I grew way too much in that small, raised garden bed, but I learned so much. Year after year, our garden slowly expanded. At one point we had so little outside space that we got creative and turned our second bedroom into a grow room!

In 2017 we moved up to Washington County and found our dream home. That’s where Blooming Acres really started to take shape. I started my farming journey by growing heirloom vegetables and some flowers for the pollinators. I fell in love with all the different shapes, textures, colors, and types of flowers. Every year my flower garden expanded greatly, leaving less room for veggies!

From Farm Stand to Flower Truck 

Blooming Acres started out as a farm stand. I am so fortunate to have such a skilled carpenter for a husband. He built my farm stand for me to display all my flower arrangements, and I have a great friend and neighbor who has generously allowed me to place my farm stand on her land as it gets a lot more traffic than it would see on my quiet dirt road.

As our farm expanded, I began reaching out to local businesses to do popup events in the community. I was fortunate enough to be a vendor at R.S. Taylor during the Washington County Cheese Tour and the Thursday Night Food Truck Market at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. These pop-up events allowed me to meet members of the community and talk all things flowers!

The next step for Blooming Acres was my flower truck, which has been in the works for years. I have seen flower trucks popping up all over the US, and while most of them are mobile florists, I wanted to create the same concept with locally grown blooms. People can expect a rotation of fresh cut blooms on the truck. Our selection changes on a weekly basis. All the flowers on the truck are naturally grown and locally sourced!

The flower truck has been a great way of getting my flowers out into the community. I have received such great feedback - people really love the concept of building their own bouquets and talking all about the ’53 flower truck while they’re at it.

On Finding a Vintage Truck

Initially, my flower truck was going to be an imported Japanese right hand drive mini truck. However, it was quite difficult to get the truck on the road in New York. One day my husband was cruising Facebook Marketplace and found my current truck. We went to go see it in New Hampshire and I instantly fell in love. All of the pieces fell into place and we brought my truck home to New York on Easter of 2021.

It was initially a learning curve with driving the ’53, it was interesting learning to drive a vehicle without power steering and most modern safety features!

On the Rewards and Challenges of Flower Farming

The biggest reward of growing flowers is the ability to share them with the community! I love talking all things flowers.

This year has been my most challenging season yet. This heat on top of drought conditions have been detrimental to my crops. The seedlings that did manage to survive this year were stunted as a result of the hot weather. Luckily, the local flower farming community has been so supportive. I reached out to multiple flower farmers in my area this summer when my flowers were struggling, to try to find sources for local grown blooms. It was very important for me to ensure that the blooms on my truck are sustainably grown and locally sourced. I didn’t want to fill up the truck with the same flowers you would get at the store and wanted to ensure that they weren’t preserved with chemicals. To my surprise all the farmers I reached out to were so supportive and willing to help! My business wouldn’t be as successful as it is this year without the support of Amy at Bark Hill Farm in Hebron, NY- she has graciously opened her fields to me this season.

On the Future

I’m looking forward to connecting and collaborating more with local businesses as Blooming Acres continues to grow! Most immediately, I’ll be at the Drink Pink Event at the Adirondack Winery in Queensbury on Friday from 5-7pm. All of the proceeds of the event are going to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Adirondacks. On Saturday I will be at Northway Brewing From 2-5pm!

Blooming Acres Farm
Facebook / Instagram

My Glens Falls: Cameron Gallagher

We caught up with Cameron Gallagher this week! He shares a bit about his video production company, Black Mountain Visuals, his favorite places to walk to for lunch from his downtown office at WorkSmart, what he’d love to see more of in Glens Falls (no surprise here — it involves movies!), and more…

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Cameron Gallagher, I’m a filmmaker & own Black Mountain Visuals, a video production company. I’m originally from downstate New York, but grew up in Granville, New York, not far from the Glens Falls area. I’m a movie lover and storyteller at heart. Having used my family's VHS camcorder as a kid to make funny sketches and come up with stories, I grew up on the idea of creating. In the last 4-5 years I’ve had the privilege of directing some short film projects (mainly in the horror genre) that have landed on some large platforms including online horror hub Crypt TV. One of our most recent short films “THE RICKETY MAN” premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles in 2021.

I love what I do and love that I can do this here in Upstate New York, where most people said it wouldn’t be possible.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

As a kid living nearby, Glens Falls was always the “errands day trip” but after living in Central New York for almost two years, the vibrant opportunity here brought me back, and I’m so glad it did. For me, being able to be so close to business and an exciting area, while still having some of the comfort of feeling like I’m living “just outside of town” is a pull for me.

Now, my office is downtown at WorkSmart, a Co-Working Space in Downtown Glens Falls, so being within walking distance of everything has been such a huge advantage. Being able to meet other businesses at our office space has led to incredible expansion of the business, in ways we never thought, including working with amazing brands, like JUST Water, MoodleUS, National Ag in the Classroom, and both Washington & Warren County.

I rent an apartment just over the bridge in South Glens Falls, but have lived both downtown and just outside it within the last five years. Each place had cool advantages, whether it was being just a few steps from work, or being in a quiet part of the neighborhood.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

First and foremost my favorite spot is WorkSmart. I owe everything to Christy, WorkSmart’s owner, and since moving my business downtown in late 2020, it has seriously changed not only my business, but my life!

A second favorite would 100% be Farmacy! By far the best food in Glens Falls (of course no hate to anyone), their food is always exciting, and it has a great atmosphere.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

It would start at Kru Coffee with some coffee and their amazing cilantro lime sandwich! Then, off to the office at WorkSmart downtown where I’d try to not chat with all the fun people there, including my friend and business partner Zack. For lunch, I’d have to stop in at Mikado or Alif Cafe! Mikado’s Bento Box for lunch is the best bang for the buck, and Alif Cafe’s Chicken Tikka bowl is a weight lifter’s (like myself) dream. Then after work, I’d take my girlfriend Allison out to Farmacy, followed by a walk around town or on the bike trail!

On the Future

Glens Falls, in my opinion, is sitting on a gold mine. With proximity to Saratoga Springs and Lake George, it truly is the perfect getaway. I’m excited and hopeful for those in local government to step up and make some exciting forward thinking changes, just like some of the amazing business owners have. I think the more fun new faces that come to downtown, the more energy just seems to seep from Glen Street.

One thing I would love to see is, of course, more movies. I’d like to see a new theater (or an existing one) take on showing old movies, whether it be deep cut films that no one has seen, or absolute classics that are a must on the big screen! After attending a film festival with my friend and business partner, Zack Porlier, in Rochester, we instantly fell in love with seeing smaller films on the big screen. What better place than Glens Falls to bring classic cinema to new and old generations alike?

The Weekender: September 9 - 11

Happy weekend and happy back to school! We’ve got a perfect late summer weekend on tap and lots of fun options on the calendar - here’s what looked good to us!

Date Night: Mint, of course! Did you catch our First Look story on Mint this week? Between the beautiful interior and their amazing farm to table menu, it’s a top pick for the weekend! Get their details here.

U-Pick Sunflowers at Dancing Grain: I know. We shared this last week. But we went last weekend, and it was amazing. You must go! Plus, they’ve added a u-pick option this weekend. Check out our first look at the farm brewery here, and get their details here. Tag us on IG if you go, we’d love to see your pics!

Park Patio Music Series at The Q: Summer might be “over” (unofficially!), but The Park Patio Music Series at The Q continues this fall! Mark your calendar for dinner, drinks and live music overlooking City Park every Wednesday from 4-8pm through October 5th. Click here for details!

The Cheese (+ Wine + Beer) Tour: Have you ever gone on the Cheese Tour? It’s a self-guided tour through the gorgeous back roads of Washington County - with an opportunity to visit (and sample!) at cheesemaking farms, a brewery, and a winery, and more. Looks like a perfect weekend for it, too! Here are the details.

Canteen Coffee Co + King Bakery: We shared about King Bakery and their incredible donuts in this story last year, and if you head out to grab a dozen this weekend you’ll have the bonus of popping into Canteen Coffee Co.’s first pop up coffee stand - sign us up! Details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

First Look: Mint

Have you been to Mint? They’re now entering their sixth month in business on Warren Street, so if you haven’t been - consider this a sign to make your reservation! We caught up with owner Johanna Geldern to hear more about the how she got into the restaurant business (it all started with a fortune cookie!), what to expect from their menu, and what’s coming up next for Mint (hint: expanded hours!)…

The Bar Room at Mint

First, tell us a bit about yourself and your background!

I received my Masters in Education from the College of Saint Rose and had a career in teaching elementary school (regular and special education) for over 16 years. As the standardized testing pressures got more intense from states and districts, the gap between my philosophical beliefs and the changes to the classroom structure necessary to meet standardized testing goals motivated me to make a change. I sold a property and began searching for a small business that I could purchase and run with the goal of completely changing my career and becoming an independent business owner. My girls (Katriel and Cagney Houlihan) and I had always daydreamed about running a bed and breakfast or owning a small café.

The online search for purchasing a business lasted well over a year, and during that time one of my friends owned a beachfront restaurant and had a vacant shop space available for a summer beach snack bar.  It was sitting vacant but already had all of the necessary approvals to open, so I agreed to take on this project and created the menu, purchased the equipment and created the signage and theme. With her guidance and my hard work, we were able to open in about a month and I ran a very successful beach snack bar business for that season. This was equivalent to getting a Masters degree in running a small business in my mind.

Mint co-owner (and Johanna’s daughter), Katriel Houlihan

At the same time, my daughter‘s family moved home to New York from Florida and on a trip to see them in February, I discovered a café in Greenwich called Dish Bistro and I absolutely fell in love with the size, the location, the charm, and the healthy vibe of the menu. I literally said to my family and friends, “If I ever had a restaurant business, it would be just like this.” Months went by of searching and in August, I found Dish Bistro for sale online under my price range, and immediately began dialogue with the owners. We went back-and-forth with financials and logistics for a month and it was time for me to make a decision: was I going to pack up my entire life, sell my car and fly to New York to purchase this restaurant business?

I was out to lunch in Florida with my friend when the owner of Dish Bistro, Susan, called me. I hung up with her and I told my friend about the idea and potential plan of purchasing Dish and moving back to NY, and when I opened my fortune cookie after lunch it said “DISH” on one side and when I flipped it over, it said “Go for your dreams ~start with the spring roll” on the other side. My decision was made. At the time I had been studying the law of attraction and was looking for signs and I took this as a solid sign from the universe directing me to go for my dreams even though it was scary — terrifying, in fact!

I still have the fortune cookie. I like to think that my story will hopefully inspire others to listen to their intuition and follow their dreams, and to not allow fear to hold us back from making changes to pursue what excites us.

Once I made the commitment, everything seemed to fall into place.

How did Mint come to be?

We started in Greenwich as Dish Bistro in the fall of 2014, and I rebranded to Sweet Beet Bistro in April of 2015. My chef was passionate about local farms and we decided to create a “farm to table” theme there and offer homemade scratch kitchen food using high quality local farms. We wanted to use ingredients which were grown, raised, and cultivated with positive loving energy, and we wanted to honor those artisans. We wanted to prepare and serve the food with the greatest energy of love and positivity to our customers. Our desire was to create an atmosphere and experience which would create great memories and keep patrons returning.

We closed the doors to Sweet Beet Bistro after Covid hit in 2020, and it seemed like the perfect time to transition to a new location with more foot traffic. We already had a strong support system of loyal customers from this area that traveled to our Greenwich location, so that was a selling point as well.

We had been working with Peter Hoffman on a downtown space to lease. When this space came up, he asked us (my daughter Kate Houlihan and I) to come over immediately and take a look. He wanted to know if we could see its potential and his vision for our business in that location. We could see it instantly, and with great enthusiasm we told him we were 100% in!

Our philosophy of using the highest quality organic and most lovingly raised local foods is still at the heart of Mint!

The Dining Room at Mint

Why Glens Falls?

We see tremendous potential in this city! The events with food and celebrations are creative. The Glens Falls Collaborative and other groups are really committed to moving the city forward. It’s so important to create a business that is desired and will be embraced and nurtured by the community, and we feel this is a mutually beneficial partnership which we are thrilled to be part of.

What inspired the name? 

We were originally going to name the new restaurant business Tarragon and Time. But after polling some friends and family, it wasn’t communicating the right vibe, so we went back to the drawing board. On a hike with my daughter Kate, she turned to me and said, “What about Mint?”.  We thought about it and it had great connotations, so we decided to have a longer tagline (Inspired Plates and Crafted Potions) and a shorter easy to remember name - Mint!

Tell us about your menu! What can people expect to see?

Imagine Paris meets Brooklyn meets San Diego!

Our food is eclectic and creative, using only the highest quality products. We taste test as a group and tweak recipes as a staff. It’s vey important that our sauces, dressings, and all of our items really, are balanced in texture, flavor and appearance.

We have unique appetizers including cheese boards and seafood cakes. Our proteins are grass fed meats, local pastured products and wild caught seafood. As for customer favorites, the pizza is at the top of the list, along with our grass fed burger and vegan beet burger. We use 30+ local companies like Saratoga Olive Oil, Saratoga Gluten Free, Vermont Fresh Pasta, and Rock Hill Bake House, to name a few. We work with a local farm for edible flowers on our plating. The presentation is meant to be visually pleasing as well as good for you and delicious.

We offer a solid variety for special eaters with vegan options, gluten free options.

The drink menu includes craft cocktails, local and international wines, and several spirits and beer from local distilleries and breweries. We use all small batch local distilleries for our liquors, and our beer is all from within 60 miles of Glens Falls. We don’t use any large mass production wine at all — it’s all organic biodynamically farmed or sustainably farmed. You’ll probably notice you won’t get a headache after drinking wine here! We also craft our own elixirs with syrups using fresh herbs and delicious ingredients for cocktails — both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Patio seating at Mint

Tell us about the space!

We have three main areas: a bar room, dining room, and covered garden patio. It’s nice to have the three separate spaces to allow for private events and just general versatility.

The building owner, Peter Hoffman, collects antiques and is very skilled at mixing the old with the new. Everything here is modernized and updated, but layered with antiques. For example, the globe lights are antiques from Germany. They add such an immediate sense of charm and history. The frosted glass by the front door is an antique — irreplaceable and one of a kind. The end gates on the patio came from a vineyard in Italy, and they bookend the space perfectly. The banquettes in the bar room were salvaged from the Capitol Building in Albany when they were renovating the Governor’s restaurant there. We discovered they’re from 1920, so many governors have sat on them when having their business meetings there, which is pretty unique!

The patio has been a big hit this season, especially when we have live music. We’re hoping to install a bi-fold door from the patio into our dining room, so that when we do have a musician here, the sound and experience can carry inside as well.

What's coming up next for Mint? 

We’re hoping to start offering lunch by the end of September! We also hope to open seven days a week, as right now we’re closed Mondays. Also coming up - a to go menu! Lots of great things to come.

Most immediately, we’re looking forward to launching our fall menu around September 20 - stay tuned!

Mint
80 Warren Street, Glens Falls
Website / Facebook / Instagram

On the Arts Trail: Jesse Melanson

We caught up with Jesse Melanson this week, who you’ve probably all seen hovering on a lift above Centennial Circle, painting one of two murals that are part of a public art initiative by the Arts District of Glens Falls. He shares a bit about his background, the inspiration behind his design, and some impressions of our little city over the course of his time here…

Jesse Melanson in front of his completed mural | Photo: Bri Lyons

Tell us about yourself!

I'm from Truckee, California, which is North Lake Tahoe for those who don't know that area. I’ve been painting murals since 2019. I've done maybe a dozen across the country, ranging from smaller walls like 10x12 feet to as big as this current one, which is almost 50 feet high by 100 feet wide. This is the largest square footage mural that I’ve done. I painted one in Malden, Massachusetts that was 65 feet high by 45 feet wide, so that was a little higher, but the square footage was a little less.

How did you get your start as an artist?  

I moved to Austin, Texas from Tahoe during a career transition. I had a hard time finding a job in Austin and adjusting to the city life and culture, but eventually I got a job as a digital art teacher at a high school. I did that for a year. I'm not a teacher. I'm not very good at it. So I quit and I was back in a transition period.

There were a lot of murals around Austin, and I saw that they had a public arts division for community and culture. In Austin, 2% of the total cost of new construction has to be allocated to the arts. It's a booming city, so we're talking about millions of dollars. So, I started going to informational meetings just to figure out how I could get involved. From there, I applied and landed my first mural in Austin, and continued to build my portfolio in cities across the country.

How did this opportunity catch your eye?

Actually through an Instagram follower. She had seen this opportunity on a Facebook group and forwarded it to me. I applied right away.

It was also a plus that I have a connection to the Lake George area. My mom’s side of the family is from Latham, and she grew up there. As a kid, we spent a lot of time at our condo on Lake George.

What was the inspiration behind your mural?

My main inspiration was the Adirondacks. I know there’s not necessarily a waterfall here like the one pictured, but I thought it was a nice tie to the mountains farther north. As for the fox, it’s just an animal I admire, and I love the contrast of its colors with the greens and blues. Originally, there was a 50 foot moose where the hot air balloons are, but I was told there’s no moose in the city. Apparently there are hot air balloons!

With these projects, it’s important to get feedback and make sure that it’s a collaborative effort to come up with the final artwork. These things shouldn’t just be about the artist, it’s about the community. It’s about making sure everyone feels involved, connected, and included. I would never want the art to be directed at only one audience. I prefer that it’s open to interpretation, and that everyone can somehow see themselves represented in it.

Mural in progress: just prior to adding the hot air balloons

Tell us about your process. What challenges did you face and what did you love about painting this mural?

The wall was in really bad shape. It was crumbling. Anytime I sprayed it, it would spray pieces of brick back at me. I put about 50 gallons of masonry sealant on it. The sealant helped to harden the surface and also helped to flatten it, which helps when painting it.

I always prep the walls for my murals myself, and I always end the project saying I should have hired someone else to prep it. But at the end of the day, it’s rewarding to know that I did it all myself — and saved myself some money, too.

Prepping the wall took about four days, and once that was done, I completed the painting in eight days. I’ve had a couple of people say that seems fast, but when you’re focused on one thing for 10 hours each day, you’d be surprised how much you can get done. And that applies in all of life!

Mural in progress: the first spots of color over the “doodle grid”

How has your experience in Glens Falls been? What was your favorite downtown spot to visit after you were done painting for the day? 

Glens Falls seems pretty hip! I can see it’s moving in a positive direction. It’s a nice mix of the new and old, but I can see it’s becoming a little bit more modern, more contemporary.

I really liked Raul’s. They were really sweet and generous, and I loved having one of their margaritas after a long day. Mean Max was another favorite. I truly liked every place I stepped into. They were all equally welcoming.

So many people have stopped to say hello, or to say how much fun it’s been to watch, or to say thank you. Everyone has been really gracious, and it’s so nice to hear that something I’m doing is creating a positive impact.

Jesse Melanson
JMEL Art & Design
Website / Instagram

The Weekender: September 2 - 4

Happy Labor Day weekend! There’s a hint of fall in the air, but we’re looking forward to soaking up another good old fashioned summer weekend. Here’s what looks good…

Sunflower Fest: Have you been to Dancing Grain yet? We shared a first look at the farm brewery here, and this weekend they’ll be showing off their sunflower field in addition to their craft brews! Admission is $5 and stems are $2 each - get the details here.

Bluegrass at The Park: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys perform tomorrow (Friday) night at The Park Theater! If bluegrass is your thing, this Grammy nominated group formed in the Smoky Mountains is sure to please! Rumor has it they also have a 1965 GM Tour bus, which we think is pretty cool too. Details here!

Apple Picking: We know, we know. Seems early, right?! Lots of orchards are open or opening this weekend for u-pick - check out a list of our favorites here. Guess you’ll get a head start on that apple pie!

Corn Maze: Fort Ticonderoga’s Corn Maze is open (which is always a reminder that summer is winding down). They’ve got a larger, more challenging maze for adults as well as one for kiddos, and you’ll love the rest of what the Fort has to offer too (check out a recap of our visit here). Here are the details!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

First Look: Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

Have you been to Dancing Grain yet? Just over the bridge in Moreau, the farm brewery opened last weekend and we were one of the first in line. After a few moments enjoying a craft beer in one of their Adirondack chairs overlooking the farm, it was clear that this will be one of our new favorite spots. We caught up with owner Rachel McDermott to find out more about how Dancing Grain came to be, what they’ve got on tap, and more…

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background! 

I grew up on our family's farm in Schaghticoke, New York, and loved being around the tractors and trucks. My parents were divorced, and while my mom worked a more traditional job, my dad worked on his farm. I spent a lot of time there with my dad and my uncle. My sister would go to the babysitter and I always preferred to stay behind and hang out on the farm, and eventually, I started helping out as much as I could. It was just where I felt comfortable.

As I got older, I became more interested in music. I was a classically trained clarinetist. I went to music school my freshman year of college but soon discovered that it wasn’t going to be my life’s goal and transferred to Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Science to pursue a Finance degree (which, interestingly, wasn’t focused on agriculture).

Owner Rachel McDermott

After graduation, I started my career in Houston as an investment banker. I really liked the team there but Texas just wasn’t home for me. After five years, I transferred back to New York City. That was an exciting time for me, getting back to the Northeast.

At that point, I was about to turn 30, and I wasn’t sure what direction I was headed. I decided to go on this very cliché Eat Pray Love trip across Europe, and when I came back, I knew I needed to quit my job. I had no prospects of a new job at that point, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. So, I moved home to the farm, which turned out to be the preamble to Dancing Grain.

How did Dancing Grain come to be?

When I got back home to the farm, I had all of this investment banking experience that I was no longer using, so I started to look at what was going on in upstate New York to see how I could apply that experience here. I stumbled upon farm brewery laws and some of the benefits of being a producer. At that point, my dad had already invested in land, in tractors, in planting and harvesting equipment, and in storage capacity. We had this core competency, and these core assets, and I realized we just needed a new product. We needed to switch gears and tap a different market. That market turned out to be craft beer.

I’m not someone who has ever been a home brewer, and I’ve never been obsessed with beer. I was obsessed with the ingredients that make up beer because of my history with farming. That’s where Christian and Bert Weber, our partners and the founders of Common Roots, came in. They have a core competency that I don’t have, and their insights have been incredibly valuable. From advice on brewing, to so many other things that I never thought of, like a point of service system, and even which glasses to order! I’m so happy to have them on board.

What inspired the name? 

When you’re here in the spring through the early summer, before we harvest the grain in July, you can see the the malting barley and other specialty grains in the field below the brewery. When the wind blows, it almost looks like Mother Nature created a beautiful waltz. It looks like the grain is dancing, like it’s happy to be here. That was our inspiration.

Let’s talk about the beer!

Yes! So, this past week we had five beers on tap. We're trying to do a variety of beers, but to be honest, we'll probably focus on malt forward beers. I'm sure we'll always have some sort of an IPA or a pale ale on tap, but we are first and foremost grain farmers, so I want to highlight and showcase the grain as the headliner to the beer. You can have beer without hops, but you cannot have beer without barley.

All of our beer right now (with the exception of the Strictly Social IPA collaboration with Common Roots) is almost entirely made up of grain that’s grown from our farm, and we’re super proud of that. We're using as much as we can from our farm.

First, we have the Cream of the Crop, which is a cream ale. My brewer, Jamie, actually built that recipe for my uncle, who likes to drink beer, but doesn’t necessarily like to drink craft beer. That recipe uses our farm’s barley and our corn. It’s the kind of beer you want to drink when it’s 90 degrees out. We’ll likely always have that on tap.

Last week we released a stout, Stolen Fire, which uses fennel that we grew on the farm in addition to our 6-row malting barley.

We have the Foreign Friends, farmhouse style, which again, uses our grain along with a yeast strain from Belgium.

We also have the Picnic Basket, which is a kettle sour that uses our grain along with a local yogurt culture and blueberries from Winnie’s Blueberry Farm just up the road.

And finally, we have the Strictly Social IPA, our collaboration with Common Roots, which everyone is loving. It’s one of our biggest sellers. That uses all South American hops. It’s juicy, it’s fruity, it’s citrusy - it’s everything we hoped it would be as an IPA!

We also have drinks for non beer drinkers - we have a dry Riesling from Forge Cellars, a Rosé and a Red Blend from Bridge Lane which is a winery on Long Island, and then we've got Nine Pin Hard Cider. We have a non alcoholic seltzer that our brewer makes every week using herbs from our garden or something that I've foraged — this week is a sumac seltzer, which tastes almost like a pink lemonade. And finally we have the Nitro Coffee from Kru.

How has it been seeing all of this finally come to fruition?

We've had such positive feedback. I'm so thrilled by that. So many people have come in that live five or ten minutes away, and I’m so happy to be able to share this farm with them and with the community. I am also really happy to see that the whole idea of supporting local businesses is still alive. I just feel really grateful that I have the support of our neighbors. Because without that, we're nothing.

What's next for Dancing Grain? 

We're going to walk before we run, but as we continue on, there will be more opportunities for people to engage with the ingredients in the supply chain and to learn and understand how Dancing Grain makes our beer with the ingredients that we grow. I’d love for it to become more of an immersive space. We’d like to create walking paths through the grain, where you’ll be able to decipher the differences between malting barley and oats and wheat. I think that's an important part of the story that we're just beginning to tell.

We also hope to focus on additional products over time. I’d love to get into distillation, and we’d really love to get into milling and baking. Hopefully it will become a sort of center for local grain production.

Most immediately, we’re also planning to do events focused around each season. We’re excited to be opening our sunflower field this weekend! Admission is $5 and stems are $2 each. Hope to see some new faces here!

Dancing Grain Farm Brewery
Website / Instagram

The Dancing Grain Team

My Glens Falls: Kevin Hall

We caught up with Kevin Hall this week! You might recognize him as the owner of Hallwear here in Glens Falls. He shares a bit of his family history in the city (his relatives include a former Glens Falls Mayor and Chief of Police!), his go-to pizza places, and some sweet memories from his downtown wedding…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello, my name is Kevin Hall. I’m the owner and operator of Hallwear in Glens Falls. Hallwear is a company that specializes in custom decorated items for schools, businesses, organizations, and anyone else that wants something with a logo, design, name, or number on it! We also have a retail shop in our store that sells all kinds of items, but mostly local school spirit gear, hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and more. In addition to operating Hallwear, I coach Varsity Track & Field as well as 7th Grade Football at Glens Falls School District. I live in Glens Falls with my wife, Sarah, my four year old son, George, and my dog, Charlie. I’m a huge sports fan and both of my jobs allow me to embrace that passion in unique ways.

On Life In Glens Falls

Although I was born in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, my family moved back here when I was three months old, and I have lived here ever since. My family has deep roots in this area. Both myself and my wife's family have lived in Glens Falls and the surrounding region since at least the late 1800s. My great-grandfather George Culver was the Chief of Police in Glens Falls from 1936-1944 and my father Dan Hall was recently the Mayor of Glens Falls from 2018-2022.

After I graduated with a degree in marketing from Binghamton University in 2007, I decided to move back home and work for my father temporarily while I decided what to do with my life. Well, 15 years later I’m still working at the same company (but for myself instead of for my father) and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

In 2016, my wife and I bought a house in Glens Falls in a great neighborhood near the high school. My family lives less than a mile away, my wife’s parents are a five minute walk and her three siblings (and their families) all live within about a mile and half of us. I truly believe that there is no better place in the country to raise children. When my son was diagnosed with leukemia in April of 2020, the support that he received by the members of this community blew me away. My son is very fortunate to grow up in an area full of caring and giving individuals.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

A perfect Glens Falls day would be for me to sleep for the entire day! Joking aside, I would start with a full-on sit-down breakfast with eggs and meat that would make Ron Swanson proud from any of the numerous breakfast places in town (maybe throw in some pancakes or waffles if I’m feeling extra hungry).  After that I would accompany my son to one of the half dozen playgrounds he likes for some full contact playing, which would include a lot of swinging. Lunch would probably be pizza — I’m a huge pizza fan. Some of the places I frequent are Angelina’s, Talk of the Town, Mia Pizzeria, and Pizza Jerks. On Saturdays in the fall, I enjoy watching the Glens Falls varsity football team. There is a special kind of pride in seeing players I’ve coached as 7th graders grow into young adults and then take the field as varsity players. Dinner would have to be a nice medium rare steak either grilled by myself or anywhere downtown that we could walk to.  

On the Past

Growing up here I have a ton of memories, but my favorite memory is a recent one.  My wedding was an amazing Glens Falls day. Since my wife and I are both proud GF lifers, we wanted our special day to be in and around Glens Falls. We were married in a relatively short ceremony performed by the mayor at the time in front of the fountain in Crandall Park on a beautiful fall day.

After the ceremony, we had our reception at The Queensbury Hotel a few short weeks after they came under the new (and current) management. With all that goes into taking over a landmark hotel, the management and staff could have easily and understandably been overwhelmed and treated us as an afterthought but let me tell you, they did not. The entire crew at The Q took care of us and helped to make that day as special as it could possibly be. We danced through the night, ate great food, and drank probably a little more than we should have! We even ended our night downtown at The Bullpen with me in my tux and my wife in her wedding dress! I don’t think I would change anything about that perfect day.

On the Future

I have two ideas that I think, maybe selfishly, would improve Glens Falls. The first would be a BBQ joint that I don’t have to drive a while to get to and is open year-round. I’m a huge fan of BBQ and I think it would be different enough from the other restaurants downtown that it could thrive. I know year-round is not easy with our climate but a place like that would get my business at least weekly.

The second idea I stole from my wife. Our son was recently diagnosed with autism, and we would love a sensory play gym for him to run around in. Sensory gyms differ from other play places in that the equipment is specifically set up for kids that are neurodivergent, but other children would have just as much fun!

The Weekender: August 26 - 28

Happy weekend! The last of August! We’re seeing subtle signs of color in the trees, but as much as we love fall, we’re holding on tight to these summer weekends. Here are a few ideas to help you soak of one of the last of the season!

Breakfast in the Park: Two local favorites, Jenny Jo’s Smoothies and Simpatico, are teaming up for Breakfast in the Park on Friday morning from 7:30-11:30am! Grab your favorite sweet treats from Simpatico to enjoy while you sip your smoothie from Jenny Jo’s in City Park downtown. And if you want to be everyone’s favorite coworker, they’ll have office box specials that you can bring to work as well! Details here.

Outdoor Cinema: What’s better than a Friday night movie in City Park? This week they’re showing Encanto at dusk. Bring the kiddos and a picnic blanket - and snacks, of course! Details here!

Pick Your Own Sunflowers: Will brake for sunflower fields, always! Weeks Family Farm in Queensbury is offering u-pick sunflowers on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-3pm - $1 per stem! Grab the scoop here.

Teacher Appreciation Weekend: The Book Cabin in Lake George will be hosting a teacher appreciation weekend this weekend, offering 15% off for teachers and the opportunity to win a $550 classroom library grant made possible by James Patterson! Teachers must bring their school identification to participate. Grab their details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Tess Bannon

We caught up with Tess Bannon this week! She explores her family’s deep roots in Glens Falls, shares her journey of building a tiny house in Queensbury, and gives an update on the latest with her jewelry business, Buffalo Bannon Designs…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Tess Bannon and I am an adventurer, yogi, and the spiritual craftswoman behind Buffalo Bannon Designs. I fabricate sterling silver natural stone jewelry and offer custom designs. I studied fashion merchandising and jewelry design at Buffalo State College. Lately, I’ve been fascinated with the study of human design and stone medicine. My intention is to fuse these practices into my custom design formula, bringing new meaning to the concept of healing jewelry. 

I recently started working at Saratoga Farmstead B&B, which is a green certified farm-to-table bed and breakfast with a wellness focus. The energy there is so captivating. It's newly owned by my friend and Licensed Massage Therapist, Allison Menter. Together with the cook and gardener, Flo, we work harmoniously and nicknamed ourselves the farm fairies. This year we are laying down the groundwork, but we have an abundance of ideas such as yoga classes, wellness workshops and curated retreats that we hope to weave into the future of Saratoga Farmstead.

In the Glens Falls area, I am best known at MinkyMink boutique which is owned by my sister, Maura Forcier. Mo has always been my role model, and growing up we dreamed of opening a store together. Minky feels like the embodiment of that dream because I sell my jewelry there as well as having worked there for five years. I helped Minky develop their brand, created internal online systems and escalated their social media presence. The NYC buying trips were a huge highlight, but organizing themed photoshoots and modeling was my absolute favorite. I love collaborating with photographers like Court L Photo and small businesses like Epithet Floral to create epic displays of beauty and fashion. Working with influential, motivated and creative women is incredibly empowering and something that I will never stop exploring. I am so grateful for the network of entrepreneurial women in this area, especially my sister. She has taught me so much about the fashion industry as well as introducing me to the Glens Falls community. We have a very supportive relationship and after five glorious years of working side by side, our professional life has evolved into a collaborative partnership.

I am embarking on a new adventure with my jewelry business that my 19 year old self would be very proud of. As for the backstory, the short of it is that it came to me during a Phish show 11 years ago and I've been dreaming about it ever since. Last year, I bought a DubBox trailer and custom designed the interior to be both a jewelry studio and a retail boutique. I like to call it my "studiotique.”

On Glens Falls Roots

We have some deep family roots in the Glens Falls area. My father's side of the family migrated from Canada and North Creek down to Glens Falls. My great grandfather John built a house on Dix Avenue that still exists today. He and his wife Alida both worked at The Shirt Factory.

My grandfather Charlie was an anesthesiologist and started a business called Warren Anesthesia. He brought the concept of a recovery room to the Glens Falls Hospital where patients would heal post surgery. My grandma Eliene sold antiques at the Glenwood Manor in Queensbury.

My father David and his four sisters attended St. Mary's and Queensbury schools. My father met my mother Arcangela at a dinner party in Buffalo, NY. They discovered that they worked at the same hospital and lived close by. They got married in Glens Falls at St. Mary's Church and moved back to the area to grow their family. My father always dreamed of owning a farm and after many years of hard work, they built one.

I grew up on this family farm with my two very inspiring older siblings, Colin and Maura. My parents are retired medical professionals but I wholeheartedly thought my dad was a farmer until first grade. My early life consisted of horseback riding, mucking stalls, feeding chickens, and playing with goats. I adored growing up this way. It helped me develop a strong work ethic and refined my love for nature and adventure.

I also favored jewelry and I was fortunate to learn how to make it during metalsmithing class at Lake George High School. Art class brought me so much joy. I studied studio art, photography and graphic design. At the end of the school year I submitted my work to the juried high school art show at the Hyde Museum. They accepted the first piece of jewelry that I made, a brooch inspired by my family heritage. When I saw it displayed behind glass for the first time, I thought, "maybe I am good at this.”

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I live in a tiny house in Queensbury. I remodeled it with resources from the property and upcycled materials, going as green as possible. The structure is 400 sq/ft. It has an open concept with an eat-in kitchen, bedroom / living room, bathroom, closet, meditation nook, and storage loft. Next year, I'd like to build a front porch. I'm super excited to downsize, declutter and simplify my life. I am someone who collects lots of little treasures, but letting go is a practice I've cultivated over the years.

What I love most about renovating this tiny house is the journey of it all. I thrive in an environment of my own creation and knowing exactly how much time, effort and love that went into every aspect gives me a whole new level of appreciation. I am so grateful to everyone who helped me build such a magical mini sanctuary.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

One of my favorite things about Glens Falls is the flourishing art community. I feel like there are so many creative nooks and crannies all over GF. There's the Hyde Museum for art admirers, The Shirt Factory for handmade treasures, LARAC for crafty finds, The Park Theater for musical grooves, the Adirondack Film Festival for movie lovers, GEM Fest for entertainment enthusiasts, and fabulous murals sprinkled in between. Side note: I cannot wait to see the building Hannah Williams is painting! There is a beautiful flow of art, small business, nature, and industry in this city with a different artistic flair for everyone to enjoy. The love and support for small businesses here is unmatched. I thoroughly enjoy witnessing new and existing businesses thrive. It's a joy to be a part of it all. There are so many gems, but a few of my favs (besides Minky) are Juicin’ Jar, Fountain Square Outfitters, Alif Cafe, Rockhill and Laura’s Vintage.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

One version of my perfect day spent in Glens Falls starts with a glass of lemon water and a morning yoga flow at Grounded on Glen. After movement and meditation, I grab my backpack on my walk over to Kru Coffee for a dirty chai latte with oat milk. Then I make my way to the park to find a nice tree to sit under. I spend about an hour journaling my thoughts and doodling some jewelry ideas. I have plans to meet Maura and Morgan at Farmacy for Drag Brunch, so I head over to Morg's picturesque downtown apartment and hang out until it's time to go. We have fun getting ready for the afternoon while Maura snags our table. We walk downstairs to meet her and in true big sister fashion, she already has mimosas waiting for us. Thanks Mo! It's show time and the menu's fixed so delicious small plates are being delivered while we focus our attention on the wonderful performers strutting down the center aisle. The crowd is wild, the vibe is high and the ladies are sassy! We're smiling, cheering and lovingly blushed with bubbles. After the show, we stop into MinkyMink for our obligatory visit and tell the girls all about the experience we just had. After stories, laughs and browsing of course, we drop our photos into the shared album, hug, then go our separate ways. I head home to my cozy cabin and relax for the evening. It was a fabulous day.

On the Past

2020 was a strange year in so many ways but also transformative with some fun moments. In February of that year I moved into my first GF apartment with my roommate Frankie and her two cats, Honey and Winnie. We had a month of new roomie shenanigans before quarantine started. Having limitations on places you could go and the people you could see gave me the time and space to turn inward and start asking myself serious life questions about the things I value most. I started different kinds of self care, dropped a few habits, began a daily yoga and meditation practice, experimented with a new business strategy and educated myself on the complete chaos happening throughout the world. Once summer hit, Frankie and I would bike or roller skate around our neighborhood and to the park. We hung out on our back porch, ordered take-out from local restaurants, laughed on the roof, celebrated the “rainbow hour” and cozied up with the kitties watching movies from our third floor living room. During a fearful and uncertain time, our home in Glens Falls was the safe haven we didn't know we needed. 

On the Future

I worked across the street from a food co-op in Buffalo that was beyond spectacular. You could buy breakfast, lunch and dinner there and sometimes I did. They provide local organic produce, freshly prepared foods, hot soups, a make-your-own salad bar, an array of bulk products, sustainable items and eco-conscious groceries. It's a health nut's absolute fantasy and something I think Glens Falls would also fall in love with.