First Look: The Shop by Deliciously Different

Calling all cake lovers! There’s a new custom cake shop in town, so you’re going to want to plan your next celebration ASAP. Known for their catering, Deliciously Different has now opened The Shop on Dix Avenue, and we caught up with owner Robin Getchell-Smith to find out more about the inspiration for expanding their business, their offerings (from mini cakes to wedding cakes!), and more…

The Shop by Deliciously Different Team | From left: Custom Cake Designer Victoria Androsz, Owner Robin Getchell-Smith, and Client Experience Manager Taylor Ravreby

First, tell us a bit about yourself!

Hi there, my name is Robin Getchell-Smith. My husband Mark and I moved here from Long Island about 16 years ago. We loved the Glens Falls / Queensbury area. Our children graduated from Glens Falls City School District — it was such a great place for the children to grow up.

On Long Island I worked with friends who owned a catering company, and it allowed me to work on the weekends and be home with my kids during the week. I worked events for them mainly, but would also work within the kitchen at times. It definitely gave me insight on how to run a catering company. I am a self taught cook. I grew up with a mother who made most everything from scratch, simple fresh and few ingredients — yum!

Cake offerings at The Shop by Deliciously Different

How did Deliciously Different come to be? 

I learned so much from working with my friends on Long Island. After I settled into this area and started getting to know people, I landed a few small catering jobs. It wasn’t until I mentioned it to a co-worker who happened to be getting ready to open her property up as a wedding venue that things got real! Mark and I set up at their first open house and booked our first four wedding events. From there, the rest is history!

We now have a kitchen, office and greeting space at our location at 425 Bay Road. My full time Client Experience Manager, Taylor Raverby, and I have our office space there. Our newly opened Custom Cake Design Studio (The Shop) is located at 430 Dix Avenue. Both properties are located in Queensbury. We have been in business now since 2012. Eleven years — crazy! Our business continues to grow and we couldn’t be more excited about the future!

Tell us about The Shop!

Being in the wedding industry, most local folks never really got to know us. I have always considered opening a retail location to gain more of a local following, but never quite got around to it.  

I was inspired to open this new location, The Shop, as a Custom Cake Design Studio because there is a real need in this area. My friend Sandy, owner of The GingerSnap Cake Shop, was operating her cake business in our kitchen and we quickly ran short on space, so I started looking for an additional location.  

It took time to find the right place, and by then, Sandy had made the decision to retire.  So a new search began — we had the space, now we needed a designer. I am excited to share that we have an extremely talented designer who joined the team in January. Victoria Androsz, originally from Connecticut, was living and working in New York City and has now settled in downtown Glens Falls!  

Victoria Androsz, Custom Cake Designer

Tell us about your offerings!

The Shop by Deliciously Different offers beautiful custom cakes all made from scratch with our signature swiss meringue buttercream — so delicious!  We offer super cute mini cakes, cake nosh, baker bites and some other baked goods with our main focus on celebration and wedding cake designs.

Our cakes are all available to order online for easy pick up. Of course we are also available for all catering needs. After all, celebrations are what we do!

What has been most rewarding / challenging thus far? 

Opening a new business or extension of a business is always challenging. When we purchased the Dix Avenue building I really thought we would be up and running by May 2022. I was a bit off on the timing, as we didn’t officially open until December 6th!

My talented husband and partner, Mark, made all the custom counters and worked tirelessly to get everything just perfect. The interior is so beautiful, we just love the way it all came together.

It is so rewarding being able to offer an opportunity. Our baking team is amazing and I can not wait to watch as the business grows!  

Custom cake sketches by designer Victoria Androsz

What's next for The Shop + Deliciously Different? 

We are super excited to continue working with wonderful clients to create their dream weddings and events. We are always thinking about our next big idea. We have some things in the works but I am not ready to talk about that yet. You will all have to stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can visit our website to find out more about us or to inquire about how we can be part of your next celebration. 

Our website for The Shop is currently being updated, but you can always follow along on Instagram to see what we’re up to with all things cake!

My Glens Falls: Shawn Weinberger

This week we caught up with Shawn Weinberger! He shares the trials and triumphs of fixing up an old house in the city, why Glens Falls neighbors are the best neighbors, his go to spot for dinner, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Shawn Weinberger and I am the Client Services & HR Manager at KEENA in Queensbury. I joined KEENA in late 2020 (the start of some of the best decisions I have made) just after purchasing a home in Glens Falls with my now fiancée, Rheagan where we live with our two dogs, Rowan and Stella.

For those that don’t know, KEENA is a local Professional Employer Organization. You can think of us as an outside Human Resource department — we handle your employees; you handle your business.

On Life in Glens Falls

I grew up in South Glens Falls with my four siblings and my parents who all now live within a few minutes of each other. So moving across the bridge, or as my mom refers to it, a “day trip” away, was a pretty big deal (and I mean this sarcastically).

I loved growing up in a big family. My older sister was my first friend and is still one of my best friends today, which is probably why people refer to me as “Baked by Jordan’s brother.” I get it now. My three younger brothers were my teammates for every sport we wanted to play in the backyard, although most games wound up in a fight. We would quickly move on and all root for the Red Sox together to rub it in Poppy’s face, especially when it was against the Yankees. The theme here is family. They’re amazing.

Rheagan and I fell in love with a house just a short walk from where we were living at the time. Built in 1940, it looked every year as old as it was. All of the walls were covered in hideous wallpaper, outdated decor in every room and in desperate need of a fresh set of eyes to bring it back to life. After making an offer, we would take a detour most nights on our way home from work, just to talk about all the ideas we couldn’t wait to get started on. We quickly realized after moving in that some projects would have to wait (Rheagan is still working on this), after our water heater went and flooded the basement. Despite the setbacks, more than anything, we wanted to be “home proud.” Whenever our neighbors see us out front landscaping or bringing in more overpriced 2x4s, they always compliment us on the work we’ve done and tell us how amazing things are coming along. It’s such a great feeling knowing your long nights and weekends of work are noticed by people you barely know. So, I’m very proud.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect day in Glens Falls would start off by taking our dogs for a walk downtown to Kru Coffee to get a Chai latte before going over to Crandall Park for a few sets of tennis or a round of golf at any of the local courses. We’d then swing over to my parents' house to hang out by the pool with all my siblings, nieces and nephew. My dad and I would brew up another 10/10 beer that he’d put on tap in his basement bar, Cheezers. We’d get subs from Bean’s Country Store and Robyn’s famous ADK Lemonade, and then after a full day in the sun and a half dozen applications of sunscreen, we’d clean up and go to Farmacy for dinner. I’d make quick work of Rheagan in a few games of darts at Mean Max. Back at home, I’d whip up a couple mojitos with fresh mint from the garden and try to make it through Morgan Wallen’s 36 song album before one of us calls it quits from being eaten alive by the mosquitos.

Some Favorite Glens Falls Moments

Some of my favorite memories in Glens Falls have all been surrounding our home. A neighbor helping us plow the driveway after the first big snow storm. Another one dropping off some craft beer because of one quick conversation about a local brewery. We are so lucky to live in such a thoughtful community. My favorite memory of all was this past summer, proposing to Rheagan in our newly landscaped backyard and celebrating the night away with our closest friends.

We’re so happy we chose Glens Falls as our home.

See more of our My Glens Falls series here.

The Weekender: April 7 - 9

Happy weekend! And Happy Easter, Passover, Spring Break, and whatever else you’re celebrating! Lots happening - here’s what looks good:

From the GFL Archives • April 2019

Easter Brunch: Leave brunch to the professionals this year and bonus - no dirty dishes to clean at home! The brunch menus look amazing at both Morgan & Co (reserve your table here!) and Park & Elm (click here for reservations!), and looks like there’s also brunch happening at Radici and The Queensbury Hotel, as well as Easter dinner at Mint. Cheers!

Fish Fry Friday: Common Roots just posted a photo of their fish fry and, well, suddenly we’re craving a fish fry! Turns out this Friday is your last chance to grab one this season, so hustle on over tomorrow to enjoy one…along with a pint, of course. More here.

Thunder Hockey: Cheer on the home team on Friday night - the puck drops at 7pm. Let’s go Thunder! Tickets here.

Easter Egg Hunt: The Kemp Animal Sanctuary at Nettle Meadow Farm in Thurman is hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday from 12-2pm. Kiddos can hunt for colorful eggs filled with treats to feed the animals on the farm (and looks like they’ll have treats for the kids, too!). Catch a glimpse of the sweet animals at Nettle Meadow in this previous GFL story here, and grab the details on the Egg Hunt here!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

Just Married: Meghan & Matthew Kelly

A beautiful autumn wedding, complete with peak foliage and overflowing with memorable moments (and an amazing sunset from the rooftop of The Queensbury Hotel!). We’re so thrilled to share Meghan and Matt’s wedding (beautifully captured by Ashley Nizolek Photography) and why, though they live in Hoboken, they decided on a downtown Glens Falls wedding. Congratulations, you two!

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography from the rooftop of The Queensbury Hotel

THE COUPLE: Meghan Sullivan & Matthew Kelly

Tell us about yourselves!

I (Meghan) grew up in Ithaca, NY (Finger Lakes Region) and Matt grew up in Washingtonville, NY (Hudson Valley). I work in HR at Morgan Stanley and Matt is a Building Engineer for Brookfield Properties, both in NYC. We have lived together in Hoboken, NJ for about 4 years.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

Where did you meet?

We first met in 2009 during our freshman year at Siena College. We were friends for about 6 years before we started dating. After graduating college, while many of our friends scattered, we both stayed in the Albany area for a couple of years, and then we moved down to the NYC area within a couple weeks of each other. We always stayed close. I asked Matt to be my date to a wedding in 2015, and the rest is history.

What do the two of you like to do together?

Living in a metropolitan area, we love going out for dinner and/or cocktails. We are big NY Rangers fans and enjoy going to games and other shows in the city. We try to spend time in the Lake George area (boating, hiking, skiing, etc.) whenever we can.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

THE PROPOSAL

Matt and I had been dating for about 5 years, so I had a feeling it was coming. In December 2020, right before Christmas, we went to dinner followed by a very cold, wintery walk on the Hoboken waterfront where he proposed while overlooking the Manhattan skyline. He had both of our parents and a few close friends come into town as a surprise to celebrate that same night.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

THE WEDDING: October 15, 2022

Why did you decide on a Glens Falls wedding?

The Kellys have owned a home in the Queensbury area for many years which is how I was originally introduced to Glens Falls and Lake George. This is why the area has been such a huge part of our relationship over the years. We knew we wanted to get married in a place that was more sentimental and special to us, and we loved The Queensbury Hotel right away.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

We envisioned being able to provide our guests with a nice, eventful weekend, since the majority would be traveling from out of town. We loved the fact that guests could stay right at our venue and be able to explore town in their free time without having to get in their cars and drive to get everywhere. Glens Falls has so many amazing restaurants and bars (Doc’s, Morgan & Co., Bullpen Tavern and of course, Fenimore’s, being some of our favorites!) right there that we knew it would provide the perfect setting for our wedding weekend.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

The hotel has such a unique charm about it, and with all of the renovations they have done over the years, the space is amazing! It was a special perk to be able to take some of our portraits on the roof during golden hour immediately following our ceremony – the view from up there is so beautiful. Becca, Alexis, and the other hotel staff involved in our weekend were all so wonderful to work with, so the decision was easy.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

What was the planning process like?

It was difficult to plan such a big event from 4 hours away, but we traveled up to Glens Falls as often as possible to visit with our vendors and ease our concerns. We enjoyed being able to check out the area more intimately, discovering new favorite places to visit. It provided a nice escape from NYC life.

What was your vision for the occasion?

We wanted a relatively minimalistic style and to let the hotel's antique features and other details bring the flare. We definitely leaned into the fall theme with pops of our favorite, wine red! We knew we wanted to take the majority of our bridal party photos outside, so we also let the foliage backdrop do most of the work.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

Tell us about the details!

I got my dress from Kleinfelds in the city – I always knew I wanted a lace dress and did not surprise myself in the least with what I ended up loving when I went to try on with my mom and MOH. The bridesmaids wore cabernet colored, velvet dresses. The guys wore black suits. We had a small buttercream cake with raspberry filling (which was delicious), but wanted our main dessert to be cider donuts – so yummy and festive. Matt and I both had a signature drink for guests; mine being an Apple Cider Moscow Mule and Matt’s being an Old Fashioned. All of our décor and flowers were relatively minimalistic, with pops of fall colors and styles.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

What were your favorite moments of the day?

We decided to do a first look in the park across the street from the hotel. It was such a perfect day weather wise, and peak season for the foliage. The leaves were falling in the breeze as we took our photos – could not have planned a better fall day for us and it made for such memorable moments.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

Knowing each other as long as we have, Matt and I share a large friend group, mostly made up of our college friends. It was so fun being able to celebrate with them, as well as many other close friends and family members, all weekend long. That was our favorite thing overall.

Any advice for other engaged couples planning weddings?

Enjoy every moment of your day from the early wake-up to the last call at the bar! Having an amazing team of vendors helped Matt and I to be truly present in our day.

Photo: Ashley Nizolek Photography

Enjoyed this story? See more Glens Falls weddings here.

Would you like to see your wedding featured here on GFL? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com!

…

VENDOR CREDITS

Venue: The Queensbury Hotel

Food/Catering: The Queensbury Hotel

Cake: Lake George Baking Co.

Gown: Allure Bridal - Kleinfelds

Hair: Jessica Lynne Hair & Makeup

Makeup: Carina Scott Makeup

Photographer: Ashley Nizolek Photography

Videographer: Complete Weddings & Events (Chris & Prince)

Invitations: Holly Winnie Calligraphy

Florals: Samantha Nass Floral Design

DJ: AllStar Weddings (DJ Jeremy)

Ring Designer: Carats by Stacey (NYC) & W. Kodak Jewelers (Hoboken)

Rentals & Signage: Holly Winnie Calligraphy

Coordinator: A Lively Event

Cider Donuts: Hicks Orchard

Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Party Venue: Morgan & Co.

After Party Venue: Downtown Social

Photobooth: Complete Weddings & Events

My Glens Falls: Staci Oswald

We caught up with Staci Oswald this week! She shares some downtown favorites (as well as some favorites from her hometown of Granville, too!), a sweet memory of driving her babies home from the Snuggery, her go-to local breweries, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I'm Staci Oswald, owner of Staci Oswald Creative Photography & Design. My husband Karl and I have two sweet kiddos, Kaiser and Kayden, ages 5 and 3. Our youngest was born on the day before the world shut down on March 12, 2020. It's been a beautifully wild ride! 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I'm from Michigan originally, and my husband is from Clifton Park. We met and fell in love with the Glens Falls area, settling in Granville. We were drawn to the hometown feel and kindness of the community, and we're proud to now be raising our babies and business here!

We own a home in the village of Granville; it's such a sweet town with the kindest people! Our neighbors are always checking in on each other and helping to look out for one another. 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Glens Falls has everything you could want in a downtown area, and feels so down-to-earth and approachable. My favorite discovery has been Hovey Pond Park playground and the bike trails — I could spend all day walking and exploring! I've also been so thankful to have found the WorkSmart coworking space downtown. It's a great space for meetings and photoshoots! 

…And Some Granville Favorites, Too

Our favorite Granville spots include Slate Town Brewing for a couple of pints — the beer is great, and the staff is incredible! We love taking the kids to Pember Library, and if it's summer, we'll head over to Jen's Pit Stop or Scarlotta's for some ice cream. If we're looking to have dinner out, we'll head to Slate Town Brewing or On the Rocks Pub, right across the street! 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect Glens Falls day starts out with a chai latte at Spot Coffee (in fact, I'm sipping one as I write this!). We love taking the kids to Crandall Library, and are frequent fliers at the Crandall Park playground. On a rare date night, my husband and I love the beer and atmosphere at Mean Max Brew Works (All Fluffed Up is a favorite!), and my favorite yoga spot is Grounded on Glen Street. If we're dining out, we love Siam Thai for sushi and Downtown City Tavern for the beer selection and great food! 

On the Past

Two of my favorite Glens Falls memories were taking our babies home from the Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital. My husband drove the entire way home with the interior lights on so he could be sure to see the babies were safe in the back seat! So sweet. 

On the Future

I'd love to see another brewery come to town, and it would be wonderful to have another place to take the kids to play indoors when the weather is chilly in the winter!

The Weekender: March 31 - April 2

Happy weekend, Happy April! We’re starting the month with a busy weekend! Lots happening, so let’s get to it:

Glens Falls Brewfest: Unlimited tastings from over 30 breweries, complimentary food tastings from 11 different restaurants, and live music by Dirt Cheap! It’s all happening on Saturday, April 1 from 4-7pm on the Arena Floor at Cool Insuring Arena. And bonus - all proceeds benefit Adirondack Theatre Festival and Feeder Canal Alliance, two not-for-profits doing great things in our community. Grab tickets here! Note that online ticket sales available until 1pm on Saturday, but tickets will still be available at the door.

Taps and Apps: Get a head start on Brewfest at Seasoned on Friday from 6-8pm! Sample amazing food by chef Matthew Bolton and the SUNY Culinary Arts School paired with awesome brews from Brewfest’s guest brewer, Battle Hill Brewing Co. There are limited tickets available for this event and as of this writing, there were still a handful left! Get tickets here!

Comedy After Dark: Date night! Grab dinner downtown and then head over to The Park Theater for Comedy After Dark on Friday at 8pm. As seen on Comedy Central and Saturday Night Live, Adam Mamawala also has two albums that debuted at #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts. Sounds like fun to us! Grab tickets here.

Northwest Fest: It’s springtime on the slopes at West Mountain! They’re celebrating this Saturday and Sunday with live music and outdoor grilling at the Northwest Base. All trails and lifts will be open, and discounted $40 4-hr lift tickets available. Get the scoop here!

Drop the Gloves with ALS: You may remember Emily Noble from a My Glens Falls feature a few years back (and you probably also know her as the Muffin Top Baker!). Her husband, Marcus, was diagnosed with ALS in early 2021 at the age of 33. They’ve organized the first annual Drop the Gloves hockey tournament, which will raise funds for the St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center through team registration, raffles and silent auctions, and a GoFundMe page for those not able to attend the event but still wish to make a difference (click here to donate). Games will take place this weekend at the Glens Falls Recreation Center Ice Rink and you can expect live music, food trucks, and beer, of course! Get the details and schedule here!

From Emily: “Living with ALS is overwhelming and expensive as Marcus and I have found. We were fortunate enough to be connected to the St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center in Albany for help navigating this disease. The clinic helps us understand what to expect and how to be as prepared as possible. The St Peter’s Clinic has impacted the lives of so many people and after experiencing it first hand, we’d like to help give back to them.”

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Claudia Cedrone

This week, we’re chatting with Claudia Cedrone! She shares what she loves most about her 1920 Glens Falls home, her go-to spot for pasta downtown, what inspired her to become a financial advisor, and more…

Claudia Cedrone // Photo: Briana Lyons for Glens Falls Living // Mural: Hannah Williams

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Claudia Cedrone and I am a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments. I grew up in Queensbury and now own a home in Glens Falls. I spend a lot of time with my family who also lives locally, including my parents, sister and two nephews. My father has been a financial advisor with Edward Jones for 25 years. I saw what an impact he made in the community and the relationships he built throughout his career and knew I always wanted to do that as well.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

My parents are originally from New York City and as kids they both vacationed up here. When they got married they decided to move to the area, which I am so grateful for. Growing up, I fell in love with our community through the many events and activities, including JDRF [Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation] walks, going to the Adirondack Ice Hawks games, dancing with the Dance Center of Queensbury, and performing the Nutcracker at the Wood Theater. 

I went to SUNY Oswego for college, but always knew I wanted to come back to the area. I bought my home on Mason Street in Glens Falls two years ago. It was built in 1920 and I love all the details and character of the home. The previous owners had done a lot of renovations and it was move in ready, which was perfect! I love that there are all different styles of homes on Mason Street and that the bike path is right there. The thing I love most about my home is how close it is to the rest of Glens Falls. During the warmer months, I love biking to all the events that happen downtown like Take a Bite, Wing Fest, and LARAC.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect day in Glens Falls would start with a 6am ride to Lake George on the bike path with my boyfriend, Clark (if it’s raining, we’d catch a cycling class at Kind Cycling!). After that, we’d get breakfast at Steve’s Place. Up next, we’d head home and and see what event is going on downtown or attend a yoga class at Grounded on Glen. Afterwards, I would go to my sister’s house to play with my nephews, Max and Milo, and take them to get some ice cream at Coopers Cave. For dinner I would meet my family at Gourmet Café and get one of their delicious salads or the pasta bar! I love that I can go to Gourmet Café and also get so many gluten free options, especially their desserts. Finally, I’d end the night at home with some sleepy time tea and cuddling with my cat Lightning (I am a big cat lover).

On the Past

My sister, Amanda Cedrone, is a type 1 diabetic and growing up we always participated in the JDRF walks out of Crandall Park and through the streets of Glens Falls. It was always very rewarding raising money for a great cause that meant a lot to my family. 

I also remember attending an event commemorating the opening of Centennial Circle and riding in an old fashioned car around Glens Falls.

On the Future

One addition I would love in Glens Falls would be a Greek restaurant! I love Greek food and think it would be a good cultural addition.

The Weekender: March 24-26

Happy weekend! So nice to see the snow melting this week, right?! Here are a few things that caught our eye for the weekend to-do list:

Pizza Night: Did you catch our roundup of the top pizza in Glens Falls? We’ve tried most of them, but we’re excited to order from a new-to-us spot this weekend - check it out here if you’re in the mood for a slice!

Farmer’s Market: Have you been to the Farmers Market lately? It’s easy to forget in the cooler weather, but most all of your favorite vendors from the summer market are set up for the winter at the Aviation Mall on Saturdays from 9am-noon through the end of April! Details here.

Thunder Hockey: Cheer on the home team this Friday and Saturday night at 7pm, which also happens to be Stick it to Cancer Weekend, benefitting the C. R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital. With a $10 donation to the Hospital, fans can write a personal message or the name of a loved one affected by cancer on the ice after the game on Friday, and on Saturday, the game will be played on the painted ice. Tickets here!

Bands and Beans: If you love live music and chili, you’re in luck. The Lake George Arts Project hosts Bands and Beans this Sunday at the Fort William Henry from 2-7pm. Eight bands, chili from 20+ regional restaurants, raffle prizes, and more - grab the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: March 17-19

Happy weekend, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Happy Spring! So much to celebrate - here are a few ways to get out there in the world this weekend:

Ice Cream: The surest sign of spring - the re-opening of our favorite ice cream spots! Rob and Deb’s opens tomorrow (Friday) and Martha’s opens on Saturday - see you in line!

Winter Meltdown: The Shirt Factory is heating things up this weekend with the Spicy Food Winter Meltdown! Food vendors will be serving up dishes full of spice and flavor (and plenty of other non-spicy options, too!) on Saturday from 11am-5pm - details here!

Snowshoe at Wilton Wildlife Preserve: Might as well enjoy the last of the snow! No snowshoes? No problem! On winter weekends, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park rents snowshoes and cross country skis at their Winter Lodge on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm. Find the details here and get out on the trail!

Thurman Maple Days: Head north to Thurman this weekend for the second of three Maple Days this month. Hop on a hayride at Toad Hill Maple Farm, enjoy a s’more by the fire at Mud Street Maple, or head out on a farm walk at Nettle Meadow. And obviously, sample all of the maple goodness along the way. Find a map of the activities here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

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Swinging the virtual doors open at our little general store…

Thrilled to be offering fine art prints of this amazing Glen Street watercolor by Allison Komanecky - grab one here!

Thanks for your support!

The Weekender: March 10-12

Happy weekend! Sunshine, blue skies, and melting snow. Eleven days ‘til spring! Bring it on, we say. Here’s what’s coming up:

Glens Falls Restaurant Week: Restaurant Week continues through Saturday, with the goal of showcasing the diverse, budding food scene in our little city. Restaurants are offering up multi-course prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus across the city. Find out more here and bring your appetite!

Thunder Hockey: Cheer on the home team this Saturday and Sunday - the puck drops at 7pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Let’s go Thunder! Tickets here.

Thurman Maple Days: The sweetest thing about this season, don’t you think? Head north to Thurman this weekend for the first of three Maple Days this month. Hop on a hayride at Toad Hill Maple Farm, enjoy a s’more by the fire at Mud Street Maple, or head out on a farm walk at Nettle Meadow. And obviously, sample all of the maple goodness along the way. Find a map of the activities here!

Free Day at World Awareness Children’s Museum: Visit the museum for free this Sunday from 10am-3pm during their monthly Free Day! Find out more here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

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Swinging the virtual doors open at our little general store…

Last call on our Downtown Women’s tees! Just one or two left in each size - grab one here!

Thanks for your support!

The Weekender: March 3 - 5

Happy weekend and Happy March! Looks like we’re going to start out with a weekend snowstorm - in like a lion and out like a lamb, right? Here’s what’s doing this weekend:

South High Marathon Dance: It’s South High’s Marathon Dance weekend! This year, 630 students will dance for 28 hours to benefit 12 individual and 10 not-for-profit recipients in the community. The public events and fundraisers have moved to Tanglewood Elementary this year, so check out their website for all of the new details. As always, you can donate to the Marathon Dance online here. Go Bulldogs!

Section 2 Boys Basketball: It’s that time of year! The Section 2 Boys Basketball Tournament runs through the weekend at the Cool Insuring Arena, and it just so happens that Glens Falls plays in the Class B Championship on Saturday at 12:45pm - let’s go Glens Falls! Details here.

Glens Falls Restaurant Week: The first GF Restaurant week starts Sunday, with the goal of showcasing the diverse, budding food scene in our little city. Restaurants will be offering up multi-course prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus across the city. Find out more here and bring your appetite!

Barrel Fest: Adirondack Pub and Brewery is hosting a celebration of all things barrel aged this Saturday from 1-4pm. Enjoy barrel aged samples from dozens of area craft breweries, plus hot food and promises of a multiple story bonfire to keep you warm! Details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

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Swinging the virtual doors open at our little general store…

Last call on our Downtown Women’s tees! Just one or two left in each size - grab one here!

Thanks for your support!

The Weekender: February 24 - 26

Happy weekend! Winter made her comeback today so we’re hoping to embrace it this weekend - snowshoeing and cozy fires ahead! Here’s what else looks good:

Downtown Art: Not one, but two show openings downtown this weekend! LARAC’s Lapham Gallery kicks things off on Friday at 5pm with the opening of “Be Still”, featuring artists Anne Ackerson and Robin Brewer. Follow that up with a visit to Mountain Gallery at 6pm for the opening of “Plein Air Adirondack” featuring works from (you guessed it!) members of Plein Air Adirondack. Details here!

Comedy After Dark: Date night! Grab dinner downtown (Park & Elm, perhaps?!) and head over to The Park Theater for Comedy After Dark on Friday at 8pm. As seen on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and on Comedy Central, Carmen Lagala is “the kind of comic you’d have a wild late-night conversation with”. Sounds like fun to us! Grab tickets here.

Hockey Night: Have you been to a hockey game yet this season? Cheer on the home team this Friday and Saturday night - the puck drops at 7pm. Go Thunder! Tickets here.

Drink Slickfin, Support SHMD: It’s that time of year! The South High Marathon Dance is sneaking up on us and we love seeing fundraisers pop up around the community. Head over to Slickfin Brewing Company in Fort Edward on Saturday at 4:30pm - for every beer sold, they’ll be donating $1 to SHMD. Details here - cheers!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

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Swinging the virtual doors open at our little general store…

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Thanks for your support!

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!