My Glens Falls: Myranda Lynch

We caught up with Myranda Lynch this week, who you’ll likely recognize as the Nail Artist behind Diamond Studio! She shares an amazing roundup of food favorites from The Shirt Factory’s Food Truck Corral, a great idea for local coffee lovers that she’d like to see downtown, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m Myranda Lynch, owner of Diamond Studio, which is located here in Glens Falls on Lawrence Street inside Studio Elements. I’m a licensed Nail Technician but like to refer to myself as a Nail Artist because painting art is my favorite part of doing nails. I opened my business in June of 2019 right after my nail bestie Bari (Studio Bari) opened Studio Elements. I had always loved painting my own nails but never thought this could be the career that supported my family and I’m so thankful for Bari getting on my case to chase my dreams alongside her. It has truly been a dream to work with so many awesome women and meet so many amazing clients that have become friends! 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I was born and raised in a neighboring town, Fort Ann, and found myself moving back up this way after I graduated from UAlbany in 2010. My now husband, Adam (Bubs), and I actually lived in Glens Falls for a little while before moving back to Fort Ann and buying my mom and step dad’s home in 2016. Bubs and I have the coolest 6 year old daughter, Alanna (Lonnie), and love being able to raise her close to everything but still outside of town where we have property and privacy. We really loved our time living in Glens Falls and I’m so glad to be working right outside of downtown, still close to everything but better parking!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

A perfect Glens Falls day for me would start with grabbing a Kale Almighty juice from Juicin’ Jar and heading to the studio to do my own nails. It takes me a few hours to do my own and I love to hang and watch a show while I’m doing them so I would probably order my favorite beet salad with crispy chicken from Kelly’s Roots for lunch for when I finish. After lunch Bubs and Lonnie would meet me at work and we’d go over to Rude Betty to buy some fun trinkets as Lonnie would say, stop for my favorite Owl Margarita from Raul’s, then play some games at Go Play With Your Food until the food trucks at The Shirt Factory started. To end the day, we would grab some pasta from our favorite Giovanni Fresco, a beer from Mean Max, tacos from La Capital Tacos, Chicken Tenders from Coaches Corner, pet some reptiles, get my daughter’s face painted, let her jump in the bounce houses for a bit, then grab a Strawberry Nutella crepe from Holy Crepe, my favorite Lavender Lemonade from Freddy’s Rockin Lemonade, and some delicious homemade ice cream from Kaleidoscope Cafe on the way out. If you couldn’t tell my family really loves food truck night at The Shirt Factory! 

On the Past

I’ve always loved coming to Glens Falls throughout my life and watching it blossom into what it is now. The city has so much more to offer now and I love all of the events that continue to be created to bring the surrounding communities together. Having fun and safe things to do year round is really such an asset to this area. 

On the Future

One thing I would really love to see is a drive-thru coffee shop that isn’t a chain. We have so many amazing cafes and coffee shops downtown and it would be so awesome to be able to have one we could still get to when we may not have time to park and walk up. I love to be able to support local anytime I can which is never hard to do with all of the amazing options this city has to offer!

The Weekender: September 15 - 17

Feels like fall! Slowly giving in to autumn activities this weekend, starting with apple picking! Here are a few other things that caught our eye:

Sunflower Fest: Yup, we shared this last week, but the sunflower field is now in full bloom at Dancing Grain Farm Brewery in Moreau, and it’s a sight to behold! Grab a drink and enjoy the view. Details here.

Shred Day: Not the most exciting thing on the list, but actually maybe it is? :) The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting their Annual Community Shred Day on Saturday from 9-11am. Don’t know about you but we’ve got a box or two of things that need to be shredded and we’re pretty excited to get rid of them! It’s free with the donation of at least one non-perishable food item per shred box to benefit The Open Door Mission. Details here.

Fire Pit with a View: The Fort William Henry is offering fire pit rentals this season! Cozy up around the fire with a view of the lake and a s’more, along with a dedicated server to grab your drinks. Sounds great to us! Learn more and make your reservation here.

Apple Picking: ‘Tis the season! We’re headed out for our first round of picking this weekend, and if you’re going to, here’s a roundup of our favorite local apple orchards and any changes for this season (lots of orchards either lost their crop or have a reduced crop due to a late frost this year). Pass the apple pie!

Have a great weekend,
Bri + Tom

Canine Commute: Local Pups Take The Bus To Day Camp with Adirondack Sniffari

It’s not just the kids that are waiting at the bus stop this month! Local pups are hopping on the bus to head to day camp at Adirondack Sniffari, and well, could they be any cuter?! We caught up with owner Caitlin Stedman to find out more about a day in the life at camp, renovating the bus for the pups, and more…

Tell us a bit about yourself! 

Hi, I'm Cailtin! I am the owner and camp counselor at Adirondack Sniffari.  I have always loved animals and have felt a strong calling towards dogs in particular. After beginning a training journey with my pup Vinny, I became driven to know all that I could about dogs and how to deepen our relationships with them. I am always taking courses and workshops to broaden my knowledge and hone in on my personal philosophies surrounding dogs. The courses I have taken that have been the most impactful for me are My Dog Camp, Happy Rescue Dogs, Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations and Training Between The Ears Level 1. 

On Starting The Business

Adirondack Sniffari is an outdoor adventure camp for dogs. I started working with dogs in the fall of 2020 when I was lucky enough to be hired by Mallory Stark at Lucky Dawg. I was really inspired by her work ethic and connection to her clients (human and dog). I've always wanted a job where I can spend my days outside but I felt like with traditional dog walking, I spent a lot of time in the car. It wasn't until I found my mentor Rhonda Bilodeau on Instagram that everything clicked. I took her intensive online course called My Dog Camp and shadowed her in Vermont. Through Rhonda, I found dog camp to be the perfect mix of hiking, training and just letting dogs be dogs. Adirondack Sniffari welcomed its first campers in April of 2022. I still look to other graduates from the My Dog Camp course and Rhonda for advice and information weekly. It's been a wonderful community and resource!

A Day At Camp

My partner Tom Appler and I pick up our campers each morning and ride to our fenced in space in Queensbury that we call The Serengeti. Here we play, dig, dip in the kiddie pool, go on the agility/playground equipment and take lots of breaks for relaxation. Then we load up on the bus and head to the private land which is off Route 149 just inside Adirondack Park. It's about 13 acres that the owners Donna and Dave graciously allow us to hike on. Throughout the entire day we are practicing a calm mindset, impulse control, proper play etiquette and fluidly moving from prey drive to social drive. Camp lasts at least 2 hours with an additional 1 to 2 hours of drive time. 

On The Bus

We have a few dogs in camp who really like their personal space which I totally understand! It didn't seem fair to me to crowd dogs together in my car for a lengthy drive time. Also, it can be very overwhelming for new dogs coming in. I saw dog buses on Instagram and TikTok and loved how the dogs could be harnessed into their own seat for added safety. I thought this would be perfect! I put a post out on Facebook and saw a bus for sale at the Head Start just around the corner. It felt like kismet! I got a great deal on it and it has only needed a couple minor repairs. 

Renovating took a few months. I worked on it with my Dad and Tom. Vinny, my dog, supervised of course! We started by taking out seats, then took off all the lights and stickers. After that we sanded which by far took the longest! Primer and paint went on smoothly. The blue color is pulled from our logo. We had our lettering (and logo) designed by Advokate and it was installed by M&M Digital Printing. They both did an amazing job! The interior is still a work in progress. This fall we are painting the interior walls and removing some leftover sticker residue. 

Most of the dogs took to the bus right away! We have a couple of nervous pups but they are getting the hang of it. The dogs would pace and sometimes try to play in my car but in the bus they just hangout in their assigned seats! I think they really like the extra space to decompress and the security of the harness. 

On The Future

We are adding in new campers right now and it is so exciting! I love watching the dogs blossom out at camp. They come in happy, excited but a little confused and then they pick up new skills, meet new friends and just have a blast. I feel that we ask a lot from our dogs on the daily. The world is structured to make dogs fit into the human way of life and camp provides an outlet where they can safely be dogs doing dog things! 

By the Way…

Tell your dog I said hi! You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

My Glens Falls: Ryan Simpson

We caught up with Ryan Simpson this week! He shares some great ideas for the perfect Glens Falls region day (including a trip to a zoo and a local hike!), his pick for dinner downtown, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Ryan Simpson. I’m the COO of Slip Stoppers Epoxy. I’m married to Tori Torrisi and we have two lovely cats, Edward and Piper. I am a huge golfer. I’m not the best cook, but I’m a fantastic eater.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I actually grew up in Clifton Park and then we moved to Boston for a few years. Both of our families live in the area. When we came back a few years ago and went cherry picking at Hick’s Orchard, we just happened to go through Glens Falls to grab lunch (and watch Tiger win the Masters!!) and immediately fell in love. About a year later we found our dream house. We have been here for 4 years now and live on Coolidge Ave right by the park. You can catch us out running or playing tennis or over the winter skating and cross country skiing.

We own a Victorian, and we are just finishing a large kitchen renovation which is super exciting. We never plan to move so we really have tried to honor the history of the house and area with our renovations. Everything is super walkable here and our neighbors are amazing. We meet new people literally every day that we love.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite thing in Glens Falls is the atmosphere! It sounds a bit cliché but everyone seems to know and like each other and the culture is so supportive and laid back. It’s sort of like being on vacation, but all the time!

There are so many hidden gems here. In the downtown area we love Farmacy. The food is always amazing but the people are even better. If you go just a little outside the city, it’s worth going to the Dancing Ewe Farm for a really fun experience.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Obviously the perfect days are in the fall so we are right there! 

One perfect day is going over to the Jungle Experience Zoo in Granville. It seems like nobody knows about that one, but it is awesome. You can go hang out with kangaroos and camels and feed otters and monkeys. You cannot have a bad day when you get to cuddle with a wallaby. And then grab a milkshake and a burger at Jen’s Pit Stop.

Another perfect day would be going on a quick hike somewhere local - maybe Sleeping Beauty - and then getting a bite at the cafe right there. We’d spend the middle of the day walking around and enjoying the sights with friends and then finishing the day with dinner outside at Farmacy with AJ and crew. I am a mocktail person and they make amazing drinks there too.

On The Past

I think my favorite memory is when we first moved in. It was during the winter and freezing! We had no furniture or anything yet but we really wanted to have friends over and check out downtown. We ended up going to a few places and ending our night playing pool at Downtown Social and then coming back to sleep on our outdoor furniture inside the house!

On the Future

I am sure hoping for changes on South Street! There is so much opportunity to expand there and continue making the city beautiful. It would be awesome to have a nice bookstore right downtown too. Somebody should definitely open up a rooftop bar as well. How do we not have one with our awesome views?!

The Weekender: September 8 - 10

Hey there! Hope it was a great week and a wonderful first day of school for those of you with kids going back. Here’s what looks good this weekend…

Strolling Glen Street with Max

Quality Time With Your Pup: This week was a really tough one for us, as our beloved yellow lab, Max, passed away. In Max’s honor, we’d love to suggest spending a little extra quality time with your pup (or any pet, for that matter) this weekend. Give in to another five minutes of belly rubs, extend your walk an extra block or two, or play a few more rounds of fetch. And please give them an extra pat from us. There’s nothing like the unconditional love of a dog.

Sunflower Fest: It’s that time! The sunflower blooms are just starting to open at Dancing Grain Farm Brewery in Moreau, so this weekend they will be showing off their sunflower field in addition to their craft brews! Details here.

Vette Fest: If Corvettes are your thing, you’ll want to check out Vette Fest this Sunday from 10am-2pm on Maple Street between The Queensbury Hotel and City Park. Details here!

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. Here are the details!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: September 1 - 3

Happy September, Happy Labor Day, Happy Weekend! Lots to celebrate this weekend, and a great weather forecast, so let’s get to it…

Scoops and Brews: Head to Common Roots on Friday night for Scoops and Brews! Adirondack Creamery will be onsite scooping up samples of their amazing ice cream and Common Roots will have the beer float additions ready to go - details here.  

Rewind at The Park: Get to The Park Theater on Saturday night for ‘Rewind At The Park’ featuring Big Eyed Phish - the only touring full 8-piece Dave Matthews Band Tribute in the country! Doors open at 7:30 - grab your tickets here!

End of Summer Stuff: Now’s the time, people! Back to school is sneaking up, so let’s get to the fun staycation kind of things - go mini golfing, make s’mores, go on a steamboat ride on Lake George, hop on a train ride in the country, go out for ice cream, head to a drive-in movie, rent a kayak and get out on a morning paddle…you get the idea!

Corn Maze: Fort Ticonderoga’s Corn Maze is open (which is always a reminder that summer is winding down). 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!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

Muralthon Artist Jenny Hutchinson Shares Her Nature Inspired Mural

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to another one of the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, Jenny Hutchinson, whose mural is inspired by the reflections of the landscape along the water's edge.

Tell us about yourself!

I currently work and live in Glens Falls as an artist and grants administrator. I grew up in Queensbury, my husband in Glens Falls, and while we didn't plan to live here initially, we're so glad that we do! We love living in Glens Falls and being part of this community. Since 2020, when I last spoke to Glens Falls Living, Joann (the barn on our property) is fully finished and is a beautiful and thriving art studio and workspace.

On Becoming an Artist

Although I did not call myself an artist until I was a young adult, I've been an artist my whole life. I began creating the moment I could wrap my hands around a crayon and my first friends were the colors in my crayon box. I've referred to myself as a professional artist for about 15 years now. My first art exhibitions outside of my education happened right here in Glens Falls and I had my first art studio at The Shirt Factory.

On Inspiration

My work for Muralgarten has a couple different sources. I spend a bit of time kayaking the region's many rivers and lakes and find myself transfixed by the various reflections of trees, and landscape along the bank and water's edge. In particular, I take photographs of the still moments and bring these images back to my art studio to create into new artworks.

This piece is of trees and their reflection along the Hudson River by Spier Falls. I originally created this image for a show I had in 2016 at Albany Center Gallery. It was a mixed media paper sculpture work and was just finished only a short time before the exhibition. The piece sold during this show, which was a bittersweet pill to swallow — it had become one of my favorite works! I decided that Muralgarten would be the perfect opportunity to create a new interpretation of it so that it could live in the world for others (and myself) to see and enjoy.  

On The Process

All of my artworks begin as a fully finished ink line drawing. I first projected that image and traced the outline in paint onto the shipping container. I also took my documented image from the original artwork mentioned above and scanned it into photoshop to recolor some areas of the art to make it slightly different and more appropriate for the mural. My first challenge was thinking through how I was going to take artwork that was 3-dimensional (the original had shapes layered at different depths) and make it 2 dimensional again.

While I've worked large scale before and painted murals inside homes, this was my first experience painting a mural outside and I absolutely love it! While the weather and temperature can be challenging, as someone who enjoys the outdoors, this melded together two of my passions — creating art and being outside — so it's a bit of a natural fit.

While the surface texture of the container was certainly challenging to paint straight lines across, I found the tougher situation was the heat that builds on the surface throughout the day from the sun. When the metal is at its hottest, the paint dries instantly so you have to be very strategic in how you are applying paint and reserving things like gradient or blending colors for cooler times of day when the paint can remain wet longer.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Having Rock Hill Bakehouse next door while we worked was fantastic for breaks and grabbing delicious meals and cold drinks. After a long day of painting, stopping by Cooper's Cave for some ice cream was a nice treat too.

It was also great to be visited by people as they came to check out whats going on. There were a lot of residents stopping by to talk with us and admire the works — it has been amazing to see the community interested and behind us. 

By the Way…

The Muralgarten Team has done a amazing job caring for the artists — we have been compensated for our time, supplies, and provided stipends for meals as well. I am so very thankful to Eric Unkauf for providing the space for this opportunity, Hannah Williams for sharing her love and expertise in murals with us all, and the sponsors and board members of Muralgarten that have made this momentous project possible. It's been wonderful to get to know my fellow artists, create with them, learn from them, and I'm very excited to see the end product of Muralgarten from Muckraker Productions. They were out there with us throughout the entire process, documenting us artists at work, rain or shine, heat or cold. Arguably, they have had the toughest job of us all, and I'm looking forward to seeing the story that they produce. 

My Glens Falls: Rebecca Evansky

We’re chatting with Rebecca Evansky this week! She shares one of the city’s hidden gems for walks and runs (especially in the fall!), her passion for fostering pups, a great idea for a downtown store that would help support the local running community (any takers?!), and more…

Rebecca with her dog, Bruno

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Rebecca Evansky. I am a behavioral health administrator, aspiring social worker, athlete, and foster dog mom (and permanent dog mom to my pack of three rescue pups). I’ve worked in a variety of roles in behavioral health throughout my career but decided to go back to school for social work and will graduate this fall — hoping to better support the growing needs in our region. When I’m not walking my dogs, you can find me riding bikes with friends or running on the bike trail. 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

My husband and I vacationed here to visit family and fell in love with the area. Moving from Florida, it’s been over 20 years of enjoying the beauty of all four seasons.

Glens Falls offers something for every possible outside activity! Mountain biking, trail running, and Nordic skiing right at Cole’s Woods. We can ride the bike trail from home to Grey Ghost Bicycles to meet for a group ride or run the canal trail to Haviland’s Cove. The stretch between the cove and the dam is a true hidden gem in the fall with the changing colors! We have it all here, along with the best athlete community if you want company. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My ideal day in Glens Falls would include time to check for a sale at Fountain Square Outfitters basement or Finders Keepers. I love bargain hunting! Lunch is definitely at Siam Thai and it would have to be summertime so I can meet my fellow Lucky Puppy Rescue volunteers and walk my foster dog downtown for Take a Bite. Wednesday evenings we can be spotted with pups wearing “adopt me” bandanas who are socializing and searching for their forever families. 

On the Past

I miss Aimee’s Dinner and a Movie! I spent years working at a unique one screen theatre when I was young and saw the best independent movies. Aimee’s had similar interesting movies and some blockbusters if you were willing to wait for them. Can we get Morgan & Co. to add a screen and a run a movie?! I’d love to watch while sipping their delicious sangria. 

On the Future

I would love to see a locally owned running specialty store come to Glens Falls. It would be amazing if they partnered with schools and organizations to host beginner running events and grow the understanding between physical movement, feeling empowered, and health and wellness. 

The Weekender: August 25 - 27

Happy weekend! The last one of August and we’re feeling just a hint of fall in the air. We’re not here to rush the seasons though, so let’s see what summer fun is in store this weekend, shall we?

Endless Summer: Have you been to West Mountain yet this summer? This Saturday is the perfect time to take advantage of this gem in our own backyard — they’re offering free Scenic Chairlift Rides from 9am-3pm! Plus, you can add an Aerial Adventure experience, Mountain Biking, Mountain Bike Rentals, or Mountaintop Picnics for just $15. Pretty great deal! Details here.

Berry Picking: Berry season is holding on! Gardenworks in Salem will have their first fall raspberries ready for picking this weekend - details here. Any other farms still picking berries?!

Washington County Fair: Food, games, animals, rides, live music, events - this can only mean one thing! Head out to Greenwich this week through Sunday for the Fair - find the full schedule of events here!

Farm to Table Dinner (and a Movie!): A seasonally inspired 5+ course dinner at beautiful Lakota’s Farm in Cambridge, complete with music, lawn games, and a cozy fire. And bonus — your dinner ticket includes admission to movie night on the farm lawn after dinner! Grab the details here.

Sunflower Season: What’s summer without a stroll through a field of sunflowers?! In case you missed it a few weeks back, the larger 8 acre sunflower field at Herringtons in Johnsonville is now in bloom! Stroll the field, pick your own blooms, and enjoy the view. Details here!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

Muralthon Artist Anthony Richichi Shares His Otherworldly Mural

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to another one of the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, Anthony Richichi, and his otherworldly mural, which gives us a peek through a keyhole into another dimension.

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a born and raised Glens Falls native and I work as a full-time artist right from my studio a few blocks from downtown. Although I’ve always made art for hours a day since I was a little kid, I didn’t make the leap out of my day job into a full-time paying art career until 2020 when I started work with Saratoga Springs Publishing.

Since my first gig there in Spring of 2020, I’ve illustrated over a dozen children’s books that have won nine national book awards. It’s a total dream come true to turn your passion into your career and the realization that it has happened makes me want to just keep working and sharing my art even more.

I’m able to work right from my hometown of Glens Falls and I balance the illustration work with freelance jobs for different clients including Marvel and numerous music festivals and bands.

On Becoming An Artist

I got my start as an artist as soon as my parents bought me my first crayons as a baby! I realized I could create visuals on paper from thin air by just using my imagination and my hand, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I first exhibited my work in a gallery when I had three paintings selected for The Hyde Museum Regional High School exhibit during my years at Glens Falls High School. Throughout high school and community college, I never really thought that art could ever be a career. It always felt too second nature to me, and just like a fun hobby. I believed that to “work for a living” you have to “work”, and making art never felt like work.

It wasn’t until I met with Hannah Williams to start a painting collab in November 2012 that my mind exploded and I really felt I could make art for a living. I never went to art school outside of a handful of classes at ACC, but she showed me so much within myself that was dying to be let out with a paintbrush and I started painting and making art 50-60 hours a week from that day forward.

On Inspiration 

I was really excited with the freedom Eric Unkauf gave the artists for this project to do anything we wanted for our design.

I immediately knew I wanted to do something surreal and imaginative. Working in the publishing and film industry, you really have to stick to the script — quite literally sometimes — and while there’s certainly room for your own creativity and style, there’s not always so much room with subject matter. For that reason, I wanted to go all out surreal and kind of tap back in to some of my earlier paintings and the otherworldly kind of space themes and keyholes into other dimensions.

I feel like art should make people wonder, think, and take them to new places for a moment as they view your work, and I was hoping to do that with this piece.

On Painting Outside

Nothing beats painting outside. I’m an avid plein air painter and there’s nothing like fresh air and the sound of nature around you, people to interact with, the breeze, the sun — I love it. The ribbed surface of the shipping container made for some technique changes when using spray paint but overall, it has been an immense amount of fun. I’ve definitely caught the mural bug — this was my first one this large and I’m definitely eager to do more of them.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

The art galleries! The Hyde Collection, LARAC’s Lapham and Mountain Gallery, North Country Arts gallery — there’s tons of wall space in this city and it’s so enjoyable to see the different exhibits year after year.

At any given time you can see anything from local first-time exhibitors, to nationally renown award-winning artists, to legends like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt, all in a one-mile radius. It’s wild. After gallery tours, I’m definitely hitting up Mean Max Brewery then Downtown City Tavern for a pizza.

By The Way…

I’d like to say thank you to anyone and everyone out there supporting the arts, from going to concerts, to buying an art print from your artist friend, to reading books and watching movies, to being a creator yourself. Expressing yourself is one of the few things we have full control of in life. How we express ourselves and doing it creatively is a huge and positive outlet for all of us that anyone can tap into at any moment. Stay creative!!

My Glens Falls: Nicole Laubenheimer

We caught up with Nicole Laubenheimer this week, who you’ll likely recognize from Juicin’ Jar! She shares her passion for healthy and happy living, her favorite spot to grab dinner (and gelato!), and more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m Nicole Laubenheimer, I live in Hudson Falls with my fiancé Ryan, our 2 dogs and 2 cats. We just bought our first home and are expecting our first child in late December!

I work at Juicin’ Jar, a local cafe, bakery and gift shop right in the heart of Glens Falls. We are a family business, my sister and I are partners in running our small, women owned, business. We absolutely love our community and getting to spend our days together cooking, baking and laughing. I am very passionate about healthy and happy living, so being able to share that with our community is such a gift.

I also am a yoga instructor. I teach in Glens Falls in a beautiful studio, Grounded on Glen Street. Another amazing women owned business! Yoga is another passion of mine and it brings so much joy into my life. I teach a variety of different styles of yoga including Pilates and meditation. 

I stay pretty busy between working on our business, teaching yoga and spending time with family. In my free time I love nothing more then hanging out with my fiancé and animals, spending time with my mom and sister, playing around in the garden and nature and just living a simple life.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

When I’m out and about in Glens Falls I love to just enjoy our beautiful charming city — there are so many amazing small businesses in our area! 

My ideal day in Glens Falls would be heading to the Farmers Market on Saturday morning after a yoga class and fresh smoothie from Juicin’ Jar! Going to dinner at Downtown Social, getting a gelato at Lake George Olive Oil Co, having a fun shopping date at Minky Mink! There is so much to do and explore!

Food, shopping and art is what makes our city shine.  

The Weekender: August 18 - 20

The end of August is sneaking up on us, so let’s soak up the rest of this hometown summer, shall we? Here are a few things that look good this weekend:

The Arts: Lots happening with the arts this weekend! LARAC has two shows opening this Friday: Running Towards A Place, featuring Gary Zack and Christopher Smith, which opens at 5pm at Lapham Gallery, and Oakroom Artists, featuring works by the Oakroom Artists, which opens at 6pm at Mountain Gallery. Details on those here. And that’s not all folks! North Country Arts has their Small Works Show Exhibition Opening on Saturday at 5pm - those details are here!

Fort Fest: Head to Slickfin Brewing Company in Fort Edward this weekend from 12pm - 10pm for - you guessed it - Fort Fest! Bands, beer, food, and memories - need we ask for more? There is more actually! Evergreen Bicycle Works is hosting a slow social bike ride through Downtown Fort Edward and the Champlain Canalway Trail / Empire State Trail at 10am! Details on those events here.

Sunset Limited: All aboard the Sunset Limited Beer & Wine Train! Hop on a train ride through the Southern Adirondacks in an open air car as the sun dips below the mountains, complete with live music, wine from Fossil Stone Vineyards, beer from Northway Brewing, and drink specials featuring Springbrook Hollow Distilling! A pretty sweet date night pick, if we do say so ourselves! Grab the details and tickets from the Saratoga, Corinth, and Hudson Railroad here.

Lucky Puppy Open House: Looking to add a pup to your family? Head out to the Lucky Puppy adoption center in Argyle this Sunday from 11am-2pm for their August Open House. Submit your application, pet the adoptable pups, meet your new best friend! Details here.

Jurassic Park + The Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC: The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2023 residency at SPAC wraps up on Saturday! Jurassic Park lovers - you won’t want to miss Saturday’s show - you’ll get to experience Jurassic Park projected in HD alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live to picture. Scoop up your tickets here!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

A Chat with Muralthon Artist Rodney Allen Bentley

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to another one of the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, Rodney Allen Bentley, and his yellow breasted chat mural, which was inspired by the spirit of upward movement after the pandemic.

On Becoming An Artist

I recall my 2nd grade teacher whispering to my mother during Parent Night, “Rodney’s painting is very good”. The bright colored finger painting expressed both wonder and silence, reflecting the morning’s hush of falling snow softly coating a postman delivering Christmas cards. The scene seemed rhythmic and reflective childhood feelings of joy, calmness and comfort. Throughout high school, I learned different art techniques and tools from a very talented instructor until graduation. I never followed the path of creativity after graduation, as I was recruited and rewarded with a lengthy JCPenney corporate management career.

Twenty five years later, following a fall at my residence near Philadelphia, I was rushed to a hospital specializing in neurology and induced into a coma. My diagnosis included a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) reflecting in three subdural hematomas (bleeds in the brain) and upper spinal damage. Being at the critical level, surgeons informed my family that my possible survival rate was twenty percent or less. During the ongoing recovery process I relearned reading, writing, arithmetic and speaking. I did not realize at that time that creativity would become a healing catalyst for me.

My family, which includes my mother and my siblings, recognized the seriousness of my condition and ensured I was returned to my birth town, Glens Falls, near where they reside. I felt it was important to become a positive contributor to the community.

Spot Coffee would soon officially open and unknowingly become my public art studio for a number of years, allowing me to become unofficially recognized as “artist in residence”. From early morning until late night, I practiced pencil and charcoal drawings as cafe patrons passed by and complimented my work. Before long I was commissioned and began creating pet portraits and holiday scenes followed by historic architecture, residential architecture and much more.

My gallery work has been exhibited and sold both locally and nationally, as well as internationally awarded. I am honestly humbled and spiritually enlivened to share and open unknown doors through creativity. I have begun writing my memoir, reflecting upon many humbling life moments and hoping to inspire many. Limited samples of my work may be viewed at www.rodneyallenbentley.com and I take requests for family portraits, pet portraits, home renderings, commercial renderings or holiday work via email at thruhishands@gmail.com

On Inspiration

The inspiration for this mural came from my feelings during COVID. I was very limited to paint colors and supplies as factories were closed worldwide. Although most people felt fear and darkness during that time, I somehow felt solace and enlightenment.

The wide black border and the brilliance of the Utah blue sky backdrop shows the contrast between the darkness of COVID and newness arriving. The yellow breasted chat vibrates with brilliant yellow, soft oranges and hint of salmon, all representing a new sense of calmness. I chose the chat’s wings spread to support an angelic sense of movement upward toward the celestial orb. Adding a soft gray to the whiteness of the leaves hinted a three dimensional view. The orb, in the upper right, supports divine enlightenment and spiritual upwardness and inwardness for those that passed during COVID.

On The Process

The metal shipping container was a very unique canvas as the approximate size of a shipping container is 8 feet high, 8 feet wide and 40 or so feet in length. They are designed with 8 inch continual waves within the metal so they can interconnect similar to Legos. The waves of metal, however, do not easily allow a straight line to be drawn, so adjustments are necessary and seeing the completed work at different angles allows viewers to see it differently as well. 

Eric Unkauf, the owner of the property, took great care in prepping the surface by sanding and sealing, thereby allowing paint to adhere nicely. I purchased the best quality exterior latex paint and took great care in choosing and mixing the correct paint colors to complement and reflect brilliantly in the completed 8’x10’ canvas. Initially, I painted the entire large backdrop of the canvas with double coats of a single brilliant color which then allowed pieces of white chalk to sketch in the vision. The process is technical initially, as planning is a must, but once the chalk is sketched in, the work comes to life.

Lastly, once the mural is completed, a strong clear sealer is administered to protect from weather and any other oddities that attach on the canvas.

I want to express deep appreciation to both Hannah Williams and Eric UnKauf and their long term Muralgarten vision as well as all of the board members. 

On Glens Falls Favorites

Glens Falls has many wonderful places to visit. We have the Hyde Museum, the Chapman Museum, the Children's Museum, LARAC and a tremendous amount of fine dining establishments supporting various cuisine. We also have have the Glens Falls Orchestra, Park Theater and the Wood Theater. 

I don’t necessarily land at one exact location after completing my work as I am very social and love conversations at different places allowing different ideas. I may be seen visiting with neighbors, watching televised sport events or listening to many talented  live musicians. Wherever I may land downtown in the evening my drink of choice is seltzer, cranberry, lime, and laughter.

My Glens Falls: Angie Gomez Davis

This week we’re chatting with Angie Gomez Davis! She shares the many hats she’s worn in her career (from counselor to veterinary technician to realtor!), her go-to spots when she’s looking to relax with a facial or manicure, her wish list for future downtown restaurants, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m the oldest of 4, and was born and raised in NYC by a single mom who worked very hard to provide for us. My work ethic and drive comes from her and I’ll forever be grateful for her as my role model. I spent summers with my Grandma in the Dominican Republic, making Spanish my first language.

I have a thirst for knowledge that has led me to wearing many hats in this lifetime, such as crisis intervention counselor and veterinary technician. Currently, I am a realtor with Selling ADK and love being able to use my research skills and compassion to help my community buy or sell real estate with a warm approach. When I’m not working, you can find me on roller skates, reading, or fishing for bass and lake trout.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

My husband was born and raised in Queensbury. We bought a 1900 duplex near Crandall Park in Glens Falls three years ago, where we lived upstairs and rented downstairs. We recently moved closer to downtown and have started putting roots down. I love the community events and support that Glens Falls offers, like the Thursday Market and Food Truck Corral at The Shirt Factory and the ADK Gateway Homeownership Program.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect day starts with a breakfast sandwich at Lox of Bagels and a coffee at Kru. When I’m looking to unwind and relax, I get a facial at 518 Beauty Room and a manicure at Studio Bari. My favorite date night spot is [farmacy] and fave family dinner spot is Log Jam. Some of my other favorites include Sweet Rice Thai, Angelina’s Pizzeria, Alif Cafe, Aroy Dee and the Park & Elm Market.

On the Past

I love the Glens Falls community and have the best neighbors! We have felt welcomed and have received so much love through fresh baked bread, hand picked flowers, cookies, and sharing pastimes. The owners of Jenny Jo’s Smoothies also know how much we love their smoothies, and when they have extras leftover after the Farmer’s Market they leave us some on our porch. 

On the Future

If I could wave a wand, everyone would be dancing. I’d love to see more of a nightlife downtown — a public space that allows people to socialize and dance with a DJ or band. Being that foodie that I am, I also have to say that a ramen spot, rooftop bar or BBQ smokehouse would be nice! 

The Weekender: August 11 - 13

The weekend is upon us, and it looks like a great one! Here are a few things to put on your agenda:

Second Saturday Flea: Stop by the Second Saturday Flea Market at The Shirt Factory this Saturday from 9am-4pm! Antiques, vintage, collectibles, and more. Check out the details here, and while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the latest murals that have popped up around the building (we featured the first of the six muralists here!).

Pups and Pints: What could be better? Head to Common Roots this Sunday from 12-2pm to meet some sweet adoptable pups from Lucky Puppy Rescue and enjoy a craft beer or two - get the details here.

Dancing Ewe Farm Dinner: Have you been out to a dinner at Dancing Ewe Farm yet? It’s on our summer to-do list, and we just saw that there are a handful of tickets still available for Saturday night’s dinner. A bottle of wine, a stroll around the farm, and a farm-to-table dinner - sign us up! Grab tickets here.

The Markets at Round Lake: Two days, three markets! Head to Round Lake this Saturday and Sunday to browse an artisinal food market, a makers market, and a used book market! There will also be live music and a few activities for the kiddos, too - grab all of the details here!

Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC: The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2023 residency at SPAC continues this week! Golden hour, a stroll through the State Park to the Amphitheater, a glass of wine, and the most beautiful music echoing through the air. Their residency runs through August 19, and includes fun shows like Jurassic Park in Concert - scoop up your tickets here!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

First Look: Oopsy Daisy Flower Farm

When we stumbled across Oopsy Daisy Flower Farm on Instagram, we couldn’t get to their adorable flower stand in South Glens Falls fast enough! We chatted with owner Angela Weinberger about this new family venture, including how the flower stand came to be, the joys (and challenges!) of small scale flower farming, and of course, how to get your hands on one of their gorgeous bouquets!

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Angela Weinberger and I live in South Glens Falls. My husband Seth and I have been together since we were 16 and 17. We have a 3 year old daughter and 1 year old son. When we aren’t covered in dirt from the garden,  you can find us at Lowes or bike riding to our local elementary school playground. We love to spend time by our pool and with our family and friends!

An Idea Blooms

In August of 2022, I was 4 months postpartum with my son and had a crazy energetic curly haired 1 year old girl. I had a fun idea for her to have a lemonade stand that weekend, but I wanted a way to incorporate all of the fresh flowers that we had grown in our yard and garden. So I thought, “lemonade and fresh flowers” — who could say no to that, let alone from a 1 year old?! Seth got right to work and built the most adorable toddler height lemonade stand. My daughter was thrilled. She wore her garden hat with pride and sold enough lemonade and flowers to fill her piggy bank the next day. It was then that we realized we had the space to grow even more fresh flowers and make something of this.

We immediately got to work and started all of our seeds indoors over the winter. Our kids loved helping water them and take care of them. In the freezing 30 degree winter weather, nothing made me happier than seeing green sprouts on our plants! Spring was coming!!

We’re currently growing on about a quarter acre. We have over 60 varieties of dahlias with a total of roughly 215 dahlia plants. Along with dahlias, we grow zinnias, sunflowers, hydrangeas, snapdragons and more. We planted a small pumpkin patch this year with plans to expand next year. 

As far as the Oopsy Daisy name, well, our daughter has always said “oopsy daisy” when she drops something. One day she just said it, and it clicked! Oopsy Daisy Flower Farm!

On Rewards and Challenges

Seeing customers when they pick up their bouquets has to be my absolute favorite! When I deliver flowers, I enjoy seeing how happy and surprised they are. I truly try to put a lot of thought into the bouquets I design. We have done a few events this season and being a part of bridal showers, baby showers and just day to day celebrations is so special. Aside from my children, nothing makes me more proud than stamping our Oopsy Daisy logo on an envelope for a bouquet.  

As far as challenges, I think most people in our area can agree that our weather this spring and summer has been so inconsistent. Between the drought and then constant rain, we really haven’t had the best growing conditions.

The only other challenge we have faced is trying to arrange and deliver flowers with a 1 and 3 year old. We are out working before they wake up and out the door the second we put them to bed. You can say we are pretty busy over here! Thankfully, we have had some help this summer from my 12 year old brother who stays with us. He helps me on our deliveries and brings our bouquets to the door when he isn’t helping out with the kids. You can say he’s rightfully earned employee of the month this month! 

At the Flower Stand

My husband Seth built our flower stand. He is a man of many trades and I will always brag about how handy he is.

Our stand is typically open every day. I like to put a couple bouquets out a day, but I’ve found that weekends are our busiest. You can find up to date information on our flower stand hours and address on our our Instagram page @oopsydaisyflowerfarm. I always say that pre ordering ahead of time is a better way to get your hands on a bouquet in case the stand sells out. 

When you visit our stand, you’ll find rows of flowers in our front side yard with a hand painted by my 3 year old and a “fresh cut flowers” sign hung with pride. You might also see an exhausted mom in her nightgown with a baby on her hip chasing her defiant toddler around. 

On The Future

Our first season has certainly been a trial and error experience for us. We now know what is most popular and plan to grow more of that next season. We specialize in dahlias and next year we plan to triple the amount of plants.

We plan to spend the fall and winter figuring our logistics for ideas we have. I love the idea of “U-Pick” events and “mommy and me” picking. We would eventually love to buy a piece of property to grow flowers on. We have so many ideas and are so excited for them. Our first season really took off so quickly and well. We are so grateful for this opportunity to share something we love with our children right at home. It’s a great opportunity for them as they grow older to help us and learn to work for money. 

On Giving Back

Recently, we started a thankful Thursday giveaway on our Instagram page. Each week for the remainder of the season we will give away a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. We love making others smile! 

We are always looking for charitable events to donate to. Please reach out via Instagram or our email [oopsydaisyflowerfarm@yahoo.com]. 

Oopsy Daisy Flower Farm
South Glens Falls • Address is posted on Instagram when Flower Stand is Open
Instagram

Muralthon Artist Lexi Hannah Shares Her Jungle Inspired Mural

Six artists, three weeks, three shipping containers, one Muralthon. Six new murals mark a step forward for Muralgarten, a unique destination that will combine public art and native plantings adjacent to The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. The vision of Eric Unkauf (owner of The Shirt Factory) with the support of a board including Tom Myott, Hannah Williams, Kendra Farstad, and Matthew Martindale, Muralgarten seeks to give artists the creative freedom to paint what they want, in the style that they want. 

We’re excited to introduce you to the talented artists behind Muralthon’s six murals, starting with Lexi Hannah, whose jungle inspired mural sits opposite Rock Hill Bakehouse! 

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a full-time artist specializing in commissioned artwork, murals, and live event painting. My studio is at Albany Barn. I feel incredibly grateful and lucky to support myself with my artwork! I’ve been connected to Hannah Williams for a long time via social media, and she introduced me to Muralgarten. Having grown up in Latham, I've explored the Adirondacks, but I've never really come to know Glens Falls the way I do now. It's so satisfying to see the great artwork popping up around town, and I'm excited to see Muralgarten's plans take shape.

On Becoming an Artist

I’ve been painting pretty constantly since I was very young, but I was commissioned for my first mural in 2011 — my first big artist gig! I was asked to create a custom mural for the SUNY Geneseo gym, which led to many more murals there. I started taking painting commissions of everything from portraits to animals to landscapes, and I eventually was featured by outlets like Insider, Instagram, and Sony, which really helped my career take off (they took interest in my “drip paintings” of colorful animals, which played into my mural design’s inspiration). I’ve been fortunate in having a steady stream of clients since then, which allows me to work full-time as a freelance artist — a dream come true! 

On Inspiration

I’ve been painting murals for over a decade but I’ve never been granted an opportunity like this where I could play with a design of my own choosing in a public space. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity by diving into subjects that I really love to paint, and for me, that’s nature and animals. I figured a jungle would allow me to paint those kinds of objects while remaining both intentional and free with the design (for example, I could be loose with splatters and drips and still create the impression of a specific scene). 

On The Process

One challenge was the heat! But it was, after all, July in upstate New York. The metal shipping container would warm up as well, which could make painting on a ladder a little spooky. I also temporarily developed some numbness in my right hand from getting a little too wild and free in flicking my arm to create paint splatters. But overall, it was just so much fun, and this experience has helped prepare me for doing future works on this type of surface. I also really loved meeting all the locals while painting the mural!

A Glens Falls Favorite  

I’m vegan, so I was stoked to discover the amazing Rock Hill Bakehouse right behind my mural spot! Their food is awesome, and the staff is wonderful! 

Lexi Hannah Art and Design
Website / Facebook / Instagram

The Weekender: August 4 - 6

Happy weekend! August already! There’s a lot happening this weekend, so let’s get right to it…

Brews, Views, and Blooms: Dancing Grain Farm Brewery in Gansevoort is opening their u-pick flower field this weekend! Grab a beer, stroll the field, and pick a bucket of blooms! Click here to make a reservation for flower picking…cheers!

Adirondack Theater Festival: ATF’s final show of the season, Tuning In (the biggest musical in ATF history!) — opens this week. The show runs through next Wednesday, so grab your tickets here!

LARAC Locals Festival: Another LARAC Festival! This one will bring together young artists under the age of 40 who are currently working and creating in our surrounding counties. Stop by City Park from 10am-5pm on Saturday to browse the vendors. Details here!

Community Day at The Hyde Collection: Head to The Hyde on Sunday from 10am-5pm for art activities, museum tours, live music, food, ice cream, a book sale, and more! Find the details and schedule of events here! Did we mention admission is free?!

More Brews and Blooms: Can you ever have enough flowers? Common Roots is hosting Blooming Acres Farm on Sunday starting at noon - grab a beer, a bite to eat, and a bouquet of fresh blooms! Details here.

Washington County Antique Fair: We brake for barn sales and antique shops, always, so it’s no surprise that the Washington County Antique Fair is high on our list this weekend. We’re looking forward to strolling the Fairgrounds (giant bag of kettle corn in hand, of course), and seeing what kinds of treasures await. More info here!

Antique Weekend at The Farm Store at Tiashoke: Did you catch our First Look at The Farm Store at Tiashoke last fall (here’s the link for a refresher!)? They’ve filled the barn’s basement with antiques this year, and this weekend they’re hosting an Antique Festival, complete with additional antique vendors, local makers and bakers, a food truck, and an antique car show on Sunday from 11am-2pm! Sounds like a perfect country weekend to us! Details here.

Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC: The Philadelphia Orchestra opened their 2023 residency at SPAC last night! If you’ve never been to a performance, we’d highly recommend it - we went last night and had the most wonderful time. Golden hour, a stroll through the State Park to the Amphitheater, a glass of wine, and the most beautiful music echoing through the air. Their residency runs through August 19, and includes fun shows like Harry Potter in Concert and Jurassic Park in Concert - scoop up your tickets here!

Lake George Music Festival: Speaking of beautiful music, the Lake George Music Festival kicks off this weekend as well! Taking place in the newly renovated Carriage House at the Fort William Henry, the Festival offers the opportunity to experience exceptional classical music within a historic and picturesque setting, overlooking the Lake. The Festival runs from August 6-17 - find the details and purchase tickets here!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Melissa Seale

This week we’re chatting with Melissa Seale! She tells us about the restoration of the Crandall Park house, pictured behind her, shares a bit about her work in pediatric psychiatry, as well as her go-to downtown events, and more…

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Melissa Seale. I own and operate a pediatric behavioral health practice, Well Child, on Broad Street. I work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, specializing in pediatric psychiatry. Prior to this, I worked in New Jersey as a hospital administrator in charge of a pediatric epilepsy center. When I moved to New York, I worked in emergency medicine at Glens Falls Hospital before starting my career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

My husband Michael and I have been married since 2014, and we bought our current home in Glens Falls in 2016. He is also a business owner in Glens Falls — he has owned Adirondack Car Wash for almost 30 years. We have three children, Dylan, Prysilla and Michael.  

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I grew up in Sparta, New Jersey and came to the Glens Falls area in 2008. My family would come to Lake George to vacation every summer, so it has always been my refuge and happy place. I did not know much about Glens Falls prior to moving to the Warren County area. When I started working at Glens Falls Hospital, I spent more time exploring Glens Falls and came to love this city and the people in it.  

On Renovating a Glens Falls Landmark

I have always loved the beautiful Crandall Park Mansion, as many have called it. The architecture stood out among the other homes in the area. When I saw pictures of the interior, I knew that the home was special. Driving or walking by, I would always look at the exterior, imagining the rich history it held and saddened by its continued decay. The structure needed a lot of work, but something inside of me was telling me that this could be a beautiful home again. After speaking with my husband, and being realistic about the time, money and effort it would take for this home’s restoration, we decided to make the leap and take a chance on what we now know as Lang Rig. In doing research on the Crandall Park house, we found that the original owner, George Tait, named the home Lang Rig after his ancestral home in Scotland. The name stuck for us.

This home became part of a wonderful journey for us. We have been able to meet many people and help many charities through opening the home for fundraising events, but most of all, our family has become part of the Glens Falls community through this house. We feel blessed to be able to raise our family in such a rich, diverse city that offers so much.

We love being able to walk into Crandall Park, look at the beautiful homes in the surrounding neighborhood, have people that we know honk as we walk by, being able to walk into town to eat or for entertainment. We love it here!

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Glens Falls really lives up to its Hometown, USA vibe. You quickly will get to know many of the familiar faces in town, each with their own colorful stories. With a diverse population, full of many talented people, we have so much to offer in one city. I wish more people knew about our vibrant art community. We have many talented artists whose murals now adorn many of our buildings in Glens Falls. The Hyde Museum is a hidden gem, with our very own Rembrandt!  

I love listening to music in Crandall Park or going to Spot on a Saturday to hear some jazz. Also, our restaurants are awesome! I love Radici and Farmacy. I am still waiting for the guys at Farmacy to open an ice cream shop — those that have been there know what I mean!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My day always starts at Kru Coffee! Love my morning latte and scone! My two shopping hot spots are Minky Mink and Laura’s Vintage. Spot and Juicin’ Jar are my favorites for lunch. For entertainment, you will usually find us attending one of the many activities around town! We love Take a Bite, the Food Truck Corral at the Shirt Factory and watching a good play at the Wood Theater! I also enjoy walking to the Farmer’s Market on a Saturday, seeing friendly faces and getting fresh, farm grown food!

On the Past

Glens Falls has such a rich history, so my comments about the past are not so much about me, but of the appreciation of where we live. I love to see the renovations of the beautiful homes in this area, I love to see us take pride in where we live by holding on to an appreciation of those that came before us. We are all fortunate to be a part of this vibrant city and community because of those that came before us.  

On the Future

In the 13 years I have been in this area, I have seen so much change and am so optimistic about the future of Glens Falls.  I hope to see more retail stores (with parking!) and more events to not only bring our community together, but to show visitors how much Glens Falls has to offer. I read someone else’s comment about getting a Trader Joe’s and I second that of course!

Thanks, Melissa!

P.S. See more of our My Glens Falls series by clicking here.

P.P.S. Would you like to nominate someone to be featured in a My Glens Falls story (yourself included!)? Reach out here!

The Weekender: July 28-30

Happy weekend! On our agenda: farmers market, a dip in the pool, and brunch downtown. What are you up to? Here are a few ideas…

Summer Concerts in the Park: The Park Theater’s Friday night concert series at the Crandall Park Bandshell concludes this week at 7pm with Girl Blue! According to the description on The Park Theater website, if you like Alanis Morissette and Brandi Carlisle, you’ll love Girl Blue. It looks like the weather might finally cooperate, too! Details here.

Sunday Brunch: Did you catch our round up of the best breakfast spots in Glens Falls? Our Facebook and Instagram community weighed in on their favorites, and we shared the top picks here. Seems like a pretty good excuse to make plans for Sunday brunch, don’t you think?

Pop Up Oyster Bar: Head to Common Roots on Sunday at noon for an afternoon of beer and shellfish, courtesy of Pop-Up Oyster Bar Co. Their offerings include oysters on the half shell, shrimp cocktail with condiments, and more. Find the details here!

Sunflower Season: What’s summer without a stroll through a field of sunflowers?! If you’re up for a ride through Washington County, Herringtons in Johnsonville is opening their field on Friday - walk the 1.5 acre field, pick your own blooms, and enjoy the view. They’ll have larger fields coming into bloom later in the season, too. Details here!

Enjoy the weekend,
Bri + Tom