Events Archives - The Adirondack Almanack Archive

What is it like to experience the wonder the northern lights from a remote section of the state of Maine near the Canadian border?

Essex Theatre Company in Essex, New York, will explore this in John Cariani’s romantic comedy, Almost, Maine, in a pay-what-you-can preview on Friday, July 8 at 7 pm, and then July 9, 15, and 16 at 7 pm and July 10 and 17 at 5 pm at the historic Masonic Lodge, located at 2756 Essex Road in Essex.

The author points out, “Almost, Maine takes place over a period of about ten minutes. Each scene starts at around 8:50 pm and ends a little after 9 pm on a Friday night in the middle of winter. The plot of each scene in Almost, Maine includes some sort of ‘magical moment’. These magical moments are all happening at exactly the same time – at 9 pm. The northern lights and the magical moments give rise to one another.”

Sunday, July 3, 2022

Fireworks, live music set for July 4 in Inlet and Old Forge

The Inlet/Old Forge area will be a hub of activity this Independence Day weekend, with a wide array of activities planned ranging from engaging childrens’ activities, an informative presentation by Inlet’s American Legion Post #1402, fireworks displays, and live music on Adirondack lakefronts.

The festivities kick off on the evening of Sunday, July 3, with a free Summer Concert Series performance featuring local musicians, Alisha Kay Cartsens, and Joe Bolton at 7 p.m. on the Old Forge Lakefront. The summer concert series is sponsored by the Town of Webb. The fun continues in Old Forge on July 4 with live music by Floyd Community Instrumental Ensemble at the Old Forge Lakefront beginning at 7:30 p.m. A brilliant fireworks display over the Old Forge Pond will follow at dusk. For more information, please call (315) 369-6983.

Sunday, July 3, 2022

NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery July Exhibit Features Catherine Hartung and Damon Hartman

by Guest Contributor

by Susan Whiteman

NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery members Catherine Hartung and Damon Hartman are having a dual featured show during the month of July. The exhibit, “Turning Color,” opened on Friday, July 1 at 85 Main Street in Saranac Lake.

Catherine went to school for fine art, worked as a graphic artist, and currently creates distinctive, colorful paintings in acrylic and watercolor. She has been a member of NorthWind since 2013.

Damon, who is a forester and woodturner, joined the gallery last year. They were immediately drawn to one another’s work. When Catherine asked Damon if he’d like to have an exhibit with her, he immediately said yes and notes, “I think we are both connected to the forest.”

The feeling was mutual.

“I think that all of Damon’s wood working is another way the trees tell a story,” Catherine added. “That thought was behind my initial inspiration to collaborate with Damon. I felt like we were both telling the trees’ story.”

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Tackle that “Adirondack Bucket List” this summer at Paul Smith’s

by Ethan Johnson

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Anyone who has ever spent a night camping in an Adirondack lean-to will be able to describe the joy of being woken up by the early morning sun accompanied by the fresh scent of balsam needles and the haunting call of loons. If you have ever come upon one of these unique three-sided structures deep in the backcountry and wondered how such a thing was constructed, or even fantasized about having one in your backyard, you are not alone. Building a proper lean-to requires a set of knowledge, skills, and experience that make it difficult for the average person to do on their own. The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) had remedied this by offering a full lean-to building class as part of our “Adirondack Bucket List” series.

Thursday, June 30, 2022

“Find Waldo Local in Lake Placid!” summer activity set for July 1-31

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The iconic children’s book character in the red-and-white-striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting twenty-five local businesses throughout the Lake Placid community this July. Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2022, Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses, including, Where’s Waldo newcomers: Zack Nation, Curious Otter, and more.

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Lake Placid!” stamp card, which contains the names of all the participating sites; with each Waldo they spot, they can get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop. To make things a little more challenging, there will be one slightly different Waldo hiding in The Bookstore Plus. Collecting store stamps or signatures at twenty or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and paraphernalia.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Inlet: Loon program featuring Gary Lee set for July 1

Loon enthusiasts are encouraged to join retired NYS DEC Forest Ranger, and avid naturalist, birder, and photographer, Gary Lee, as he shares stories during an informational session about banding loons in the Adirondacks.

The presentation will take place on Friday, July 1 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of Inlet Town Hall located at 160 State Route 28. The program is free and open to the public. For more information about this event, call (315) 357-5501.

Gary lives with his wife, Karen, at Eight Acre Wood in Inlet where he was the Forest Ranger for 35 years, working in the Moose River Wild Forest Recreation Area and West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area. Now retired, Gary works summers for the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, observing, catching and banding loons.

The author of a column Daybreak to Twilight in local papers from 1986 to 2019, he now writes his Outdoor Adventures in a weekly blog, which can be seen on The Adirondack Almanack and View Arts Center websites. In 2008, Gary coauthored a book with John M.C. “Mike” Peterson, “Adirondack Birding- 60 Great Places to Find Birds.”

Photo at top: Gary Lee with loon. (Town of Inlet website photo.)

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Warren County: Up Yonda Farm to hold 25th birthday celebration

BOLTON, NY — Save the Date! Warren County’s Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center is turning 25 this year and you’re all invited to the party on Saturday, July 30.

The idyllic 75-acre hillside property in the town of Bolton will host a birthday party featuring fun activities involving Up Yonda staff, volunteers and numerous local organizations, including Adirondack Mountain Club, Lake George Land Conservancy, Friends of Up Yonda Farm, Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Southern Adirondack Beekeepers, among others.

There will be something for the whole family, with Tres Mijas Food Truck on site and special programs, exhibits, and booths from partner organizations to mark the occasion.

11 different organizations have committed to being part of the event, featuring a variety of outdoor recreation, environmental and educational topics to go along with Up Yonda’s offerings.

“Up Yonda Farm is a great place to spend a day with the family, get some exercise and learn about our region’s environment. We hope our residents and visitors can join us on July 30^th for a fun day commemorating this 25-year milestone for Up Yonda as a resource for all of Warren County,” said Kevin Geraghty, Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Admission is free, no reservations are needed, and there will be food, vendors and activities on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, including a full list of organizations that will be part of the event, check out the attached flier or log on to upyondafarm.com.

About Up Yonda Farm: Located on Route 9N just west of Lake George’s western shore, Up Yonda Farm was donated to Warren County by Alice and John Scott of Bolton in 1993, and opened to the public in 1997. The Scotts also set up a trust fund that helps fund its operations. Up Yonda features an auditorium, museum, sugar house, and a butterfly exhibit during the summer months, and hosts many types of educational programs for all ages. The property’s farmhouse has an educational space, live turtle exhibit and a small gift shop area featuring locally produced honey and maple syrup as well as field guides. There are natural history exhibits and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the property and series of hiking and snowshoeing trails provide access to a scenic vista of Lake George. Warren County Department of Parks, Recreation and Railroad oversees the property.

Photo at top: Up Yonda Farm view. (Photo provided by Don Lehman, Director of Public Affairs for Warren County)

Monday, June 27, 2022

Shamanic Journey Workshop set for June 29 at the Old Forge Library

A Shamanic Journeying workshop will take place at the Old Forge Library, located at 220 Crosby Blvd., on Wednesday, June 29 at 3 p.m.

Doug Davis will lead participants on a journey of wisdom, healing and knowledge. Shamanic Journeying involves traveling within oneself. It is a process by which one shifts out of our ordinary way of thinking and into a more open and accepting way of communicating with our own inner wisdom.

The Shamanic Journey uses a different kind of meditation in which participants allow the sound of the drum to assist in visualizing and receiving images of nature, including animal messengers. The experience is enjoyable, and the drumming is peaceful and helps participants to focus on the “journey.”

“I’ve been practicing Shamanic Journeying since 1995…so 27 years. A very knowledgeable friend introduced me to it…and it has given me a broader and more positive perspective about life,” said Davis about his history with the practice.

Davis also leads the popular Meditation with Trees workshops at the Old Forge Library several times a year. These workshops are scheduled monthly throughout the summer and fall of 2022. Interested parties are welcome to reference the library’s website for dates and times.

The Shamanic Journeying workshop is free for all to attend. Although walk-ins are welcome, registration is recommended. Call (315) 369-6008 or e-mail [email protected] to register.

Photo at top provided by Beth Pashley of the Old Forge Library.

Monday, June 27, 2022

Old Forge Library to host “My Brush, My Adirondacks” exhibit by artist Ron Rakowski

“My Brush, My Adirondacks,” an exhibit by watercolor artist, Ron Rakowski, will be on display July 1 through July 30 at the Old Forge Library, 220 Crosby Blvd. The exhibit will showcase a selection of Rakowski’s Adirondack-themed paintings.

As part of the townwide First Friday Art Walk, the exhibit’s opening reception will be held 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 1. The reception is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.

Rakowski has lived in the Mohawk Valley and Adirondacks his entire life, and has been painting for over 30 years.

A mostly self-taught artist, Ron credits much of his skill to classes and workshops he has taken with watercolor artists such as Ralph Murray, Willard Sauter and Edward Cristianna. Rakowski said he favors watercolor because it’s simple and compact and “despite its simplicity you can get a great many complex effects with various techniques.”

He draws inspiration from natural scenes such as battered rocks, rushing water, gnarly trees and his favorite — snow.

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Adirondack History Museum hosts Artist Talk/Open-Air Disco, July 3

ELIZABETHTOWN: Artist Randi Renate will be speaking about her current sculpture, “blue is the atmospheric refraction I see you through,” which is now on view outside the Adirondack History Museum. The sculpture is a large participatory installation open to the public since August 2021.

“Blue is the atmospheric refraction I see you through” is a sculptural encounter in which two viewers have similar yet distinct experiences of climbing twin spiraling staircases recessed into a larger dome. Its twin staircases require mirrored movement, activating mirror neurons. Shared movements trigger these neurons, which enhance human empathy. The passage culminates in an exposed meeting point that maintains a distanced perspective—from one another as well as from the surrounding landscape.

The event will begin with an outdoor artist talk moderated by the museum’s director Aurora McCaffrey starting at 5 pm on Sunday, July 3.

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Prisons in the wilderness

June 28, 2022, 7 – 8 pm, Free but registration requested.

For nearly two centuries, the remote forestlands and high mountain peaks of the Adirondacks have provided opportunities for middle-class recreation, wilderness adventure, and scientific research. At the same time, those natural characteristics led state and federal authorities to look toward the North Country as a convenient location for a network of prisons. Towns and villages across the Adirondacks have since come to rely on prisons as a source of economic development, employment, and state funding.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Old Forge: 17th annual Vintage Snowmobile Show set for June 25-26

The 17th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Club of America (VSCA) National Show will be held at the George T. Hiltebrant Recreation Center on June 25 -26 located at 201 North Street in Old Forge, NY. Snowmobile enthusiasts and collectors are encouraged to come check out this year’s show which will showcase hundreds of vintage sleds, including the 1962 “First-Ever” Polar/Arctic Cat Model 100XX Prototype.

The show will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Spectator general admission is $12 for the full weekend, or $10 on Saturday and $5 on Sunday.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Meadowmount School of Music Summer Program runs June 25–August 13

Meadowmount School of Music is a summer program for young string players founded by legendary violin teacher Ivan Galamian in Westport, NY, in the Adirondacks, that has helped mold some of the world’s most prominent musicians, among them Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Joshua Bell. This summer, “the original practice camp” marks its 78th year with its first fully in-person session since 2019 and two new leaders at the helm: Executive Director Mark Hayman, former Executive Director of Young Concert Artists; and Artistic Director Janet Sung, international violin soloist as well as Head of Strings and Violin Professor at the DePaul University School of Music and Artistic Director and Founder of Chamber Music Chicago (and a Meadowmount alumna) – both of whom were appointed in 2021.

Meadowmount’s 2022 session takes place June 25 – August 13. During that time, approximately 175 young violinists, violists, and cellists, aided by a roster of teaching faculty and guest artists pulled from the top ranks of the music world (see below), will engage in a program of intensive study and practice devised by Mr. Galamian to effect, in his words, “a year’s progress in seven weeks.” During those seven weeks, the school’s campus becomes an active concert hub, with three to four performances a week by the students, faculty, and guest artists in Meadowmount’s Edward Lee and Jean Campe Concert Hall.

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Fort Ticonderoga boat cruises to run through mid-October

The Carillon has returned to Fort Ticonderoga, with boat tours taking place Tuesday through Sunday from May 27 to mid-October. The 75-minute narrated boat cruises cover some of the most archaeologically rich waters in North America while surrounded by breathtaking lake views, commanding mountains, and the majestic fort.

From shipwrecks to a massive bridge that the Americans built in 1776, Lake Champlain holds defining stories of America’s past. Fort Ticonderoga’s layers of history carry right from the land onto the water. Carillon boat tours help ignite visitors’ imaginations as they explore this internationally strategic lake.

The 60-foot boat is available for daily tours, field trips, sunset cruises, and private charters. A selection of regional beer and cider, wine, soft drinks, water, and snacks are available for purchase on board. Tickets for the boat cruise are available HERE or can be purchased on-site during a visit on a first-come basis.

Boat tours are available rain or shine. Fort Ticonderoga members that are interested in taking a boat cruise, please call 518-585-2821 Monday through Friday, or 518-585-2650 Saturday and Sunday for assistance.

Fort Ticonderoga is located at 102 Fort Ti Road in Ticonderoga, NY.

Photo at top: The Carillon, Archaeological Tour of Lake Champlain 2017. Photo provided by Fort Ticonderoga, Almanack archive photo.

Saturday, June 18, 2022

John Brown Lives! announces Juneteenth events this weekend

Westport, NY – John Brown Lives! (JBL!) is observing Juneteenth this weekend with a documentary film screening, live music, a dramatic performance, and the “Colors of Freedom” driving tour to significant sites of Underground Railroad and abolitionist activity in Essex and Clinton Counties.

Juneteenth is a national holiday that commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States when, on June 19, 1865, federal troops finally arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure the freeing of all enslaved people. Their freedom came two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.