The area’s premiere new home tour, the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes opens its doors this weekend! Tickets are available at all Adirondack Trust branches, Saratoga National Bank on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls National Bank in Glens Falls, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury and Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs. Showcase tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours of 10:00AM – 4:00PM or can be purchased ONLINE at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.
Once again this year, each showcase ticket holder will receive a FREE commemorative shoe/tote bag at the first home visited, while supplies last!
The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is being proudly presented over two weekends this year on October 7-8 and October 14-15. Tickets are only $25, which allows you to visit all of these beautiful new homes over four days. This year’s edition has 9 locations from 7 of our area’s finest builders. NEW this year is a showcase location in Lake George and Lake Luzerne!
Participating award-winning builders – Belmonte Builders, DeGraff-Bloom Custom Builders, DSG Construction & Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, R & M Homes, Whitbeck Construction and Witt Construction. To view an interactive mobile map with locations, directions and much more, please visit our website.
This year’s showcase will also be featuring a student “Minds Under Construction” exhibition on Saturday, October 8th from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the DeGraff-Bloom showcase home #3. Area students from the 10 – 12 grades will be building vertical gardens and students from the 2 – 5 grades will be participating in the popular toolbox build activity. It’s all part of spotlighting work in the trades by the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition. In addition, a new 8’ x 24’ Tiny House built by BOCES students will be on display at the same location.
Now celebrating its 27th year, this annual community event has contributed nearly $1.5 MILLION dollars to our local charities. Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (www.rtsaratoga.org) and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties (www.glensfallshabitat.org). For more details on the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Check us out on FACEBOOK and follow all the updates on this year’s event!
About Saratoga Builders Association
The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the wellbeing and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, please visit their website at www.saratogabuilders.org or contact Barry Potoker, Executive Director at 518.366.0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org.
LENS FALLS, NY – The Hyde Collection is pleased to present four new fall exhibitions. Opening Saturday, October 7, and on view through December 31, 2023, are the final exhibitions of the 60th-anniversary season: Edgar Degas, The Private Impressionist; Degas at The Hyde: A Master of Form; Illustrations: Honoré Daumier, Winslow Homer, and Anthony Saris, and Ron Jude: 12 Hz. The exhibitions are open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 10 am-5pm.
Glens Falls, NY—For the first time, The Hyde Collection is pleased to introduce the 2023-2024 season of The Met: Live in HD, featuring nine live performance broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York directly to The Hyde. The series, which is offered on select Saturdays beginning on October 21, 2023, and concluding on May 11, 2024, is presented in the comfort of The Hyde’s state-of-the-art auditorium, with pre-screening programming offered in partnership with The Sembrich. The Hyde is the regional provider of The Met: Live in HD.
The Met: Live in HD joins the best British Theatre and Great Art from around the world to round out the On Screen @ The Hyde experiences. Beginning October 13, 2023, The Hyde Collection remains the exclusive Capital Region area venue for National Theatre Live, a thrilling film series of great plays and Great Art on Screen. Whether you show up for serious drama, romcoms, sold-out theatre hits, or award winning documentaries, these unmissable experiences are filmed live from Britain’s most exciting stages or captured from destinations worldwide. You’ll always have the best seat in the house at The Hyde Collection.
Commented Katelyn Foley, Curator of Education and Engagement at The Hyde Collection, “We are so excited to offer the 2023-2024 season of The Met: Live in HD. The award-winning series of live, high definition cinema simulcasts features the full live performance. Met artists serve as hosts for the Live in HD series, providing backstage interviews, introducing exciting behind-the-scenes features and conducting live interviews with stars, crew and production teams from The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. We have been working on this new offering for several years and are so pleased to bring this new cultural opportunity to our region.”
“We are honored to bring The Met: Live in HD, National Theatre Live and Great Art on Screen to our members, community, and region,” acknowledged John Lefner, The Hyde Collection CEO. “We are beyond excited to offer The Met: Live in HD to our 2023-2024 season. This new experience will take place in our beautiful state-of-the-art high-definition 144-seat Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Offering exceptional cultural experiences is central to our mission as a world-class art museum.”
The Met: Live in HD events are made richer by a partnership with The Sembrich, a unique museum in Bolton Landing that preserves the life & legacy of soprano Marcella Sembrich (1858-1935), one of The Met’s first operatic stars. The Sembrich will provide an exclusive 15-minute preview program prior to each of the 2023-24 season operas. These discussions will be on-site at the Hyde Collection and will feature The Sembrich staff and special guests, including performing artists and professionals from the music world.
“We take pride at The Sembrich in Marcella Sembrich’s long association with the Metropolitan Opera,” says Richard Wargo, Artistic Director at The Sembrich. “We’re honored to further that tradition through this exciting partnership with The Hyde—and to share the rich history of Sembrich at the Met with the community.”
Each performance ticket is $20, $18 for Hyde members, $18 for seniors and students with valid ID, and $5 for children under 12. Special student matinee performances are $10 per student.
This series is funded in part by Robert and Susan Hahm, Pinnacle Nutrition LLC, and The Candy Space. Student matinees are supported by lead education sponsor Stewarts Shops & The Dake Family with additional support from Francine & Robert Nemer.
CLICK HERE for 2023-2024 on Screen @ The Hyde Performances. Students interested in attending any performance should register here.
ABOUT THE MET: LIVE IN HD
The Met: Live in HD is The Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live high-definition cinema simulcasts. Broadcasts feature the full performance along with backstage interviews and commentary. The Helen Froehlich Auditorium on the Hyde Collection Campus at 161 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY, provides an exceptional viewing experience, offering a large screen, excellent acoustics, and comfortable seating. Accessible seating options are available for those requiring special assistance.
The Met: Live in HD series is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor Neubauer Family Foundation. Digital support of The Met: Live in HD is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Met: Live in HD is supported by Rolex.
ABOUT NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE
Since 2009, the UK’s National Theatre has produced an on-going performing arts series, featuring world class stage plays from its London stages and other venues, captured live in high definition, and offered to cinema audiences around the world at an affordable ticket price. BY Experience (BYE) helped launch the series in cinemas and is the exclusive international distributor of the program. Each National Theatre Live event is captured with cameras preferentially positioned to give the in-cinema capture the best viewpoint to the on-stage action. The result is an unparalleled experience for theater lovers, magnified by the big screen. The events also feature behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and creative teams plus additional bonus content.
National Theatre Live is an initiative by the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain to broadcast performances in cinemas around the world. Over 11 million people have now experienced the work of National Theatre Live.
ABOUT GREAT ART ON SCREEN
Great Art on Screen is a series of event documentaries exclusively for U.S. cinemas, featuring an in-depth look at the most extraordinary and groundbreaking art masters of their time. Audiences will be able to journey all over the world with the most expert scholars viewing the works of artists such as Modigliani, Botticelli, and many more.
ABOUT BY EXPERIENCE
BY Experience, a pioneer of global live cinema events presents the most in-demand arts events in cinemas. Since 2009, BY Experience helped launch and continues to distribute National Theatre Live to cinemas and other venues globally (excluding the UK and China) and is now also the U.S. distributor of the Great Art on Screen series. In addition, BY Experience is the Worldwide Distribution Representative of the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning and critically acclaimed Live in HD series.
ABOUT THE HYDE COLLECTION
The Hyde is one of the Northeast’s exceptional small art museums with distinguished European and American art collections. The core collection, acquired by Museum founders Charlotte and Louis Hyde, includes works by such artists as Sandro Botticelli, Tintoretto, El Greco, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, and Pablo Picasso and American artists Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler, and Anna Hyatt Huntington. The Museum’s Modern and Contemporary art collection features works by artists including Josef Albers, Dorothy Dehner, Sam Gilliam, Adolph Gottlieb, Grace Hartigan, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Robert Motherwell, Ben Nicholson, Robert Rauschenberg, and Bridget Riley. Today, The Hyde offers significant national and international exhibitions and a packed schedule of events that help visitors experience art in new ways. Visit www.hydecollection.org
Throughout the years, the Museum has expanded considerably from the historic Hyde home. It includes a modern museum complex with an auditorium, classroom, five galleries, and a state-of-the-art storage facility.
The Glens Falls Symphony’s 40th Anniversary Season starts this Sunday, October 8th, 2023! It will be featuring Metropolitan Opera Star and Mezzo-Soprano MaryAnn McCormick, performing Edward Elgar’s “Sea Pictures” as the symphony kicks off their highly anticipated year of Music & Adventure!
The adventure starts with a Short Ride on a Fast Machine – John Adams, born in 1947, composed Short Ride in a Fast Machine in 1986 on a commission from the Great Woods Music Festival in Mansfield, Massachusetts. It’s a good example of Adams’s particular take on minimalism – its melody (if one can call it that) is monotonous, but the rhythm and meter constantly and unexpectedly shift; as does the instrumentation, keeping a sense of both exhilaration and scariness… There are also echoes of Aaron Copland and John Williams in the harmonic language. Asked about the title, Adams said, “You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn’t?”
The next piece is Sea Pictures, Op. 37, by Edward Elgar (1857-1934). Composing songs was not one of Edward Elgar’s strong points – he usually composed them out of a more mundane than artistic imperative, or as he referred to them, “a nice little earner.” He started a number of song cycles, but completed only Sea Pictures, which premiered in October of 1899. The poems of Sea Pictures provide five different perspectives on the sea by five diverse speakers! For more information on this piece, please visit our website at www.theglensfallssymphony.org
The orchestra will round out the evening by dancing through time and space with Symphonic Dances, Op. 45, by Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943). Composed in 1940 and dedicated to Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Symphonic Dances is Rachmaninov’s last work, and is often considered his best orchestral composition. Surprised by its favorable reception, Rachmaninov commented: “I don’t know how it happened. It must have been my last spark.”
The work is something of a retrospective nostalgic piece that recalls pre-Bolshevik Russia, with its romantic sentimentality and the pervasiveness of the Russian Orthodox Church. The first dance – marked Nonallegro – has a primeval quality with its pounding ostinato and large percussion section; in it, Rachmaninov demonstrates a particular interest in the musical texture of individual instruments. The middle section features the oboe and the alto saxophone – Rachmaninov’s only scoring for this instrument – in a series of birdcalls, followed by another of the composer’s broad romantic themes on the saxophone, taken up later by the violins.
A fanfare for muted trumpets introduces the second dance, Andante con moto (Tempo di valse). It is a dreamy serenade, mostly lightly orchestrated, with solos passed off from one instrument, or section, to another in mid-phrase. As the waltz approaches the end, the tempo becomes increasingly erratic, ending with a frantic coda.
Following a slow introduction, the dark final dance (marked Allegro assai) combines the syncopated rhythm of a theme from the Vespers, with dance-like allusions to the Dies Irae plainchant melody – Rachmaninov’s signature theme from the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. It has a contrasting middle section in which the tempo slows considerably, focusing on the strings… When the initial tempo resumes, the solo trumpet begins hinting more broadly at the Dies Irae; and finally, near the end, Rachmaninov states it openly as part of the climax to the movement with the full battery of percussion instruments in attendance… Now, the character and meaning of the entire movement is revealed as a dance of death.
Concert #2: November 12, 2023 Astor Piazolla – Otoño Porteño (Buenos Aires Autumn) with Michael Emery Maurice Ravel – Le Tombeau de Couperin INTERMISSION Felix Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 4, “Italian”
About MaryAnn McCormick: Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano MaryAnn McCormick has been hailed in the press as “charismatic”, “spell-binding”, and “elegant”. She has performed at top theaters all over the world for more than 25 years, and has sung with the Metropolitan Opera for more than 20 seasons; as well as with La Scala in Milan, Rome Opera, Turin Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and others. The recipient of a 2012 Grammy award for her participation in Wagner’s Ring Cycle with the Metropolitan Opera, Ms. McCormick has performed many roles there in more than 118 performances, and most recently as Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro.
Equally at home with concert repertoire, she has performed with many of the greatest orchestras – including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. She has recorded with the Emerson String Quartet, the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, Orchestre National de France in the role of Tigrane in Puccini’s Edgar, and is featured singing in the Miramax film, The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Ms. McCormick’s numerous awards include the Grammy Award in 2012, the Best Opera Recording/ Wagner’s Ring Cycle (Metropolitan Opera/James Levine), the Richard Tucker Career Grant, the George London Foundation Award, and the International Tchaikovsky Competition, among others… And in 2015, Ms. McCormick was honored to join the voice faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
About Glens Falls Symphony: Since Maestro Charles Peltz’ arrival in 2000, the fully professional Glens Falls Symphony has performed a dynamic repertoire, regularly including musical premieres and world-renowned guest artists while expanding musical offerings to include family concerts, summer pops programs, and more. Cited as “one of the great orchestras of our country” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Joseph Schwantner, the orchestra comprises professional musicians who come from all over the Northeast to perform.
Glens Falls Symphony 2023-24 Season All concerts on Sunday at 4:00 PM Glens Falls High School Auditorium, 10 Quade St, Glens Falls, NY 12801 Pre-Concert Talk at 3:00 PM (FREE with price of Ticket)
TICKETS Season and single tickets are priced in three tiers: Adult: $39/33/26 Student: $10 Student Season Tickets: $50
For information regarding ticket pricing and seating for season, visit www.theglensfallssymphony.org, call the Symphony office at (518) 793-1348, or stop by the office – upstairs in the LARAC Gallery building at 7 Lapham Place in Glens Falls; office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Have you hung up your golf bag for the season? Still trying to get out for one more round? Bay Meadows can ensure that next year you get back out on the course and save some money too!
Although, you may have just cleaned up your clubs and knocked the grass out of your spikes for the last time this season, Bay Meadows has an eye on your 2024 golf game. For $299 which includes service fee, you can play at two courses during the 2024 season. This membership is good for both Kingsbury National Golf Club and Bay Meadow Golf Club for the entire 2024 season.
As an added bonus to this great offer you also will get 1 free hour of Golf Simulator time at Bogey’s Pub and Grill. This offer is also available to new members who can play the courses for free for the rest of the year with the purchase.
Bogey’s and the Bay Meadows Golf Club know that you love golf! Help yourself get through those long winter days while looking forward to the 2024 season knowing that your membership is paid for at a great price! And remember the goal is always to…Play More Golf! For more information please visit baymeadows.golf
Throughout this past weekend, amber alerts echoed through cell phones to alert the general public that 9-year-old Charlotte Sena is still missing. Charlotte Sena, a fourth grader from Greenfield, was last seen wearing an orange tie-dye Pokemon Shirt, dark blue pants, and black Crocs. Charlotte and her family had been camping at Moreau Lake State Park. Charlotte had gone for a bike ride with friends along “Loop A” and wanted to do one last loop by herself. That was at about 6:45 PM on September 30th.
What is now believed to be an abduction, took place at Moreau Lake State Park, Loop A, Site 18, at about 6:45 PM on September, 30th. Charlotte E. Sena is a white female, approximately 9 years and one month old, with long blonde hair and green eyes. She is approximately 4 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighs about 90 pounds.
When Charlotte did not return in about 15 minutes, friends and family began searching. Her bike was found on “Loop A”. The police arrived at 7:00 PM.
According to State Police, a command post was established at the state park, bloodhounds were used to check the forests, drones were dispatched to look from the sky, and 100 officers, specialists, and the FBI are working the case.
During a press conference, Lt. Colonel Richard L. Mazzone, Assistant Deputy Superintendent of The New York State Police said, “It is quite possible that an abduction has taken place. I feel confident at this point that we have conducted a search of this park and we’re going to continue with that as we search every other avenue.”
Governor Hochul updated the public regarding what is now believed to be an abduction: “On a picture-perfect Fall day here in Upstate New York, Charlotte Sena’s family and friends gathered for a weekend of friendship and food and enjoying one of the last few days of good weather, but instead, the day turned into every parent’s nightmare,” Governor Hochul said. She then implored the public to call 911 if they see or hear anything about Charlotte.
Summer is coming to a close and memories of bike rides, ice cream cones, vacations, camp, and swimming pools are becoming a distant memory. A new school year is among us and many families are faced with the daunting task of transitioning children from summertime fun to the rigors and struggles of going back to school. Children often have a hard time adjusting to the first few days of school, longing for the freedom that summer provides and feeling nervous about starting a new grade or new school. Here are our best tips for parents to help ease this transition and make it a successful one!
1. Encourage Reading
Reading is the foundation of all learning, and will assist development in every subject. Model reading and help develop good reading habits. If your child sees that you value reading, then they are more likely to read themselves. Be sure to discuss what your child is reading, and ask questions to develop comprehension skills. Find books or topics that your child is interested in, and read a little bit everyday. Constantly provide new and exciting books and make sure to utilize your local library! Weekly trips to the library can be an exciting time and a great alternative to technology! The bottom line is…read, read, read! And don’t forget the value of reading aloud to your children!
2. Talk With Your Children
Speaking and listening plays an important role in school success. Hearing parents talk and responding to talk helps build crucial language skills children need to do well. Try this simple technique. Make dinner time a TV free, computer & tablet, cell phone, and technology free time. Life is getting busier and busier all the time, but take this time to sit down at the dinner table and talk about your day. Set the ground rule that everyone must contribute one interesting aspect of his or her day. Talk to each other and listen to each other. The outcome of this simple activity can have astounding results on a child’s speaking and listening skills.
3. Daily Math Practice
Make math fun. Cooking, gardening, paying bills, shopping, etc. are all good ways to practice math. Ask your children simple questions to develop money sense. For example, next time you are at the store ask your children how much change you will get if you purchase your items with a $20 bill. Better yet, give them the money and ask them to pay the bill. Ask them to count the change to ensure that it is correct. Teach children about the value of math and try to point out all of the ways it is used in the world. One big aspect of the Common Core is to make math practical. Also, don’t forget about basic facts practice. Times tables practice is especially important for children!
4. Monitor TV & Computer Use
Technology can be a very valuable resource for learning. However, too much can be a detriment. Encourage your children to read, play outside, play a game, etc. and they will learn valuable language skills and social skills. Most importantly, set boundaries and always monitor your child’s technology usage to ensure safe, high quality content that will foster learning, rather than hinder it.
5. Encourage Independence
Whenever possible, let your child figure things out for themselves. Let them know that making mistakes is ok! Mistakes are how we learn. Have them think problems through carefully before asking for/receiving help. The ability to become independent learners is a skill that will serve your children well for their entire lives.
6. High Expectations
Always set high expectations for your children, and never falter from them. Parental expectations play a very important role in the academic success of your child. Expect your child to do well and your expectations will be met!
7. Learning Environment
Homework and schoolwork can be a stressful and challenging time in any family. Provide your child with a suitable learning environment to complete schoolwork. This includes school supplies (pens, pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, etc.) and most importantly, a quiet place to work, which is free from distractions.
8. Consistency & Routine
Children thrive when they know what to expect. Try setting a schedule or time aside everyday (it is often best if it is the same time) to practice schoolwork. Keep it brief. 15 to 20 minutes works best. Perhaps try 15 minutes of math practice before dinner and 15 minutes silent reading before bed. This can be an especially important strategy when fighting the homework battle. Try to develop routines for completing homework and stick to them. When possible, set the expectation that homework must be completed before the night before it is due.
9. Praise & Compliment
Constantly look for ways that you can tell your child how well they are doing, how impressed you are with their work, etc. This will build their self-esteem, make them feel great about themselves, and translate into an even better effort into their schoolwork. The only caveat, make sure the work is truly good quality. You want your children to take pride in completing their work to the best of their ability and have a sense of pride in a job well done.
10. Have Patience & Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
At times learning can be confusing, frustrating, and complicated. All children learn differently, at different rates, and in different ways. Having a positive, patient attitude will go further to support your child’s learning, than getting frustrated yourself. If necessary, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are thousands of other parents in exactly the same position as you! Common questions include: How can I help? What do I do? How will I know if I am helping in the right way? How much is enough?
Your child’s school or teacher can be a tremendous help for parents looking to supplement their child’s learning at home. They will often give advice on activities to practice at home to support classroom work, and answer any questions that you have. Other valuable sources may be hiring a private tutor, asking at the local library, and keeping up-to-date on local educational activities taking place in the community. Just remember…you are not alone.
The beginning of a new school year can be stressful for parents and children alike. Consistency and developing routines are paramount in making the transition as painless and as smooth as possible. By following the simple strategies above, you can ensure that you have set your children up for success and reinforce healthy habits and a positive attitude to school.
Nourishing Minds Tutoring has been the leader in private tutoring in the Capital Region for over 9 years.
We offer qualified, reliable, and knowledgeable tutors who are expert teachers. We take the time to develop a rapport with each student to enable them to reach their fullest academic potential. Simply put, we believe that it is our job to make learning happen.
If you are in need of academic support of any kind, please contact us for a free consultation. Our services range from PreK through College, including special needs, test preparation, and homeschooling support. We offer competitive rates and referral programs in which you can earn free tutoring. You can get in touch with us by visiting our website https://nourishingmindstutoring.com/
On Saturday, October 7th, from 1pm to 4pm, Mean Max Brew Works, located at 193 Glen Street #2, Glens Falls, NY 12801, will transform into a haven for feline enthusiasts and craft beer connoisseurs alike. This exciting event, in collaboration with North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center, promises a purr-fect afternoon.
The main attraction of this special day is the chance to mingle with some of the region’s most adorable and adoptable cats and kittens. North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center has been working tirelessly to find loving homes for these furry friends, and this event provides the perfect opportunity to meet your future feline family member.
But that’s not all; the festivities extend beyond feline admiration. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the finely crafted brews that Mean Max Brew Works is known for. Sip on delicious craft beer while basking in the company of these charming cats.
What’s more, your visit could lead to winning a stunning handmade quilt! Take a chance, try your luck, and you might just go home with a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
It’s not just about having fun and making new furry friends; it’s also about giving back to the community. For every beer purchased during the event, $1 will be directly contributed to North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center. Your choice of beverage will make a difference in the lives of these deserving cats and kittens.
For those who wish to further contribute, there’s an opportunity to donate items and earn a chance to win gift certificates. It’s a win-win situation, where your generosity could be rewarded.
So mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7th, and head over to Mean Max Brew Works for a purr-fect afternoon filled with sipping delicious craft beer and meeting adoptable cats and kittens from North Shore Animal League America’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center!
Amid the beautifully colored leaves, a gathering of seekers and world-class teachers will again converge on the historic grounds of Lakota’s ’s Farm in Cambridge for the Ahimsa Yoga and Music Festival, September 23rd– 24th.
The Ahimsa Festival invites you to relax and release all those energies that no longer serve you. Let stress melt away in a nourishing environment of like-minded individuals within the earth-centered elegance of Lakota’s ’s Farm, a rolling 34-acre expanse of grass, ponds, and grazing horses.
Get a spiritual high from a schedule that includes approximately 20 different wellness sessions daily. These 90-minute workshops include yoga, meditations, and sound bath healings that settle your mind and focus your awareness.
“Our goal is to bring people together in a safe place to connect on an amazing property. This festival is special because it has all these amazing offerings all in one spot,” said event organizer Kristen Zorda, owner of Yoga Mandali in Saratoga Springs.
Steady the Mind, Restore the Soul
The Ahimsa Festival, which was founded in 2012, attracted more than 200 attendees from around the country last year. The ancient idea of Ahimsa, which means “non-violence” in Sanskrit, is an approach that encourages distinctions to fall away in this soothing space, creating a broader sense of compassion for all living beings, and inspiring a deeper sense of personal growth.
Kimberly Revet, owner of the Wedding Barn at Lakota’s Farm is passionately living her dream on the property, imbuing it with an energetic satisfaction that is palpable.
In this nourishing environment, visitors further their spiritual development and experience the restorative teachings of a variety of skilled instructors including: the revered Patrick Franco, founder of the award-winning, internationally-acclaimed YogaRenew teacher training program; the dynamic Raghunath Cappo, co-founder of Supersoul Yoga and Farm; the Kripalu School of Yoga’s vibrant Coby Kozlowski; and former local Cindy Lundsford, the previous owner of several studios in the area including Hot Yoga Saratoga.
Take part in the wealth of engaging activities, meditation sessions, Bhakti, Vinyasa, aerial, and chair-supported yoga in the 150-year-old post-and-beam Bhakti Barn and the welcoming Ganesha Tent, rain or shine.
Release Further by Extending Your Stay
Adding to your transcendent experience, all weekend long attendees will have the opportunity to shop the Ahimsa Festival’s Vendor Village – a gathering of 20-30 food, beverage, craft, and wellness vendors selling clothing, jewelry, art, health products, meditation aids, and more.
Hear the healing spiritual music of the New Orleans-based Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, and listen to the therapeutic sounds of the SOMA Kirtan Band. On Saturday night, DJ and digeridoo musician Ifa Halima Bumi leads an electrifying dance party as blazing bonfires illuminate the grounds.
Stay the night while reconnecting with the Earth in Lakota’s Farm’s limited rustic onsite camping. Just minutes away, find event partner, The Preserve Battenkill River Glamping, an idyllic riverfront retreat offering deluxe tent cabins, glamping cabins, and a geodesic stargazing dome. There is a riverside wood-fired sauna, pizza oven, fire pits, kayak/canoe boat launch, free Wi-Fi, an Outpost Resort Store for essentials, and the Provisions Food Truck offering a farm-to-table menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner choices. For glamping reservations and more information, go to https://battenkillresort.com
The Ahimsa Yoga and Music Festival opens Saturday, September 23rd, at 9am and concludes Sunday, September 24th, at 5pm. Single Day passes start at $199; Weekend passes start at $349. For tickets and event details, go to https://www.ahimsayogafestival.com
GREENFIELD CENTER, NY – Join Ndakinna Education Center September 23rd for the 2023 Harvest Celebration! Located just 3 miles from downtown Saratoga Springs at 23 Middle Grove Rd, Greenfield Center, NY 12833, the event will be open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The celebration will feature a traditional Haudenosaunee Opening Ceremony by Tom Sakokwenionkwas Porter. Porter (Sakokwenionkwas-“The One Who Wins”) is the founder, spokesperson and spiritual leader of the Mohawk Community of Kanatsiohareke (Ga na jo ha lay gay) located in Fonda, New York, and is a member of the Bear Clan of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne.
The celebration will also have native vendors and food (available from Iroquois Eatery), performances by the Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers, and storytelling by Kay Ionataiewas Olan, Perry Ground, and Ndakinna’s own James, Jesse, and Joseph Bruchac.
“We’re excited to bring back the harvest celebration for a second year here at Ndakinna,” said James Bruchac, Director of the Ndakinna Education Center. “It’s important that we celebrate the rich heritage, history, and continuing survival of our region’s indigenous peoples and their cultures.”
Porter will finish the afternoon off with a Traditional Haudenosaunee Closing Ceremony.
This event is fun for all ages; but be aware that space will be limited, and reservations are recommended. The event has a suggested donation of $10 per adult, or $15 per family.
Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
