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Olivia Clemente : Synergizing Community One Event at a Time

June 29, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I met Olivia in person earlier this year as I needed to coordinate with her for a series of events that I am producing in Franklin Alley in downtown Troy and wanted to coordinate with the BID. Personable and energized, I was excited about doing some joint promotion with her. Then came Troy’s first annual TROY PRIDE event, a new programmatic initiative that Olivia spearheaded with downtown business owners. The streets were packed, so many folks from Albany and around the region! I realized I needed to get a better understanding of what makes this capable woman tick.

Olivia Clemente : Executive Director at the TROY BID | Photo: Corey Aldrich

Please state your name, title and organization. What are you responsible for and what is a typical day for you on the job.

My name is Olivia Clemente, Executive Director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. I am responsible for the overall administration, financial management, and day-to-day activities of the BID, but in a more simple terms I work for the people who live in Downtown Troy and the businesses that reside here. I work to help bring people to our downtown and explore all of the businesses and experience what we have to offer. If I’m not busy in event planning mode, I spend most of my days visiting Downtown Troy establishments, speaking to them about what makes them unique, how long they’ve been serving the community and what they would like to see in Downtown. I always like to ask, “What would make a difference? What do you want to see happen in this area.” I try my best to listen to everyone and make their suggestions and ideas a reality, whether it’s an event, block party or a new marketing campaign, I’ll always say “I can try!”

Chalk Drawings at Troy’s Riverfest | Image: Provided

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be in this position? In addition to working with a lot of creative talent as an event producer, how do you keep your creativity alive?

I’ve been in a lot of different industries since I was in college. I received a BA from Manhattan College and stayed in the city after I graduated, I spent about five years in Manhattan and worked in public relations, ad sales, events and political fundraising, I like to think I’m well versed in the changing media around us. I spent time as an intern at the Bronx Zoo with the Wildlife Conservation Society as their events intern, worked as an Ad Sales Admin at a start-up for mobile apps, went to a high-profile PR firm and my last hoorah in NYC – NBC Universal where I worked on public relations and social media for an ecommerce division of the Golf Channel.

I moved back to Upstate New York in 2019, and I decided to take a dive into the political world, I worked for the NYS Assembly where I started as a Press Coordinator for three downstate members and then I moved onto handling fundraising and events for the minority conference, I developed more fundraising initiatives for the conference turning a focus on the different regions of NYS and creating fundraisers that were more creative than your regular cocktail hour, I always try to make experiences fun for everyone involved and have them looking forward to the next one.

Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center Performance at Troy Pride | Photo: Duncan Crary

I joined the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District in 2021 as the Director of Events and Partnerships. My first month on the job I was tasked with getting events that had been stalled due to COVID-19 back up and running, it wasn’t a small task to take on, but I managed to bring back Riverfest, Rockin on the River and Chowderfest. I went into 2023 taking over the Executive Director position of the BID. My main focus was to continue to hold “OG events” like the aforementioned in addition to retooling our popular Pig Out event. Additionally, I initiated additional events including the Hot Chocolate Stroll, Pride Night Out, Collar City Pop and a College Student Focused Block Party. I always have more up my sleeve, but for right now I’m working on getting people back to Downtown Troy.

When it comes to events or marketing I would definitely say I have a more creative approach to taking things on, I am always asking businesses or people in the community what they would like to see and then I begin to think like a consumer, so I try to think, “Would I want to see this at an event? Would this make me want to come back to visit? Is this appealing to me or people I know?”

Troy Glo in Downtown Troy. Installation by Adam Frelin | Images: Provided

Troy has a lot of creative economy businesses and arts / cultural organizations. How do you take advantage of the creativity of these downtown partners to raise awareness about how cool downtown Troy is?

Last year I worked with the Arts Center of the Capital Region during their exhibit ‘Troy Glo.’ We decided to bring business and art together by putting together a “bar crawl” that would get people to visit our downtown businesses. The BID created the bar crawl map to guarantee you walked past every installation of the ‘Troy Glo‘ project. Having an art pop-ups like this in our downtown is important to me as they can provide additional traffic to our businesses while creating quality of life for residents and out of town guests alike. People want to walk around and see art and as they’re walking around they can pop into a retail shop or a coffee shop and I love that.

I know another big thing for me right now is using our local artists that live in Downtown Troy to develop our marketing collateral for downtown events. I’ve currently worked with four Downtown Troy artists: to develop our Collar City Pop invites, Hot Chocolate Stroll poster, Pride Night Out and Pig Out collateral. All of the artist have been Troy natives and they are all so talented. I give them a lot of freedom in the design process. I’m going to continue using artists that live in Troy since this is an economy I care about.

Volunteer Day for Neighborhood Clean Up in Troy NY | Image: Provided

What are your current goals in the job, things you would like to do with it?

I have a lot of goals, I know an ‘Adopt-a-Block’ is on my plate of goals to accomplish, I’d love to work to do clean-ups block-by-block downtown and work with other organizations and businesses in Downtown Troy to make a difference, even if I clean one wall of graffiti tags, fix one store window, or work to get a beautiful piece of art on the side of a building, I’ll feel accomplished in my role of getting the community engaged in quality-of-life. Currently, this program is being implemented for 2024, so stay tuned for more information!

For things I am currently working on, I am hunkered down on bringing more tourism to Troy and making our downtown the place to visit. I can share we are currently working on creating better walking guides for the community that will showcase an easy to read map, a list of our businesses, a historical walking tour and a public art guide, all of this is currently in production and should be ready before the holiday season.

Olivia Doing an Event Install at Whiskey Pickle in Troy NY | Image: Provided

Anything coming up that you are especially excited about or want to share with our readers?

We have a heavy event schedule coming up. Pig Out returns on Sunday July 16. Our Rockin on the River series starts Wednesday June 28 and running every other Wednesday until August 9th, for the first time ever, we are putting together our very own College Block Party on Sunday, September 10 to welcome the students of RPI, Russell Sage and Hudson Valley Community College back to Downtown Troy. We are working to showcase to the students what the downtown has to offer while also having each school’s student organizations pop-up around downtown’s Monument Square to pass information out to friends, family and new students. It’s the downtown’s way of showing their love for the students who live and play here too!

Downtown Troy is on the rise, we have so much going on from new businesses, new public art programming and housing options, I’d say Troy is the place to be right now and it’s time everyone schedules a visit!

Olivia Clemente : Executive Director at the Troy BID | Photo: Corey Aldrich

STEAM + A = Creative Activism : A Conversation with Kristen Holler

January 19, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I first met Kristen Holler in her role at the Albany Barn. I have had the opportunity to work with her on projects there and in Schenectady at the Electric City Barn involving ACE! and my own production work with my company 2440 Design Studio. So when I was included on an email from Steve Pierce announcing her new position as Executive Director at the Sanctuary for Independent Media, I immediately knew that this could be a tremendous match for her and the organization. Focused and tireless, Kristen has a deep arts and community background. Though fresh on the job, I wanted to be a part of launching an awareness about her transition and have her share a quick update with us all about the amazing STEAM based approach that the Sanctuary is bringing to a neighborhood community and beyond.

Kristen Holler : Executive Director at The Sanctuary for Independent Media | Photo: Provided

Can you tell us a bit of your background and what you did before this?

Prior to coming to the Sanctuary for Independent Media I was the Executive Director of Albany Barn – a nonprofit org that supports artist development through a wide variety of technical assistance and subsidized/shared resource programs – from 2013 until 2022. In that time I helped to drive the opening of Electric City Barn in Schenectady, and served as a project manager for the Capital Walls public art initiative in collaboration with Albany Center Gallery. My professional background has been almost exclusively in the nonprofit space, but has been a combination of direct service and administrative roles across housing, employment, health, and arts organizations.

Live Performance at Freedom Square | Photo: Provided

The Sanctuary is so many things – from performance art, to science to activism…can you give us an idea of what the main areas of focus will be for you and why this position was attractive to you?

I think the thing that resonates most for me is that although the Sanctuary ‘is so many things,’ each of those things is linked back to the pursuit of social justice, and the use of creativity and independent expression as tools in that pursuit. I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Steve Pierce and Branda Miller – two of the organization’s founders – in my time at The Barn.

Branda Miller and Steve Pierce sitting with daughter Masha, and dog, Rose Fang. | Photo: Provided

It is an honor to step into this beautiful space that they’ve created, to build upon their legacy. My focus will be strengthening continuity and sustainability across the varied initiatives and programs and to provide strategic leadership in a time of transition.

Event Audience at Sanctuary for Independent Media. | Photo: Provided
Collard City Growers participants work the permaculture garden. | Photo: Provided

Can you share with us some meaningful ways in which the Sanctuary is making a difference in the lives of those who are in the neighborhood and beyond?

The Sanctuary’s varied programming really provides something for everyone, and the community of individuals who have created and driven this organization forward for the past 20+ years have shown a true dedication to remaining independent from corporate control and responsive to community input.

Collard City Growers participants work the permaculture garden. | Photo: Provided

One of the major ways that The Sanctuary has impacted the immediate neighborhood is through investment in vacant lots and buildings, reactivating them for community use including Freedom Square – a public performance and gathering space; Collard City Growers – a food justice, arts, and permaculture project; NATURE Lab – a community science lab; and People’s Health Sanctuary – a community-led mutual aid health initiative. Another space where I think The Sanctuary has had real impact is in creating STEAM programming where the arts, sciences, and media are not silos, but an intersection of related disciplines where the arts are tools for scientific discovery, the sciences are a tools for creative expression, and media is the vehicle for sharing the process and the outcomes in ways that are accessible to a wider audience. (Editors Note: This!!)

The Sanctuary for Independent Media Main Entrance. | Photo: Provided

There has also been a consistent effort to develop and maintain strong community relationships with individuals and other organizations through these connections. The Sanctuary has helped to get important community-led initiatives into the media – including stories that depict a more positive image of the N. Central Troy community. Outside of the immediate neighborhood The Sanctuary’s media content and performance series have drawn visitors virtually and in person from other states and countries.

Nature Lab (Water Justice Project) participants testing Hudson River water samples. | Photo: Provided

What are the primary funding sources for the organization?

The organization is funded largely by individual donors and sustaining contributors – particularly Sanctuary Radio and Sanctuary TV. Additional funding is provided by NYSCA, DEC, NEA, McCarthy Charities, Howard & Bush Foundation, and The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region.

Developing story based narratives at Sanctuary Radio. | Photo: Provided

Anything coming up on the horizon we should be aware of or keep on the lookout for?

People can tune into Hudson Mohawk Magazine daily at 7am, 9am, and 6pm for independent coverage of local news and topics impacting our Region. The People’s Health Sanctuary will have a series of open houses in the winter and early spring that are in the final stage of scheduling. The Sanctuary will continue with its signature annual events including Freedom Fest in the summer and Story Harvest in the fall. Information on upcoming events can always be found on our website.

Freedom Square entrance at the Sanctuary for Independent Media. | Photo: Provided

WEB: mediasanctuary.org

CAP NY ACTIVATE! : 3 ARTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS FOR FAMILY FUN

August 3, 2022 By Nellie Ackerman-Vellano

Summer time for me as a child, meant practically living outdoors until school started. We played outside for hours with friends, our parents took us on picnics and hikes… but our favorite was going to festivals. As an adult, I love festivals even more than I did as a child, and my own children love exploring craft and vendor tables for unique handmade treasures or collectables. We plan meal times around visiting the various food vendors at each unique arts or cultural event.

I love handmade crafts and eclectic art, and finding things to bring home and display. More than one or many times actually, I’ve also been known to “accidentally” forget to bring a bag or tote of my own and of course I must buy a new tote, purse or reusable bag to hold all my festival finds in. My family thinks I do it on purpose, because I have a reusable bag obsession… and maybe, they are on to me. LOL!

Here are a few wonderful Arts and Cultural Festivals located in the Capital Region that are worth putting on your calendar and planning to bring your family to and spend the day at.


This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY.
Visit us on Instagram at @upstatecreative and @gocapny


Latin Fest | Photo: Provided
Albany Latin Fest | Photo: Provided

THE ALBANY LATIN FESTIVAL
August 27th | 11:00 to 6:00

Founded in the early 90’s by Vichente Alfonso, Pedro Diaz, and Carlos Maldonado…. these three visionaries saw the need to “create an event in the Capital Region that would honor the cultural diversity of hispanic performers.” Pedro stated when he shared the groups motivation for this event when I interviewed him on the phone.

This festival has grown into a full day event. It is a “family-oriented festival with musical performances highlighting the diversity of Hispanic musical genres; a wide array of food, arts and crafts vendors; children’s amusements; and community, government, and business information booths.“

There will be great live music, delicious food for sale, and lots of local vendors to support.

“As a cultural event, LATINFEST celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Hispanic cultural heritage and acknowledges the contributions made by Hispanic Americans on local, state, national, and international levels.. It has established a hallmark, traditional cultural event for a burgeoning portion of the local community that is currently underserved and underrepresented, as well as for the larger Albany community.“

This event has been significantly supported by the City of Albany NY as an important part of the cultural landscape and recognized in the past at the Albany NY Bicentennial Celebration.

The Albany Latin Festival Association (ALFA) has offered Latin Festival every year for over 20 years now. ALFA is a non-profit organization that raises funds for this entire event, through donations and sponsorships. The organization’s mission is to promote and develop Hispanic cultural events in the Capital Region of the State of New York, for the purpose of acknowledging the contributions of Hispanic performing artists and promoting an appreciation for multi-cultural diversity.

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more info check out the EVENT PAGE

The festival is staged in Albany’s Washington Park at the end of August each year from 11am to 6pm.

EDITORS NOTE: They do have room for more local Craft Vendors. The application is on their website.

Saratoga Arts : Art in the Park | Photo: Provided

ART IN THE PARK
Saturday, September 17th | 10:00 to 4:00

“The Saratoga Arts Festival is an extension of the Saratoga Arts Center mission, to make the arts accessible to all. The festival is held outside in a communal location and is accessible to someone who may not wander into the gallery. It’s held outside and it’s beautiful. It features so many local artists and brings fine art outside into the community” Olivia Walton, Membership and Development Coordinator, shared with me in a phone interview.

This festival is going to offer a day full of outdoor art exhibits, artist vendors, wonderful local craft vendor tables, kids zone, a community booth in Saratoga Springs’ beautiful and historic Congress Park in Downtown Saratoga. Curated and presented by Saratoga Arts in partnership with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Art in the Park will feature a variety of art and crafted work from local and national artists. The event will also feature live music, artist demos, and MORE!

This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
For more info visit the EVENT PAGE

Olivia also shared that the Arts Center also offers week-long summer camps, theater arts classes & various workshops for youth that make it worth traveling to Saratoga County with your children.

Did you know that the Saratoga Arts Center also offers grants or artists? They reported that 39 grants totaling $123,010 have been awarded to support community-based arts events taking place in 2020. Saratoga Arts has awarded over $1,536,000 in grants since these programs began!

Their Grants Coordinator, Mae Hailu, commented: “Since the 1990s, Saratoga Arts has been pursuing the mission of making the arts accessible to all through our regrants program funded by the New York State Council of the Arts, which has provided millions of dollars worth of funding for community arts projects and arts educational programs, as well as directly funding the work of individual artists. The effects of these works have been felt by people from ages 5-99 throughout Saratoga, Fulton, and Montgomery counties.“

Mabee Farm Arts and Crafts Festival | Photo: Provided

MABEE FARM ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 27th | 10:00 to 3:00

The Mabee Farms Arts & Crafts Festival is a wonderful event coordinated and run by the Schenectady Historic Society.

“We’re bringing together the very best of the Capital Region’s handcrafted goods! Join us as 85+ artists and crafters spread out over the Mabee Farm grounds with their eclectic, beautifully handcrafted items. All items are handmade here in our region, and include jewelry, home decor, fine art, ceramics, artisan foods and wines, soaps, candles, woodworking, and more! Featuring live music!”

I spoke on the phone with Mike Diana, of the Schenectady Historical Society, and shared with me that the event also will Blacksmith and Carpentry demonstrations during the day. “This is a very juried festival” Mike said when we chatted about the different local vendors that would be at this specific event. Mike also wanted everyone to know that there will still be tours available of the House during the festival as well.

This is truly going to be a wonderful event to bring your entire family to, and worth traveling to Schenectady County.

A VIRTUAL MAP of Mabee Farm is available online.

ADMISSION: is $10 / parked car
For more information check out the FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
This event is a fundraiser for the Mabee Farm, a not-for-profit organization.

Mabee Farm Historic Site
The oldest farm in the Mohawk Valley (1705), Mabee Farm Historic Site offers visitors today vibrant educational and recreational opportunities. With its deep history and riverside beauty, it’s the perfect place to explore the Mohawk Valley.
Walk across weathered pine floors in the home of 18th century settlers. Say hello to our resident farm animals. Ogle the hand-pegged Dutch Barn (1760s) or just meander through our orchards, gardens, and forest trails. Tied to the dock or parked behind the Dutch Barn sit our reproduction 18th century bateaux, giving visitors an idea of how goods were shipped up and down the river when Schenectady was America’s frontier.

Mabee Farm is also home year-round to interactive exhibitions, lecture series, workshops, and school programs plus extensive historical collections.

CAP NY ACTIVATE : 5 Family Owned & Operated Drive In Movie Theaters

July 12, 2022 By Nellie Ackerman-Vellano

Before there was cable TV and the internet (my own kids can’t imagine such a primitive time) families went out together to enjoy a movie in a car, packed full of kids. Sometimes the neighbor’s kids were mixed in the bunch too. I remember being about 8 years old, and walking to the drive-in movie concession stand with my dad, and the feeling I had when we all got to have our own brown paper lunch bags filled with buttered popcorn. We lived on a small income, and this was one of the few times when we didn’t have to share the one treat that might have been quickly bought on another type of outing. The small bag of popcorn was all mine! It was like we were on a vacation, and then my parents would even let us have candy after 8pm at night too. I remember seeing people of all ages enjoying the movies that we’d watch together as a family, under the stars.


This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY.
Visit us on Instagram at @upstatecreative and @gocapny


Hi Way Drive In Fence | Photo: Corey Aldrich

Kids today don’t like the things we liked back when we were kids right? I’m a parent that has these worried thoughts that many other parents have, and while I have really good kids… kids get bored easily. Would they be excited about sitting on a blanket or lawn chair outside watching the movie? Will my autistic middle child be able to sit through this movie with so many distractions and stimulation going on around him?

We packed the back of our suv with pillows & blankets, some lawn chairs, lots of hopefulness, and loaded ourselves inside and headed to the drive-in-movies for the first time with my children. We found the perfect spot, center of the field, not too close to the screen and not too far of a walk to the snack bar. We opened the back door, put some lawn chairs by our tail end, and set up the blankets and pillows too. It was now time to “officially” prepare for the movie. That means lots of snacks! We walked to the concession building before the movie started. There we rented a little portable radio that some drive-ins offer as an option to run your car radio on the vehicle’s battery, and it also can allow for the movie to be heard better outside of our vehicle while sitting in our lawn chairs.

Concession stand at Jericho Drive In Theater | Image: Corey Aldrich

Next, we needed food and drinks. The menu options now offered in many snack bars at drive-in movie theaters, compare more to pub fare and the food is good. This is a huge life saver as a parent. I didn’t have to rush making dinner and feeding it to the kids before we left the house. We each ordered a main menu item, drinks, and of course you can’t not order freshly popped popcorn and candy to have during the movie. After our picnic style meal, we cleaned up a bit, and then sat back, ready to watch the movie. I will never forget how I immediately felt sharing this cherished childhood memory with my own kids, and watching them experience seeing the largest outdoor movie screen they’d ever seen for the very first time… together as a family, under the stars.

Drive-in movie theaters are almost always owned by a local family living in the very community their theater is in. They don’t make much money off of your movie ticket. The families sell snacks and other foods, and that’s what helps keep these classic old school drive-in movie theaters open and alive for all of us to enjoy still. Some have been here for over 70 years. The concession stands create jobs, and employee people all throughout the duration they are open. Jericho Drive-in for example currently employs over 45 people. Please be sure to visit and support the snack bars when you go to the drive-in movie theater. I know these local family owned businesses will greatly appreciate you for this.

Below are a list of 5 drive-in movie theaters including my two top picks. All mentioned are worth taking a little drive to while visiting each of the counties they are in.

Hollywood Drive In Theater | Image: Corey Aldrich

HOLLYWOOD DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER
Averill Park, New York

Open since 1952. Owned and operated by the Fisher family.

“In 1968 Frank took over the business from his father and still enjoys running it to this day .He has learned everything from the projectors to the concessions when he was just a teenager working with his father and through trial and error and have improved the theater tremendously from those early days.” their website stated. “The Hollywood Drive-In (TM) has been in business for 70 years and over the years has seen many changes. We have always maintained that having fun is what a drive-in is all about. We offer a neat and clean facility with a freshly mowed parking area. At the Hollywood Drive-In (TM) you will find a well trained staff ready to serve you with a relaxed atmosphere for you and your family to enjoy.“

They have also recently remodeled their concession building and have an expanded their menu to suit everyone’s palette. They offer fresh homemade pizza, which you can order by the slice or the whole pie. You can get cooked to order hamburgers, hot dogs and fries… and of course the old time favorite popcorn.

Their website mentions that the popcorn boxes are randomly stuffed with free passes into the drive-in.

Food Permit: We understand that people have food allergies or people prefer to bring food from home or elsewhere. However, outside food seriously hurts our ability to sustain our business. Admissions mostly belong to the studios. We have instituted a $5 food permit for those bringing in food. Deliveries to the theatre are strictly prohibited.

WEB: hollywooddrivein.com
ADMISSIONS: Adults $11 | Children 3-10 yrs old $6

Jericho Drive In Theater | Image: Corey Aldrich

JERICHO DRIVE-IN & ICE CREAM SHOPPE Glenmont, New York

Open since 1957. Owned and operated by the Chenette family.

I was able to reach and speak with Lisa Chenette by phone, one of the owners of The Jericho Drive-in & Twist Ice Cream Shoppe. She shared with me their family’s story. Jericho Drive-in was purchased in 1995 by Mike Chennette, and has since had a stand alone ice cream shoppe built in 2007 that services both their drive-in movie guests and the general public. This well thought out stand has service windows on both sides of the building, that sits partly inside of the fence surrounding the drive-in, and accessible to non moviegoers who only want to enjoy a cold treat from the ice cream stand. Like their Sweetheart Sundae that tells the sweet story of how Mike’s mother always called his father, Sweetheart. This special sundae was added to their menu in memory of Mike’s father after he passed away, and is only offered around Valentine’s Day, when the ice cream shoppe officially reopens for the season.

Their concession stand was just remodeled and their menu includes Philly cheesesteaks on a toasted bun, and Chinese Egg Rolls made by the local Chinese in Restaurant in their town to support another local small business.

WEB: jerichodrive-in.com
ADMISSION: Adults $11 | Children 11 and under $6


Here are three more family owned and operated Drive-in movie theaters that I recommended visiting in these different counties here in Upstate New York.


Hi Way Drive In Theater | Image: Corey Aldrich

HI-WAY DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER
Coxsackie, New York

Located between Catskill and Coxsackie NY, Hi-Way Drive-In movie theater is referred to as the ‘Cinema Under The Stars.’ The Gate and the Snack Bar open 90 Minutes Before the 1st Movie starts.

WEB: hiwaydrivein.com
ADMISSION : $11 for ages 12 and up, and $6 for ages 3 – 11
(children under 3 years of age are admitted free)

Malta Drive In Theater | Image: Corey Aldrich

MALTA DRIVE IN THEATER
Malta, New York

Open since 1949!

This is the Drive-in movie theater that created my own family’s very first drive-in movie memories. I can still remember when my 12yr old son asked for the first time if he could walk his little brother to the concession stand, by himself, and how as a child he felt like this was a move towards growing up. I watched them walk towards the snack bar, holding hands, and walk into the building. I watched and waited for my two boys to walk out of the snack bar and proudly bring back food and drinks for their other brother and their mom. I must say, I love the burgers here. Make sure you grab one from their snack bar when you visit them.

This two screen drive-in theater is family owned and operated by Ed & Tom Caro. “Many of our staff have been working here for years“, Ed shared. Ed & Tom Caro are both very active in the drive-in theater and both of their children have worked at the drive-in in the past too. Ed & Tom have worked towards not only making their drive-in theater a place where families can come to and make memories… they have also encouraged their staff to be a part of their drive-in family too. In fact, Ed shared that “We have a father & daughter, a mother & son, two sisters, and three cousins that all work for us“. This small locally owned family business, welcomes locals and visitors from outside of Saratoga County to come and feel like part of the Caro family too. 

The Caro family added the second movie screen in 2008, and with the new addition they also updated & expanded their restroom area as well. 

Outside Food, Beverage, and / or Cooler Permit: $5.00 per car, per night

Movie sound is broadcast in stereo over FM radio and can be heard via your car radio or a portable radio that you bring. Additionally, boom boxes can be rented for $5 in the concession stand (limited availability) and we require surrender of your driver’s licence until return of the radio. They do not have any speakers on the posts.

WEB: maltadrivein.com
ADMISSION: Adults (Age 12 & Older): $11.00 | Children (Under 12): $6.00

Glen Drive In Theater | Image: Cinema Treasures

GLEN DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER
Queensbury, New York

Open since 1958! Glen is open 7 nights a week during the season starting at 7:00 PM. Shows start at dusk.

WEB: glendriveintheater.com
ADMISSION: Tickets Adults $11.00 / Children $6.00 | CASH ONLY


Nellie Ackerman-Vellano is a freelance brand development professional, writer and photographer who writes for a variety of periodicals including 518 Profiles Magazine. | IG: @FeedMe518 | @BonVivantPhotographe


CAP NY ACTIVATE : 5 Family Friendly Museums You Must Visit This Summer

June 6, 2022 By Nellie Ackerman-Vellano

As a mother of three children, my boys have always been curious individuals. My middle son is autistic and mentally disabled. Finding family friendly places to take my children that were fun, engaging, and interactive… but also educational and inspiring… was absolutely a challenge with school aged kids and one with special needs.

When my three boys were younger, I was a single mother seeking out places where my creative and imaginative boys could be boys. I had to find adventures that my special needs son could go on, and places that would welcome him.

I found museums and scenic spaces, in cities and towns that had a main street where we could walk, shop, eat, and explore.

These same spaces welcomed my boys as they grew into teenagers, and these spaces still seemed curious enough for them to want to keep exploring.

I’d like to share about five wonderful and curious spaces that would welcome your entire family, in small cities and towns that invite you to explore them.


This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY.
Visit us on Instagram at @upstatecreative and @gocapny


Images Provided

THE FRANCES YOUNG TANG TEACHING MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY

“The purpose of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery is to awaken the community to the richness and diversity of the human experience through the medium of art” – the introduction on the Tang website’s ABOUT section.

I don’t know if I can truly express what this museum is about better than that wonderful statement right there.

The Tang is a fantastic museum and art gallery… and it’s also a teaching museum, a space for curious individuals to explore and imagine, and a safe environment for both established and emerging artists.

The Tang Museum does approximately twelve exhibitions each year. Most of the exhibits are originated by the Tang. Faculty and students are involved as curators and advisors for its signature interdisciplinary exhibitions.

These large-scale projects combine diverse objects such as antique maps, scientific equipment, Rube Goldberg cartoons, Hudson River School landscapes, Shaker furniture and dynamic new works of international contemporary art.

Tang Guides, many of whom are Skidmore College students, are trained gallery ambassadors and tour guides. Through this program, they are introduced to the Tang and the museum world, and trained to give tours, while gaining valuable real-world experiences interacting with visitors.

Located in Skidmore college in Saratoga Springs NY, your family can visit the museum in this vibrant little city and spend a few more days exploring all of the downtown shops and restaurants. Make sure you plan enough time on your visit to take a short day trip to the Saratoga State Park or nearby Saratoga Lake.

815 North Broadway | Saratoga Springs, NY
WEB: tang.skidmore.edu
SOCIAL: IG @tangteachingmuseum | FB @tangmuseum

Images Provided

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AT SARATOGA
Saratoga Springs, NY

Are you looking for a fun & interactive day trip to go on with the kids or are you searching for a getaway for a few days with the family and you have to keep them entertained? Then add Saratoga Springs, NY, and of course The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, to your list of places to visit. With many wonderful shops, restaurants, and a lovely park nearby that has a beautiful carousel to ride on, you can easily spend several days and more in this little city.

“Where Learning and Play go Hand-in-Hand” describes what this Museum is about, “Paying it forward‘ and “community giving” are words often used to describe what this museum selflessly does for other organizations. The Children’s Museum at Saratoga’s foundation was created on the belief in inclusivity and equity of all children, including those outside the museum walls where they reach into and positively impact their community.

The mission of this museum is to inspire, spark and nurture children and foster active parent involvement in their child’s learning.

This museum not only offers the opportunity to experience an exhibit when you visit them, but children of all ages can interact in a variety of public programs such as Story Time, Science Explorers, and Art Adventures. This includes toddler & pre-school aged children too. The museum offers Seasonal Programs as well, such as Nature Exploration. Field Trip, Outreach and Hybrid Programs are options too.

The Museum’s hours will shift based on seasonal variations in attendance. Check their website for changes in their hours and to see what days they will be closed.

65 South Broadway | Saratoga Springs, NY
WEB: cmssny.org
SOCIAL: IG @childrensmuseumsaratoga | FB @childrensmuseumatsaratoga

Images: Peter AaronOTTO

THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Catskill, NY

Whether you are traveling near or far, you must take a detour to Catskill NY…. where you will find quiet, serenity, and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. “We are still in Eden… Shall we turn from it?” was an expression of how Cole felt about the Catskill Mountain Region.

Thomas Cole was known as the most influential American artist of the nineteenth century. He founded this country’s first major art movement that was now known as the Hudson River School.

Located in the Village of Catskill, in the Hudson Valley at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, The Thomas Cole Site is part of the Hudson River Skywalk. The Hudson River School Art Trail connects you with the places in nature that Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School artists made famous in their 19th-century landscape paintings. The Collection of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site includes over six hundred objects and two research archives. Cole was a huge advocate for the preservation of the American landscape as a national treasure.

“The moment you witness the breathtaking mountain views from Cole’s porch, you’ll fully understand his devotion to landscape painting” – Times Union

The Museum shared that “He urged his fellow Americans to value and preserve the wild and natural beauty of the landscapes he depicted in his paintings. In his Essay on American Scenery, Cole wrote: I cannot but express my sorrow that the beauty of such landscapes is quickly passing away.“

“Being removed from the noise & bustle of the house is really charming.” He wrote.

Catskill, NY, is also full of places to stay, dine and explore. You can take a hike in the Great Northern Catskills, and find shops and galleries on historic Main Street. There are river activities such as fishing and boating. You can dine at waterfront restaurants. The Thomas Cole website can direct you on how to plan your entire trip around visiting them. I believe you’ll feel what Thomas Cole was trying to express about this region, when you are there in person.

218 Spring Street | Catskill, NY
WEB: thomascole.org
SOCIAL: IG @thomascolesite | FB @thomascolehistoricsite

Images Provided.

WORLD AWARENESS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Glens Falls, NY

In beautiful Warren County, is the City of Glens Falls, NY, not far from the Adirondack Mountains. This gateway community to the Adirondack Mountain region is a wonderful place to visit with your family… and while there, you must explore The World Awareness Children’s Museum.

A hands on, interactive museum, The World Awareness Children’s Museum is full of Art Exhibits and a variety of programs. This museum houses a collection of pieces from 140 countries and includes 8,000+ artifacts (fashion, musical instruments, dolls, toys and other objects). Their creative learning space features art and artifacts. The museum’s permanent collection that includes 7,000 pieces of original children’s art from 81+ countries.

The World Awareness Children’s Museum’s mission is “To inspire curiosity and foster understanding and appreciation of worldwide cultural diversity.” “Art is truly the universal language“, shared by the museum. This NYS Designated Charter Museum has a passion to bring their diverse world to children, and they do this well.

“Our museum is a place where families can learn about our diverse world, encouraging them to engage curiosity when they encounter diversity in their community.” Bethanie Muska Lawrence – Executive Director

The Museum space is divided into the following hands on, interactive exhibit areas:
World Gallery, Home & Family Life, Animal Preserve Research Center, World Music, Textile Marketplace, World Fashion, Art Studio & Gallery.


WORLD AWARENESS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM : FREE ADMISSION DAYS!
June 11th and 12th from 12:00 am to 3:00 pm


When you do visit the City of Glen Falls NY, make sure you plan time to walk around and visit the restaurants and shops nearby. Plan to day to drive around the region looking for places that welcome you explore Warren County. With several small neighboring towns and cities nearby offering so much entertainment and activities for individuals of all ages, you may have to plan another trip back.

89 Warren Street | Glens Falls, NY
WEB: worldchildrensmuseum.org
SOCIAL: IG @worldkidsmuseum

Images Provided.

MUSEUM OF INNOVATION AND SCIENCE
Schenectady, NY

When you visit this museum, you will instantly know and feel that this space was created for the young and the young at heart.

Founded in 1934, miSci has created a space that encourages learning, imagination, and creativity. In 1997, the Museum merged with the General Electric Hall of Electrical History and combined their collections. Now, more than 15,000 science and technology artifacts, thousands of advertising publications, 1,500 films, 400 audio recordings, and two million photographs document the history of electricity, electronics, and the impact of technological change.

The miSci has gallery space that you can wander through. Misci is a 44,270-square-foot facility that also houses The Suits-Beuche Planetarium, and thousands of curious individuals visit the museum to experience what the planetarium has to offer. You will find interactive exhibits and experiences at this creative museum that allow you to have fun and engage with the exhibits. It’s a wonderful space to be in, and this educational museum is for all ages.

The Mission & Vision of miSci :
At miSci, exhibitions, educational programs, and events are designed with our mission in mind: “To inspire people to celebrate and explore science and technology past, present, and future.” The Museum fulfills its mission by preserving and interpreting the history of technological change and its societal impact, helping visitors explore the creative processes that inspire discovery and invention – engaging visitors with interactive exhibitions and programs that encourage them to inquire about science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. (STEAM)

The museum offers programs like the “miSci’s Little Edison’s program“, for kids ages 3 to 5. “A fun way to nurture the curiosity of pint-sized future engineers, chemists, and inventors.” is what’s shared on their website.

Also, If you haven’t had your birthday at a museum before, you can now! Host your child’s next birthday party at this museum too!

Schenectady, NY is full of incredible history that influenced, changed and moved this Country forward. There are many shops, great restaurants, and small locally owned businesses that fill up the downtown and surrounding area for locals and tourists to enjoy. This museum is worth visiting with your family. In the summer, just a short distance from the museum, you can experience the Harbor with live music along the Mohawk River. Schenectady is a great day trip destination, or you can stay for a long weekend.

15 Museum Drive | Schenectady, NY
WEB: misci.org
SOCIAL: IG @misci_ny | FB: @misciny


Nellie Ackerman-Vellano is a freelance brand development professional, writer and photographer who writes for a variety of periodicals including 518 Profiles Magazine. | IG: @FeedMe518 | @BonVivantPhotographe


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