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Gather Greene: Upstate Overnights

August 19, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

Located in Coxscakie, Gather Greene has 100 acres of land where folks can celebrate, stay, or explore. Their pavilion, cabins, and grounds have views of the Catskills and Berkshires, They have 17 cabins which come with an outside deck, a king size bed, bathroom, closet with large mirror, mini fridge, and caffeine fix. 12 cabins are looking out over the ridge towards the Berkshires, and 5 cabins are nestled into the woods slightly further apart.

What Gabby Loves About This Place

One small detail that makes all the difference – the cabin bathrooms come with sumptuous handmade organic and local toiletries from 2 Note Hudson. I love the emphasis on supporting small and local! Those big windows that allow you a piece of nature while inside is a huge perk too…also great for those Instagram shots.

The Details

Check out this site to explore their cabin stay options and pricing. You can check availability for cabin bookings here! Follow their Instagram for upcoming announcements on fall stays. Connect with them via: website / email

GATHER GREENE

176 Levett Road, Coxsackie, NY 12051

phone: 262-448-3683

6 Things To Do In Saratoga Springs (That Aren’t Downtown)

July 28, 2020 By Rachel Dunn

Summer in Saratoga Springs. There’s nothing like it. Horses, restaurant patios, shopping… and crowds. Sometimes I crave an outing that’s a little less “populated”, so I’ve put together a few ideas on what to do in Saratoga Springs that are a bit more off the beaten path. Here are 6 of my favorites to get you started. Have a non-Broadway favorite not on the list? Let me know and I’ll include it here. Click here to send suggestion.

Commune With Nature

My husband & I exploring on a two-person kayak.

Kayak Shak – Nothing says summer to me more than being out on the water. In Saratoga Springs, we’re lucky to have Saratoga Lake and Fish Creek, which provide us with miles of scenic waterways, and they’re just a few minutes from downtown. Don’t worry if you don’t have a boat, Saratoga’s Kayak Shak rents kayaks (singles & doubles) and stand-up paddle boards to the public every day of the week. Make reservations before you arrive, and sign their waiver before boarding your kayak. Masks are required while pushing off from docks and returning to shore. After I’ve worked up an appetite, I like to sate that hunger with a delicious wood-fired pizza at Harvest & Hearth. They are located in the same parking lot as Kayak Shak, so you can go directly from the workout to the reward. Their BBQ chicken pizza is other-worldly. (Gluten-free crust available. Woohoo!)

Victoria Pool at Spa State Park
Photo: Saratoga.org

Saratoga Spa State Park – When I hear “State Park”, I think hiking, green spaces and nature. All of that is in abundance at Saratoga Spa State Park, but it’s only just a small sliver of what there is to do there. Take a swim or catch some rays at the Victoria (my favorite in an old school glam setting) and Peerless Pools (water wonderland for families and kids), soak in healing waters in a mineral bath at the Roosevelt Baths & Spa (reopening August 20th), take an outdoor wellness class and more. There’s also the Saratoga Automobile Museum on site if you want to spend some time inside and an 18-hole golf course if that’s more your thing. No matter what you choose, you won’t run out of things to do at Spa State Park. Pack a picnic, fill your water bottle at the Geyser Spring and spend the day!

Helpful hint: I prefer to see the park by bike (and avoid dealing with parking). If you do too, but don’t have a bike or feel like bringing yours with you there are plenty of CDPHP bikes for rent around Saratoga. Click here for a location map.

Brush Up on History

Greenridge Cemetery – I know this might seem morbid, but Greenridge Cemetery is a favorite of mine for a beautiful, peaceful walk, and especially great for history buffs. Dating back to 1844, there are monuments to those that fought in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and beyond. As well, there are notable figures including poets, philanthropists, statesmen and horse racing dignitaries. Even the main gates located on Lincoln Avenue are worthy of your time. I like to wander on my own, but if you want to learn the history of some of the gravesites, download a cemetery map here. Afterwards, head around the corner to the The Thirsty Owl to grab a bite and sample their award-winning wines. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended.

Photo: Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation

Tour of Saratoga’s Historic Homes – One of the first things that made me fall in love with Saratoga Springs is the beautiful and significant architecture all over town. I have lived here three years, and am still stunned by homes I hadn’t noticed before. Saratoga Springs has 8 Historic Districts that make up the fabric of the town. I highly recommend the historic homes dotted along Circular Street and Union Avenue on the East Side.

From small cottages to sprawling mansions, the architecture and history of the homes make a tour a Saratoga Springs must-do. Whether you take the tour by foot, bike or car, you will not be disappointed. There are several neighborhoods and plenty to see, so you might not be able to cover all the neighborhoods in one day. Thankfully, Saratoga.com has created self-guided tour maps broken out by neighborhood to help you plan. You can find them on their site by clicking here.

BONUS: Saratoga National Historical Park – The Battlefield (Submitted by Chet Opalka) – Located just outside of Saratoga Springs in Stillwater, NY, Saratoga National Historical Park is where wildlife, nature and history come together. Walk or bike along the same grounds where, in 1777, American troops defeated the British army, in a battle that is credited with turning the tide to America ultimately gaining its independence. My husband and I visited back in April for a hike. We chose to stay on the paved roads but were still able to see some deer and stopped along the way to brush up on our history. There are many options for routes and you can download a map to help you plan here. Please note that vehicles are allowed to travel through the park as well, so stay aware and alert.

Slightly-Outside-Town Wines and Brews

Photo: Racing City Brewery Instagram

Racing City Brewery – I don’t know about you, but I think there are very few things as refreshing on a hot summer day than an ice cold beer. The Capital Region has great local breweries, and one of them is located right here in Saratoga Springs. Racing City Brewery has over a dozen beers on tap. (Wine and cocktails also available.) They also offer contactless ordering and pickup with their online system. Want to watch the races while sipping on a local brew? Racing City will be showing the races daily on the 23’x14′ TV on their outside patio. Reservations for stakes races can be made online. And what goes better with beer and ponies than pizza? Place an order from 9 Miles East (great farm-grown salads, too!) and they will deliver right to Racing City Brewery.

Photo: Saratoga Winery

Saratoga Winery – Beer is great in the summer, but so is a chilled glass of wine. As with the brewery, I like to support local when I can, and Saratoga Winery is an easy spot to get behind. Situated on the site of a former farm stand, Saratoga Winery offers 15 locally-crafted wines in a charming backyard setting. Whether you want to try a flight of wine along with your perfectly curated cheese plate or settle on one varietal to help wash down your short rib grilled cheese, Saratoga Winery has you covered. There is also beer & cider for sale. They are also the official tasting room for Saratoga Courage Distillery, so there’s something for everyone. They’re currently only open on weekends and reservations are required. Keep updated on their current hours and offerings on their Facebook page linked here.

BY RACHEL DUNN – Rachel Dunn is a Marketing & Branding Specialist, one half of CapGirls NY and an avid explorer of New York’s Capital Region.


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Brew Review by Tim Walton of #TimsNYKitchen: Mad Jack Brewing Co.

July 28, 2020 By wordpress

That’s Tim!

Meet Tim Walton, the mastermind behind #TimsNYKitchen, an Instagram site with over 12,ooo followers. Tim travels, eats and drinks his way through the Capital Region, and we asked him to pick his favorite brewery / restaurant. So — drum roll, please — here’s Tim’s pick: Mad Jack Brewing Co. in Schenectady. Read on to find out why Tim’s mad about Mad Jack.

To find 100+ more CapNY breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries, click here!

The History

Mad Jack Brewing Co. is Schenectady’s first craft brewery, located in Schenectady’s beautiful and historic Stockade District. It opened in 2011. The brewery is tied together with The Van Dyck, a charming building that has hosted many wonderful talents, including great jazz musicians such as Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Mose Allison, Marian McPartland, Coleman Hawkins, Hank Jones and Thelonious Monk.

If the walls could speak I think they would ramble on forever and a day about all the great times and bad times it has experienced throughout its history. The Van Dyck opened in 1947 by Harlem refugee Marvin Friedman and since 2009, has been owned by the McDonald family.

The Beer

Take a seat at the bar and one will find that they have 10+ house taps at any given time. The Master Brewer, Brian Conley puts a lot of love into the brews he creates and is very passionate about what he produces. He’s not afraid to try new things with his ‘Mad Science’ line of brews and collaborations with many local bars/breweries. Some of my favorite’s brews are the Fightin’ Irwin IPA, Mohawk Sunset and Electric Hefe. The Fightin’ Irwin IPA actually has a true fighting story with a happy ending. The beer is named after two McDonald cousins that would fight but shortly after, would patch things up over a beer. I think it’s great that beer can have the positive influence of binding people together even when things aren’t perfect.

The Food

Mad Jack offers some wonderful eats to enjoy as well. They recently have revamped their menu and there’s something for everyone. I recently tried their new buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich. This sandwich consists of buttermilk-soaked tenders, floured and fried with bacon, lettuce, tomato, spicy pepper jack cheese & chipotle mayo for that extra oomph.

The Community

Their staff, from bartenders to cooks, are super friendly and always go above and beyond to assist. Mad Jack supports many positive local efforts throughout the community and is willing to help out whenever they are able. If you haven’t visited here, I strongly recommend it. If you have, you know what I write to be true. Keep your eyes peeled for more articles about local breweries, as I sip and taste my way through New York’s Cap Region.

Mad Jack Brewing Company
Address: 237 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: 518-348-7999
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Tim!
Instagram
Facebook


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CapNY Creative Highlight: Steve Derrick

July 16, 2020 By wordpress

Healing: Portraits of the Pandemic

Weary, tired, brave, bruised, and raw, Steve Derrick’s paintings depict the spirit of healthcare heroes on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Derrick has painted more than 70 portraits of doctors, nurses and other workers from the Cap Region to Italy, Spain, the UK, and cities across the globe.

A resident of Clifton Park and Director of Organizational Development at digital game giant Vicarious Visions, Derrick is an artist in many senses of the word. To escape the overwhelm of the pandemic, he engaged in painting. He says, “there was so much negativity on the news. This gave me something positive to think about while sitting in quarantine.”

We sat down with Derrick at Albany Center Gallery (ACG), where he exhibited his work in a show called “Healing: Portraits of the Pandemic…” Watch the video below!

Derrick began posting his paintings on social media and they received immediate attention. This was new territory for him; he usually doesn’t show his work. He credits ACE with being the first outlet to cover his paintings. His work inspired us to begin the ACE Creatives in Quarantine Gallery, which received coverage from the Times Union. This was just the beginning of the national attention Derrick has received.

Interview with CBS News, “On the Road with Steve Hartman”

KUTV 2 in Utah aired Derrick’s story a few weeks ago. On July 17th, he was featured on CBS News “On the Road with Steve Hartman.” Watch the video below!

After including their professionals in some paintings, Albany Medical Center acknowledged and thanked him in their weekly update, after he painted several of their staff.

On July 21st, Derrick was also featured in a CNN article, which can be read here!

You can view more of his work by visiting the gallery or by following him on Facebook or Instagram.


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CapNY Relocation Stories: Chrissy and Ben Traore

July 8, 2020 By Maureen Sager

chrissy and ben traore

Chrissy and Ben Traore met while working in a New York City restaurant. Soon, they were commuting upstate on weekends for a cooking gig. To their great surprise, they began dreading going back to Brooklyn during the week. “We’ve always worked 70 to 100 hours a week,” Chrissy said. “And the city and the expenses just added stress to all of that.” Something had to give. So, by 2017, they settled in Cairo, a small, rural town in Greene County, about ten miles outside of Catskill.

The homemade chicken coop.

Together, they founded See and Be Kitchen and Cafe. Their funky, functional, multi-building “compound” met all of their dreams. There’s a prep kitchen inside of a storage container (they insulated it themselves) and outdoor wood-fired oven for baking bread. Plus, there’s a chicken house and pen, and café / retail shop. Additionally, outdoor seating plans are in the works, in the shaded, rustic grounds.

See and Be’s Breads and Business Plan

Ben’s signature loaf, Arborio Bread

Ben began baking bread in Burkina Faso, a West African country near Ivory Coast and Ghana. He uses a sourdough base for all of his products, including gorgeous croissants, pastries, and a full line of breads. The starter is fermented for 48 hours, making a refined and gorgeous loaf that even gluten-sensitive customers can digest (yep, this writer can vouch for that — and it’s fantastic).

The baking life isn’t easy. Ben goes to bed by 6 or 7pm, in order to tend to the wood-burning oven by 2am every day. Chrissy has pivoted their baking and food businesses from farmers markets to wholesale distribution, and now to online ordering and curbside pickups during COVID. Oh, and did we mention that they’ve also got an 18-month-old son in the mix now? These bakers are BUSY!

Chrissy utilizes Ben’s breads in all of her food creations, including a weekend sandwich selection. You can place online orders here, and pick them up at See and Be from Wednesdays through Saturdays.

“We’ve always taken things one step at a time,” said Chrissy. “We have room to grow here, and space to breathe. I want to let people know that they should not be afraid to try something new. We’re building something that is ours.”

Connect with See and Be Kitchen

Address:
512 New York 145
Cairo, NY 12413, US

Phone: (518) 719-9229
Email
Website
Facebook
Instagram


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