Cabin Fever Sunday Series at the Adirondack Museum

On our visits to the Adirondack Museum, my family has always found that there really isn’t enough time to see it all in one day. That is why the Adirondack Museum Cabin Fever Sundays present a different way of learning about the vast information tucked within the museum’s buildings in Blue Mountain Lake. 

According to Adirondack Museum Marketing Assistant Paige Doerner the second Cabin Fever event will feature Adirondack Life Senior Editor Niki Kouroksky’s tales of “Adirondack Outlaws.” Kouroksky is bringing the Adirondack’s criminal element to light and is highlighting just a few of the scallywags, bandits and fiends from her recently published book, Adirondack Outlaws: Bad Boys and Lawless Ladies.

“We have a lot of variety this year,” states Doerner. “We have Niki’s lecture and book signing on February 1^st here at the museum. We also have a Mohawk Dance and Cultural Presentation, the Adirondack Wildlife Rehabilitation Refuge will bring a wolf and two musical events in addition to the historical lectures.” 

The price per event varies with the majority of activities being a very reasonable $5 admission fee for non-Adirondack Museum members. Members, students and children are free. There are two free events made possible for the “Speakers in the Humanities” program, the February 8 at Tannery Pond Community Center “Of Time and The River: Songs of the Historic Hudson River” as well as the February 22 at the Adirondack Museum Auditorium “Life Speeds Up: Robert Fulton and A Changing New York.”

Free High School Play Writing Competition For Adirondack Park Students

DEADLINE EXTENDED: February 16

Last year Saranac Lake’s professional theatre company Pendragon Theatre provided a unique opportunity to any high school-aged young adults living within the whole Adirondack Park, The Pendragon Young Playwrights’ Festival. The Festival focuses on a competition for high school students to submit a one-act play (up to three plays per playwright or team) on any subject. The February 1^st deadline is quickly approaching so I want to encourage young adults to take advantage of the chance to have their winning play performed at the March festival. 

I’m always a bit skeptical of writing competitions. There always seems to be some hidden fee involved, but Pendragon Theatre’s competition is free. The winning playwrights are also given the chance to meet with a creative team to further develop their submission for the stage before the March production.  

Recipe;: Making Snow Cream instead of Ice Cream

Living in a climate where it snows around 6 months out of the year, we either need to eat it or shovel it.

Eating it is always the preferred way of using snow. This recipe for a soft serve ice cream is easy and fun.

It doesn't store well so plan on making enough to eat immediately. My family doesn't seem to mind that they have to eat any leftovers. Enjoy!

One quick and easy dessert that is a fan favorite is making a soft-serve ice cream out of snow and simple ingredients found in the fridge and pantry.

Three Kings' Day (Rosca de Reyes)

Our tradition is to take down the Christmas tree on Three Kings' Day (January 6). The kings have been traveling around our house, searching for the Creche. When they arrive we will all celebrate with bread and hot chocolate while packing up ornaments. 

There are healthier versions of sweetbread but I feel the treat of of this bread combined with the sadness of taking down our tree is worth the extra crunches.  


I hide a few pieces of chocolate in the bread. Traditionally a porcelain doll (symbolizing the baby Jesus) is used and the person finding it has to throw the next year's party. In our house who ever finds a piece of candy gets a special wish. Surprisingly enough each of my children usually find the lucky gift. 


Three Kings' Bread Recipe

Craft: Make an Fabric Wrapped Initial

This week's craft is brought you you by Lauren at Goody-Goody *Handmade. She takes a simple piece of wire and shapes it free form to make this creative craft. This is something that can be done with children of all ages. You can use recycled materials and really let the creativity flow. Have  fun!

Materials
- paper wrapped wire (how about reuse: take an old wire hanger 
- fabric scraps, cut into strips at least 1" wide. Length doesn't matter much.
- glue gun
- buttons, bits, beads and baubles
- cord for hanging




Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities.