Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase “What’s the difference between a lie and a tall tale?” asks Bill Smith. “You don’t get a lickin’ for telling a tall tale.” That is how the storyteller recounts his youth at last year’s Adirondack Storytelling Festival in Old Forge at the McCauley Mountain Chalet. My son sits openmouthed while stories, yarns and tall tales range from Bill Smith’s folklore to author Joseph Bruchac’s Abenaki Indian heritage. The stage is set with a backdrop of a lean-to while storyteller after storyteller took the stage. My kids have grown up on audio stories. No matter their age, they are still enthralled with the magic of stories. The opportunity to watch the Bruchac books that my children have borrowed from the library come to life and to meet the author is a bonus. Adirondack nature walks and storytelling workshops, songs and craft centers were all around. One woman sits by her spinning wheel while a wood carver gave a brief lesson on whittling. The tone is casual and we hav

By Diane Chase Fighter planes and dogfights are just part of the program for the Mountain R/C Club’s annual air show in Old Forge this July 31st. The sky will be humming with replica WWII radio-controlled planes like the Spitfire, P51 Mustang, B25 Mitchell, F6F Hellcat as well as a few jet aircrafts and other more recent models. Event Director Walt Throne says, “ We are looking forward to having the same format as in years past. There will be a variety of planes and helicopters on the 31st.” Read more

By Diane Chase Jack and the Beanstalk may be considered a children’s story but the undertones of the Seagle Music Colony’s operatic rendition leaves anyone with an appreciation for music with his/her own interpretation. The giant does get his in the end, but it is not the end one is expecting. For adults there is the rich performance of the four gifted students and children listen in awe to a magical story. The bonus is being able to meet the fairytale characters, come-to-life, after the show. Read More

Rain in the distance. The weather is so crazy, rain one moment and sun the next. My daughter and I played stormchaser for a bit until I deemed it dangerous. I am not a good example of watching the road and focusing on the clouds and the colors in the sky. We pulled over and just sat back and watched until two different rainbows faded into the sky. Rainbows!

FREE 2010 YOUNG & FUN ARTS SERIES AT THE  LAKE PLACID CENTER FOR THE ARTS SELECT WEDNESDAYS IN THE LPCA THEATRE 10:30AM • FREE ADMISSION Seating is First-Come, First-Serve. Doors Open at 10:00 a.m.

By Diane Chase Circus Smirkus is coming to Plattsburgh this weekend, July 2-3 behind the Crete Memorial Center, 4 Beach Road. Since 1987, Circus Smirkus has provided an avenue for young people ages 11-18 an opportunity to learn circus performing arts through in-school and summer circus camp opportunities. Children are representing this year’s Big Top from 13 states and the United Kingdom. This lofty goal initiated a movement to teach fundamentals as well as creativity from coaches from around the world as far reaching as China, Russia, Mongolia and around the U.S. Children are immersed in the traditional circus lifestyle. They learn multiple circus acts as well as technical aspects like staging, concession, cleaning and rigging all while living at the Vermont base. There is even a Smirkling Camp for children ages 6 to 8. So children can actually run away to the circus. The relief for parents is to know that it’s under the guise of summer camp. There is no Circus Smirkus camp for pa

By Diane Chase July 2 Essex: fireworks at Beggs Park at dusk July 3 Minerva: July 3: fireworks at dusk Tupper Lake: July 3: fireworks at dusk at the Municipal Park Saranac Lake : Kiddie Parade (10:00-11:00 am starts at St. Bernard's Church) Hague: July 3: fireworks at 9 p.m. Westport:July 3: fireworks at Lee Beach 9:30 p.m. Lake George: July 3: fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Jay: July 3: 9:00 p.m. North Creek: Fireworks at dusk at North Creek Bowl July 4 Lake Placid: July 4: fireworks at Mirror Lake Beach 9:45 pm - 10:05 p.m. Saranac Lake: July 4: Summerfest, Fireworks: 9:00 p.m. Inlet: July 4: fireworks over Fourth Lake: (rain date July 5) at dusk Long Lake: July 4: fireworks 9:30 p.m. Indian Lake: July 4: fireworks at dusk Byron Park Old Forge: July 4: fireworks at dusk at Lakefront North Creek: July 4: fireworks at dusk Plattsburgh: Fireworks will be set off at dusk downtown near Macdonough Monument Rouses Point: July 4 at dusk: all day festival with parade and BBQ, live music Bolton

By Diane Chase Watching the Lake Placid Horse Show may be intimidating for anyone without a background in Show Jumping but don't let inexperience allow a wonderful event to pass by. (My horse experiences consist of trail rides on only the oldest and most gentle animals.) For a dollar you can take a walking tour and learn the ins and outs of jumping. The Lake Placid Horse Show Association offers weekday in-depth visits behind the scenes of the grounds. The tour meets in the vendor section of the horse grounds. Read More

By Diane Chase Though it seems against the whole idea of summer vacation and getting outside, children can become Web Rangers and learn about all the various National Parks. It is an opportunity to experience all the National Parks, Monuments and Historic Sites from the comfort of your own home. By all means, this is no substitute for a nature hike and being active. It is a nice learning experience under the guise of a rainy day activity . Choose from over 50 activities that allow children ages 8-16 to learn more about each of our national parks. There is even an opportunity to get a WebRanger patch. A sampling of activities are People – Decode Washington's secret messages. History – Travel the seas in 1812 on a Navy war ship Nature – Read a map to figure out the quest. Puzzles – Go on a website scavenger hunt Science – Match dinosaurs to their diet. Parks – Play “Alpha Codes." Animals - Guess the animals in your parks We choose to set a limit on how much com

By Diane Chase New York State (NYS) Free Fishing Days will commence this weekend, June 25-26. This annual event started in 1991 as a chance for anyone to attempt fishing. This year the licensing fee has increased so this weekend will be a good opportunity to either introduce someone to fishing or take advantage of a free weekend. NYS isn’t giving much away for free so why not take advantage and relax by a stream or on a pond, casting for some of the various strains of stocked breed and wild catch. Read More

Fighter planes and dogfights are just part of the program for the Plattsburgh Radio Aeromodelers (PRAM) this weekend at Memorial Field in Beekmantown. For the 8th consecutive year this radio controlled air show will be raising funds for Hospice of the North Country. On average the event draws 24-50 pilots who in turn bring anywhere from 6-24 planes. The sky will be awash with replica WWII radio-controlled planes like the Spitfire, P51 Mustang, B25 Mitchell, F6F Hellcat as well as a few jets aircrafts and other more recent models. The two-day event is just a chance to introduce people to the radio control flying hobby. This event is not a competition but a fun opportunity to see the machines in action and get a chance to perhaps even fly one. That is what got my children’s attention when I mentioned wanting to attend. To be surrounded by interesting model planes is fun but getting a chance to take the controls is raising the bar to a whole new level. The last time we went to a model a

Celebrating its 10th anniversary the Lake Placid Film Forum is showcasing women in the film industry, new directions in filmmaking and an environmental “green” focus in additional to its annual tribute to silent film. Opening night on June 10th will be a bargain for families at $10 for two Buster Keaton movies and a foreign short “Salim Baba.” The Keaton films will show his career in reverse starting with the 1965 “Railrodder” with a Q&A with the film’s director Gerry Potterton then segue to the 1924 silent film “Sherlock Jr.” Read More

Yuck, the UnHappy Meal! McDonald's is recalling 12 million Shrek drinking glasses because the design contains cadmium. Cadmium is extremely toxic and is used in producing batteries and other products. According to a New York Times piece, "Walt Riker, a McDonald’s spokesman , said that 12 million glasses were intended for distribution in the United States and that about 7.5 million had gotten into the hands of consumers. He said the company would refund the $2 purchase price to consumers and that the company would provide information on its Web site next Tuesday on how to return the glasses.