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Paraskevidekatriaphobia anyone?

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"Touch wood, cross your fingers, and pop that lucky rabbit’s foot in your pocket – and there will be an almost five-to-one chance that you will not then be troubled today with paraskevidekatriaphobia or fear of Friday the 13th." ~Tim Radford, The Guardian

Adirondack Ice Cream: Donnelly's Ice Cream Flavors!

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Each day one flavor is offered, twisted with vanilla. Anything not sold daily is packed into containers for sale in the dairy case. This year Donnelly’s will sell an estimated 5,000 gallons of ice cream. Please pick a size, the flavor has already been decided for you. Since 1920, the Donnelly family has been involved in the dairy industry. But it was in 1953, after two aunts went to a dairy equipment show, that Donnelly’s Corner became synonymous with ice cream. Look to see the original Cherry Burrell ice cream machine still in use today. It is taken apart and sanitized daily then filled with the delicious mixture providing us with the flavor of the day. Donnelly’s soft ice cream is located at the intersection of Routes 86 and 186, outside of Saranac Lake. Monday - Nut Surprise Tuesday - Red or Black Raspberry Wednesday - Chocolate Thursday - Fruit Surprise Friday - Strawberry Saturday and Sunday - Chocolate

Adirondack Shakespeare in the Park

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Free Shakespeare in the Adirondack Park is on the road for its second year presenting live performances in various outdoor venues throughout the Park. For those in the Tri-Lakes it will all start tomorrow at White Pines Camp in Paul Smiths. The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake is bringing this performance to 20 towns within the Blue Line so don’t fret, there is plenty of opportunity to see this version of “Twelfth Night.” Last year’s performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was a 45-minute romp within an Adirondack setting, lumberjacks and even a back-flipping Robin Goodfellow in snowshoes. This year’s play of mistaken identities will take us to a 1950s lakeside camp where Viola will find her way ashore during a 4th of July celebration. Believing her twin brother, Sebastian, did not survive the storm Viola dresses like a boy and all sorts of hijinks commence. This shortened version is a mixture of professional and amateur actors. The 7:00 p.m. performa

Adirondack Family Fun: Adirondack Storytelling Festival

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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

Adirondack Fun: Old Forge Model Airshow

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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

Adirondack Opera: Seagle Music Colony

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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

Adirondack Pictures: Rainbows!

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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!

Lake Placid for Kids: Lake Placid Center for the Arts Young and Fun Series

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.

Family Fun: Circus Smirkus in Plattsburgh

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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

Independence Day Fireworks in the Adirondacks

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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

Adirondack Events: Lake Placid Horse Show

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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

Family Fun: Be a Web Ranger

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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

Adirondack Family Fun: Free Fishing Days!

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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