Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase Held at the Hollywood Theatre in AuSable Forks, six classic 80s films will be shown in succession with a special guest appearance with actor James Tolkan held at 8:00 p.m. at the Jay Community Center. Tolkan will conduct a “meet and greet” with audience members and share his experiences during the making of the films. He will also answer questions from the audience. Seating is limited but tickets can be reserved. One of the Hollywood Theatre’s two screens will be shows what Garrow terms “chick flicks” with Footloose , Dirty Dancing and Sixteen Candles while the second movie theatre screen will house the Back To The Future Trilogy .   The first show starts at noon. “The two events, the films and meeting James Tolkan are separate,” says Garrow. “ Tickets are sold individually. People can just attend the evening event if they just wish to meet James Tolken or come watch the films. I wanted to keep options available so people could attend one

By Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Activities™ Lowe's Building Supple has family fun for all ages on select Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. During their Build and Grow clinics each child is given a kit to make a wooden toy. Each child will also receive safety googles, work apron and a certificate of completion. This is a wonderful way to spend an hour together and build something that can last a lifetime. An older child can build to toy and gift it to a younger child! Enjoy

This second annual winter-sports film  competition for the   Adirondack region supports the freestyle and snowboard subculture while also acting as a fundraiser for athletes trying to make Nationals.   1) The film festival will take place at the   Hollywood Theatre   in AuSable Forks this Saturday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. 2)  All tickets are $5 3) This is an amateur film competition  4) Cash and prizes for top three finishers in 2 categories: under 5 minutes and under 20 minutes 5)  Other prizes will be awarded from   PlacidPlanet Bicycles   and   Hardway Apparel , GoPro,  6) A ll funds will be used to support the   United States of America Snowboard Associations Adirondack   (USASA ADK) athletes at Nationals at Copper Mountain, CO.

If you have been wishing that the Adirondack bluegrass favorites, The Gibson Brothers would be in the area to perform, your are in luck.  On March 23 , at the  E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall, the Gibson Brothers will perform a benefit concert for the next generation.  Tickets at the door or at the Angell College Center desk. Cost = $18 general admission. $6 SUNY Plattsburgh students with ID. "The Gibson Brothers recall a lot of the true, real feelings of country's roots. What truly stands out about their music is that, although they're solidly based in traditional styles, they're also songwriters working with a contemporary lexicon of language and issues. If you think country music is about rhinestones and wretched excess, these guys'll change your mind. This is good music: intense, soulful, technically exciting -- it's damn near perfect. Get out and see these guys." Chuck Thurman,  Coast Weekly The next time The Gibson Brothers will pe

By Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Activities Have fun this weekend with New York State's Maple Weekend. Producers across New York are hosting fun family events with wagon rides, tours, and sampling.  Below is a listing of Adirondack (and beyond) producers.  FRANKLIN COUNTY Friend's Maple Products,  402 Spencer Road,  Burke, NY,  (518) 483-5559 Activities:  Free horsedrawn wagon rides to the sugarbush to see the tapping. Syrup,maple lollipops, maple cotton, maple cream and homemade donuts for sale. Don't miss a taste of ice cream with fresh maple syrup! Enter our drawing for a free gift basket of maple products. Tour the entire production process from tapping, gathering, & evaporating the sap. Directions:  1 1/2 miles off State Route 11, Burke Open:  March 17, March 18, March 24, March 25 The Wild Center ,  Tupper Lake,  (518) 359-7800 (admission) Activities:  On March 17th it's All Maple Day sll day with maple stories, crafts, and tastings a

Don't miss the  2nd Annual Winter Raptor Fest  in Fort Edward March 10-11, 2012! It will be a  two-day celebration  of the birds of prey found throughout the Washington County Grasslands IBA! If you enjoy a rare glimpse of these creatures in their wild habitat, you will love this event! See these impressive creatures  swoop, soar, and show off their skills in live demonstrations  and learn more about how you can help protect the endangered and at risk birds in the area!  FEE: $5 – good for one Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) free-flight and one other Live Bird of Prey program (limited seating available); free sleigh ride included with purchase of 2 or more! FREE ADMISSION to EXHIBITOR BARN – meet the Live Birds of Prey and the educators/rehabilitators!  Dress warm – barn does not have heat. Program Tent will be heated.     Schedule of Events

SnoFest in Old Forge will take place this March 10-11, 2012 with demo rides, vendors and raffle prizes. Gates to the North Street Recreation Center will be open on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is free. There will be Freestyle Snocross Shows all three days, with a Back-Flip Fireworks Finale on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Special SNOFEST Trail Pass Purchase a Town of Webb & Inlet 2011-2012 snowmobile trail pass during SNOFEST weekend (March 10th-13th) for $65 per sled. Thats a $15 savings off the regular price trail pass plus ride the rest of 2011 for FREE! Only valid 3/10-3/13, must purchase in person at the Old Forge or Inlet Visitor Info Centers.

2nd Annual Footy Film Festival will take place at the Hollywood Theatre, Au Sable Forks March 24, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Here is a quick sample of what to expect! Come and check out the finalists in the  2nd annual wintersports film competition to benefit USASA Adirondack athletes headed to 2012 Nationals at Copper Mt, CO.

The 2012 Lake Placid Sunday Garden Series is FREE on Sundays from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Heaven Hill Farm, 302 Bear Cub Road, Lake Placid March 11 - KEEPING BEEZZZ Dick Crawford of the Champlain Valley Beekeepers  Association is a long-time beekeeper and honey producer who has mentored  countless novice North Country Beekeepers through the years. A general interest program for all kinds of bee aficionados.

Paul Smith's College students will be giving away CFL light bulbs on March 3rd 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. so go check out The Community Store and see what else is being offered.

By Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Activities™   For a family mountain, Old Forge’s McCauley Mountain can’t be beat.  With an elevation of 2,330’ McCauley has something to offer everyone in our family.  The terrain park is the first thing we see as we pull into the parking area but we quickly pass it to the lifts and make the most of the day.  There is one double chairlift and one T-Bar that access all 20 trails and a Rope Tow for the Mighty Mite. The second T-Bar is at the terrain park area. My kids are well past the Mighty Mite but it is still sweet to see that special place right in the middle of the mountain for those beginner skiers.

Would your 11 to 17-year old like to go to Environmental Conservation Camp? Here is a chance to win a full scholarship to a week at either Camp Colby in Saranac Lake or Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg. Deadline to enter is March 7. 

Don't forget to help stop hunger at the 2nd annual North Country Food Pantry Benefit. Eleven musicians are donating their amazing talents for a free concert. Your cost is to bring a nonperishable food item or donation to the food pantry. Come and go! The concert (February 25) starts at noon and continues to 8:00 p.m. at the Saranac Lake Harrietown Town Hall. Help fight hunger! This year’s line-up is impressive. Drop by the Harrietstown Town Hall to see Cameron Anderson, Shamrock House Band, Theresa Hartford, Rustic Riders, Celia Evans, Eric and the Dutchman, Jamie Savage, Roy Hurd, Blind Owl Band and the Ruff, Good Daques Band. There will be refreshments available for purchase through Paul Smith’s College and SODEXO with all proceeds benefiting local food pantries. There will be another musical benefit in the spring to benefit the Tupper Lake Food Pantry.