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Adirondack Museum: Battle of Plattsburgh

So it's not a real museum in the sense that you go inside but rather a living experience with adventures at every corner type of museum. This is the closing weekend of two weeks worth of events. For the price of a $10 button the Battle of Plattsburgh Society will have a host of events continuing through Sunday. If that isn't the museum of your choice New York Heritage Weekend will get you free admission to the Adirondack History Center Museum in Elizabethtown and Fort Ticonderoga this weekend as well as other museums all around New York State. Other children events in the area include Wilmington's Festival of Colors. This event is free! The event will take place from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at the tee-ball field on Springfield Road. Thirty vendors will be on hand displaying everything from local produce to homemade toys. Performers from Santa's Workshop will kick off the show at 10:00 a.m., followed by local band "Organized Chaos", then at 1:00 p.m. "Pips

Adirondack Labor Day Celebrations

There are quite a few celebrations, festivals and events planned for this Labor Day Weekend. Port Henry will start the celebration this evening with music and fireworks on Champ Beach with a Labor Day Parade down Port Henry's Main Street @ 1 pm will have a Quadricentennial theme. Westport Marina celebrates its 43rd annual Lobsterfest Weekend with cardboard boat races, BBQ dinner and dacing. Sunday's Chix BBQ has been sold out but come for face painting, balloon art of the Kayak races. Long Lake's Mt. Sabattis Pavilion will host a BBQ, music from the Fulton Chain Gang and fireworks. For those interested in the Festivals, here are a few: The first annual Hobo Festival ( read more about the music scene in Adirondack Almanack ) which will take place on Depot Street in Saranac Lake not "the big rock candy mountain" and the Irish Festival which will include hay bale tossing and keg lifting. In my world that just spells "family reunion." To attend an Irish

Recipe: Five-minute Chocolate Cake

I first saw this recipe in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise section "Lake Clear News" and wish to give credit to Charlotte Hall. I am not sure if now having the ability to make chocolate cake in 5 minutes in my microwave is actually a good thing. Tasty, yes. This is instant gratification at its best. Tip: Have your children help mix their own dessert. 5-Minute Chocolate Cake (This recipe is all over in the internet and I couldn't find an original source.) 1 large microwave safe coffee mug 4 Tbsp. flour 4 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa 1 egg 3 Tbsp. milk 3 Tbsp. oil 3 Tbsp. chocolate chips (optional) a small splash of vanilla extract 1. Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. 2. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. 3. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. 4. Mix in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract. 5. Place mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on High. The cake will rise above the top of the cup. Remove from microwave . 6. Remove from microwave and let cool. 7. Enj

Color blind Test

Today is the first day of school for my now 1st and 4th graders. After doing a meet and greet with the 1st grade teacher, I moved along to my son's classroom. There is something disheartening to have to explain to a teacher that your child, who receives wonderful grades, thrives in school and enjoys learning is unable to distinguish between the red and green markers used on the Smart Board. Luckily, his teacher is amazing, thoughtful and willing to watch out for any issues. For most people being colorblind (a misnomer) is never an issue. If anything, it should be more accurately called color deficiency. It only effects 8% of males typically of European descent and 1% of females. The most common type is red/green from an inherited mutated X chromosome. Yes, he received that from me as well as his sparkling wit. My father carries the same trait and assures me that it never hindered him at all plus we were able to place blame on his fondness for mixing patterns and a flair for black

An Adirondack Almanack Contributor!

This is long overdue but I am honored to announce that I have been asked to contribute a weekly family activity to the Adirondack Almanack blog. I hope you enjoy! -Diane

Easy Short Lake Placid Hikes and Adirondack Museums: The ADK Loj's Heart Lake Nature Museum

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By Diane Chase Only in the Adirondacks can a person go for a walk and come across a museum. The Adirondack Mountain Club’s (ADK) Heart Lake Nature Museum seems more nature center than museum but what’s in a name. As in the Gershwin song, “You say either and I say eyether; you say neither and I say nyther.”* It’s not the name that matters but what is inside that counts. I double-check the meaning of museum and it is simply a building where objects of artistic, historical or scientific importance are kept and studied. My child’s collection of rocks, old bottles and action figures only partially meets the criteria. For all I know major scientific discoveries could be found in his room as well but would I want them on display? We are not ready to open up to the public and I’m not sure what the interest level would be anyway. On the other hand, the Heart Lake Nature Museum’s one room schoolhouse appeal gets children and adults alike to examine the natural world. The “Cranium Case” sho

Adirondack Theatre: Off to see the Wizard!

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Once again Pendragon Theatre has been able to breathe new magic in an old classic. For those expecting a theatrical version of the movie, this production of The Wizard of Oz is a wonderful surprise. The simple set is cloaked in darkness, allowing the vibrant costumes to pop out from the black walls. The focus is on the actors. There are still plenty of quests for a heart, a brain and some courage and least I forget, the best-loved message that there really is, “no place like home.” That still holds all the power with a simple click of Dorothy’s ruby slippers. I ask my children how they like the “black box” theme. My son has no idea what I’m talking about. I remind him that the theatre walls were painted black, the stage had a minimal of props and the cast used very simple techniques to get the action and story across. It is like I’m talking to a wall. Did we see the same production? He is not concerned about the black box. He is more curious about the switching of costumes, the lig