NNY Living Nov/Dec 2012

L I v I ng NN Y

NOV. / DEC. 2012

www.nnyliving.com

A handcrafted holiday Season on parade with artisanal gifts $2.95

/nnyliving @NNYLivingMag

HOMES

Sackets log home shines in details

FOOD

Tasty treats for New Year’s Eve

WINE

Perfect pairing for the holiday season

TRAVEL

Nothing like NYC at Christmas time

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>> Inside NOV /DEC ’12

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WELLNESS | 16 BEAT THE BLUES Michelle Graham offers tips for a fun-packed winter.

FEATURES | 34 SNOW BELT SURVIVAL Take a class, join a club, get out and enjoy the winter wonderland and stay sane.

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DESTINATION | 20 SPREADING THE NEWS Few places compare to New York City during the holidays. |

THIS IS NNY | 24 HIGHWAY LEGENDS These classic cruisers have had brighter days in the sun. |

THEATRE | 26 A 50-YEAR PRODUCTION At 50, Ogdensburg Command Performance has yet to call an intermission on local drama. |

FOOD 36 COUNTDOWN TO 2013 Gain favor with these simple New Year’s Eve party recipes. |

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38 NO ENCORE REQUIRED Rainbow Shores Chef Rebekah Alford shares her opera cake.

WINE | 39 HOLIDAY PARTY PAIRING Jenny Walker of the 1844 House uncorks a wine column. |

HISTORY | 40 SPELUNKING ANYONE? Watertown’s vast network of caverns has intrigued wouldbe explorers for decades. |

MY NNY | 44 A GREAT GESSOBOARD An artist’s view of Potsdam’s Ives Park during fall foliage. |

WOMEN’S WISE | 46 STRENGTH TO CARRY ON Take the right steps forward When illness beats you down. |

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COVER | 28 AN ARTISAN GIFT GUIDE In time for Christmas: A dozen great gifts crafted right here in Northern New York. |

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CONTRIBUTORS

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Kyle R. Hayes is associate magazine editor for NNY Living. In 36 Hours, he visits New York City. In our cover story, he shares a lineup of artisan wares that make excellent holiday gifts and in features, he offers a winter survival guide for the north country (p. 21, 28, 34)

Michelle Graham is the wellness director for the downtown YMCA. She lives in Watertown. She writes about positive ways to beat the winter blues this coming season as the days get shorter and the temperature falls. (p. 16)

Varick Chittenden is founding director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and a SUNY Canton professor emeritus.

In ‘Modern Folklore,’ he writes Thanksgiving traditions while offering advice on how to chronicle your own rituals. (p. 14)

Lenka P. Walldroff is a former museum specialist, conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Society.

She writes about the north country’s mysterious — and intriguing — history with the underground. (p. 40)

Katie Stokes is a freelance writer who lives in Hounsfield. In ‘The NNY Life,’ she writes about an age-old dilemma that every parent eventually faces: how to let go when your children outgrow old behaviors of their toddler years. (p. 18)

Peggy DeYoung is a nationally certified interior designer who owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. In ‘Homes,’ she writes about a modern log home in Sackets Harbor with colorful decor and a warm palatte. (p. 42)

Joleene DesRosiers is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski. In ‘Women’s Wise,’ she writes about how to cope with life’s unexpected struggles when disease strikes. (p. 46)

Boo Wells is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. She shares a some easy recipes to make any New Year’s Eve party rock before the ball drops on Times Square. (p. 38)

Justin Sorensen is an award-winning Johnson Newspapers staff photographer. For this issue’s photo feature, ‘This is NNY,’ Justin ventured into an old automobile boneyard in search of some vintage road relics. (p. 24)

Jenny Walker is a professionally trained chef who, along with her husband, Brian, owns the 1844 House in Potsdam. In our inaugural wine column, she recommends some wines that pair well with holiday dishes. (p. 39)

General Manager John B. Johnson

Executive Editor Bert Gault

Managing Editor Robert D. Gorman

Magazine Editor

Kenneth J. Eysaman

Associate Magazine Editor Kyle R. Hayes

Advertising Directors Karen Romeo Tammy Beaudin

Circulation Director

MARKETPLACE Agape Shoppe ...................................... 17 Ameriprise Financial …......................... 41 Center for Sight ….................................... 5 Chiappone Tire ..................................... 44 Clarence Henry Coach ….................... 11 Clayton Opera House …......................... 8 Community Bank …................................. 2 Community Performance Series …...... 23 DANC ….................................................. 37 Essenlohr Motors …................................ 17 Feed The Soul Nutrition ......................... 31 Fuccillo Automotive Group ….............. 22 Gerald A. Nortz ….................................. 12 Gold Cup Farms ……............................. 17 Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors ..….. 10 Karla’s Christmas ................................... 19 Kunoco-Kuno Oil .................................. 35

Publishers

John B. Johnson Jr. Harold B. Johnson II

Macars …................................................ 42 NNY Community Foundation …............ 15 NNY Business 20 Under 40 .................... 19 NNY Living ….......................................... 47 Orchestra of NNY .................................. 23 Ogdensburg Performance Series ..........17 Painfull Acres Amish Furniture ............. 17 Reinmans Department Store ................ 13 The Computer Guys .............................. 32 The Little Barn Bulk Foods ...................... 19 The Three C’s Limousine ....................… 48 Truesdell’s Furniture …............................. 7 Waterbury Fine Jewlers .......................... 6 Watertown International Airport .......... 41 Watertown Savings Bank ….................. 45 WWTI-ABC50 …...................................... 33 YesterYears Vintage Doors …............... 19

Mary Sawyer

Photography

Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Jason Hunter, Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Amanda Morrison

Ad Graphics, Design

Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules NNY Living (ISSN 2165-1159) is published six times a year by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2011-2012. All material submitted to NNY Living becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates Six issues are $10 a year and 12 issues are $15 for two years.

Call 315-782-1000 for delivery.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email kromeo@wdt.net, or call 661-2422 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail tbeaudin@ogd.com, or call 661-2512 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y. a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

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HOMES

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ABOUT THE COVER

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42 LOG CABIN LIVING Interior designer Peggy DeYoung shares the story of how a custom handwoven rug brought bright colors into a log home in Sackets Harbor that brilliantly shines. |

COLUMNS

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6 EDITOR’S NOTE 14 MODERN FOLKLORE |

DEPARTMENTS

7 8 9 10 11 16 24

18 THE NNY LIFE 46 WOMEN’S WISE

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UPFRONT BEST BETS CALENDAR BOOKS & AUTHORS SOCIAL SCENE WELLNESS THIS IS NNY

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36 HOURS IN ...

ARTS & CULTURE FOOD CHEF’S TABLE WINE HISTORY MY NNY

Photographer Amanda Morrison staged this month’s cover photo, styled by associate editor Kyle Hayes at his home in Adams. An array of handmade wares produced by north country artisans surround a Christmas tree. From wooden toy trucks to hand-braided rugs and textile baskets many of the items make perfect gifts.

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EDITOR’S NOTE WITH EACH ISSUE WE PRODUCE COME the casual, yet inevitable discoveries of people who make our region a place worthy to call home. Sure, I grew up here, so I am a little biased. But after nearly 15 years away, you tend to pay a closer attention to the things that cast an impression of your hometown.

Take, for example, this month’s cover story: “A handcrafted holiday.” We found a dozen skilled artisans who produce everything from hand-braided rugs to textile baskets and alpaca fiber products to iron sculptures made from old bolts, wires, wrenches and farm machinery. And it doesn’t stop there.

The finely tuned skill with which many north country artisans work arguably puts them in a class of their own.

Ken Eysaman Our cover story begins on page 28.

I hope you enjoy reading about some of the people who give the rest of us reasons to be proud to call the north country home. n

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SOCIAL SCENE — This issue’s Social Scene section, which begins on page 11, features 40 faces from roughly 32 organizations across the north country. On Oct. 21, we joined Traditional Arts in Upstate New York at SUNY Canton’s Kingston Theater as the St. Lawrence County-based organization held its 20th Annual Salute to North Country Legends. Two fine organizations and one very talented man received North Country Heritage Awards.

Frank J. White, a 94-year-old model wooden boat builder who lives in Canton was among the honorees. The other two award recipients were the Watertown Red & Black semi-pro football team, the oldest team of its kind in the country, and Schroon Lake Square Dances, Essex County. Congratulations to each organi-

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TOP OF THE SQUARE 105 COURT STREET, WATERTOWN, NY 788-5287

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zation and to Mr. White for some well-earned recognition.

On Nov.3, we joined Hospice of Jefferson County for its Third Annual “Give Thanks for Hospice” gala evening and benefit auction at Watertown’s Hilton Garden Inn. Nearly 200 people turned out to support Hospice, an organization who plays an important part in caring for north country residents in difficult times. n

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A YEAR IN THE MAKING — This issue of NNY Living magazine marks a special milestone for us as it was a year ago this month that we launched the magazine. As you sit down to this latest issue I must fill you in on a change to our publishing schedule. Beginning with our next issue, we will publish NNY Living in the months opposite those of our first year.

That means rather than a January/February issue coming up, your next issue will be dated February/March and hit the newsstands and homes on the first Saturday of each publishing month. You will still have six issues a year to look forward to, only they will hit the streets in February, April, June, August, October and December. The change will enable us to devote more time to planning and producing the magazine you’ve come to enjoy. The only time you’ll notice a difference is now, as this issue will remain in active circulation through Feb. 4. Once the February/March issue is out, you will see a new NNY Living every other month.

The change in publishing dates will not impact existing subscribers or advertisers, except for the longer exposure of this issue.

If you have any comments or questions about the magazine or our website, or to suggest a story, drop me a note at keysaman@wdt. net or call 661-2399.

Warm Regards,

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

n our February/March issue, we look at how an army of volunteers keeps the many important missions of nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and foundations running in the north country.

Also coming in February/March: n DROPPING A LINE: For many north country fathers and sons, ice fishing is beyond a little warmth and patience. n DESTINATION ADK: We travel to Saranac Lake and the Adirondacks for some winter fun with an altitude as we take a high road.

n ABOUT THOSE PEARLY WHITES: We ask Clayton Dental’s Dr. Scott LaClair to share his secrets to maintaining bright whites. n PLUS: Arts, Food, Wine, Social Scene, Modern Folklore, Wellness, Ask a Health Pro, The NNY Life, History, Homes, My NNY and Women’s Wise. n FOLLOW US ON Twitter for updates at @NNYLivingMag and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NNYLiving. Catch exclusive previews with our e-edition and unique content on our website at www.

NNYLiving.com.

[ NORTH COUNTRY NEWS & NOTES ] ‘One in a Thousand’ nets award

Thousand Islands photographer and author Ian Coristine’s interactive iPad eBook app “One in a Thousand” has won the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals Marcom Award. The Marcom awards are an international creative competition for marketing and communication professionals.

The award was given to McLellan Multimedia Group, the integrated communications firm that built the “One in a Thousand” app experience for Mr. Coristine’s memoir. The eBook was launched earlier this year and chronicles Mr. Coristine’s life, including the days when he first discovered the Thousand Islands by plane and his journey as a photographer in the region.

Mr. Coristine’s eBook is available in the iTunes App Store. Visit www.oneinathousand.ca/wdt to learn more.

NCAC fall art show winners announced

The North Country Arts Council hosted “Arts. Beats. Eats.” on Friday, Nov. 2, at the Dulles State Office Building to kick-off its 64th annual Fall Art Show. The council’s show featured 85 exhibiting artists with 269 works of art on view. Award winners from this year’s exhibit are: Catherine Common Johnson Best of Show Award: Tammie Miller, acrylic painting, “Birch Rainbow” Emerging Artist Award: Elizabeth Hayden Pizer, mixed media digital art/photography, “Note Spinner” PAINTING 1. Lynette Bucci, oil, “Woman Swimming, No. 9 in Women in Water series” 2. Jake Rutigliano, oil, “Iridescent Vanity” 3. Brian Lister, oil, “Still Water” PHOTOGRAPHY 1. Judy Toporcer, “Cross-walking” 2. Glenn Erick Miller, “Spiral” 3. Glenn Erick Miller, “Cubed” SCULPTURE 1. Ron McGregor, ceramics, “Red Tall Bowl” 2. Cadi Martinez, fused glass, “Wolves on Full Moon” 3. Raymond Puffer, wood turning, “Manzanita Burl Bowl”

JEWELRY 1. Lisa Nortz, zig zag silver woven cuff 2. Sarah Ellen Smith, poly metal clay silver and lamp work glass, “Ginny’s Dress” 2. Sarah Ellen Smith, silver and lamp work glass bracelet, “Sans Ennui” MIXED MEDIA 1. Marion Bradish, acrylic painting and mixed media, “Ripple & Reflections of Fall” 2. Suzan McDermott, digital art/photography, “Fractured: Reinventing Her Life — A Self-Portrait” 3. Hope Marshall, digital art/photography, “Candle Light”

Little Theatre performs at state festival The Little Theatre of Watertown’s production of “Love, Loss and What I Wore” by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron was chosen by the Theater Association of New York State to participate in its annual competition.

In August, the Little Theatre staged the comedy based on the 1995 memoir/book by Ilene Beckerman, which was directed by Daniel J. Allington. Little Theatre was selected to perform on Friday, Nov. 16, as part of the opening ceremony for the TANYS festival, which was held at the Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Community College in Batavia.

Call for teachers at TAUNY

Traditional Arts in Upstate New York is on the lookout for teachers who have an interest in traditional skills such as spinning wool, making candles, cooking, basket-making or playing an instrument.

TAUNY sponsors an annual series of classes available to the public that teach skills traditional to Northern New York and activities that enhance a connection to the north country. From rug braiding to wood carving, TAUNY brings traditional arts into the hands of the public at their Canton location and offer compensation to teachers for their time.

Teachers interested in hosting a class or workshop in conjunction with TAUNY are asked to call 386-4289 and speak with Hannah or email programs@tauny.org. In an email, include skills you are interested in teaching, how you learned that skill, dates and times of availability and what, if any, teaching experience you have.

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DRAWING 1. Claire Ellsworth Ames, charcoal, “Carrion Watcher” 2. Robert Paul Sapier, pen and ink, “Consumed Apples” 3. Loretta Lepkowski, pastel, “Young Baltimore Oriole”

UPFRONT

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BEST BETS CLAYTON FRIDAY, DEC. 7 n Clayton Opera House Christmas Masquerade Ball, 8 p.m. to midnight, Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. Benefits Clayton Christmas Fund and local food pantries. Black tie formal social event with music by Fred and the Eds, cash bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction.

Cost: $25 presale. Cost: $25. Tickets: www. claytonoperahouse.org.

[ EDITOR’S PICKS ] Museum, 303 Washington St. This year’s theme: “Winter Wonderland.” Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, live music and silent auction. Information as it becomes available, contact the museum at 3932425 or info@fredericremington.org.

KINGSTON THURSDAY, DEC. 6

THURSDAY, JAN. 10 n “A Chorus Line,” 7:45 p.m., Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1100 State St. Sponsored by Ogdensburg Command Performance Series. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Cost: $15-$37; student discounts available. Tickets: www.ilovetheatre.org.

WATERTOWN

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FRIDAY, DEC. 14

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n Martina McBride’s “Joy of Christmas,” doors open, 6:30 p.m., show begins, 7:30 p.m., KRock Centre, 1 Barrack St. Part of Martina McBride’s 16-stop “Joy of Christmas” tour, which is likely to include material from her platinum-selling “White Christmas” holiday album, originally released in 1998. Tickets: $82.50, $67, $42.50.

Tickets: www.k-rockcentre.com.

LISBON SATURDAY, DEC. 15 — SUNDAY, DEC. 23 n Lights on the River, 5 to 9 p.m. daily, Lisbon beach, 9975 Route 37. Family event with holiday themed light displays designed by the community with free admission, though donations are accepted for north country food pantries.

For more information, contact Scott Wilhelm at scott@lightsontheriver.org.

OGDENSBURG SATURDAY, DEC. 8 n Holiday Gala, 7 p.m., Frederic Remington Art

n “A Holiday Celebration,” 7:30 p.m., Dulles State Office Building, Washington Street. A presentation of classics such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, Victor Herbert’s Babes in Toyland, Berlin’s White Christmas and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Orchestra of Northern New York. Featuring a local high school chorus. Tickets: $22; senior citizens, $20; students, $10; children ages 12 and younger, free. Order tickets at www.onny.org.

[ ARTS, MUSIC, THEATER, CULTURE ] ADAMS

KINGSTON

SUNDAY, DEC. 2

SATURDAY, JAN. 5

n Christmas Parade, 4 p.m., route extends from Roberts Street to village green. Sponsored by the South Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and Adams Revitalization Committee. Christmas singing and tree lighting following the parade and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food for sale to benefit the “Re-Light Adams” campaign.

n Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb: The Best Live Tour Ever!” 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, K-Rock Centre, 1 Barrack St. Tickets: $35, $28 or $20. Box office: 1 (877) 554-8399 or www.k-rockcentre.com.

ALEXANDRIA BAY

n Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll, annual village celebration. Holiday shopping, live music, arts and crafts, tree lighting with Santa and other family-friendly activities. Full weekend schedule with times and locations available at www.lakeplacid.com. Information: Lake Placid Visitor’s Bureau, 1 (518) 523-2445.

SATURDAY, DEC. 1 & SUNDAY, DEC. 2 n Kris Kringle Market, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Thousand Islands Winery, 43298 Seaway Ave. Traditional holiday market with dozens of artisans and vendors, food, spiced holiday wine and a visit from Santa for the children. Information: 482-9306. Free admission.

CANTON SATURDAY, DEC. 1 n 2012 Sugar & Spice Exhibit Opening, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, Main Street. Celebrating 10 years of TAUNY’s annual gingerbread contest and exhibit. Award winning entries will be announced during the holiday open house.

CLAYTON SATURDAY, DEC. 1 n 50th Annual Clayton Christmas Parade, 6 p.m., downtown Clayton. Sponsored by Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Karla’s Christmas Shoppe, Peterson Painting and St. Lawrence Riverdogs. Fireworks display and bonfire follow the parade downtown near the Frink property. Contact: Karla Peterson, 6861906, or Lance Peterson, 783-3569.

LAKE PLACID FRIDAY, DEC. 7 — SUNDAY, DEC. 9

MASSENA

CALENDAR ington St. Sponsored by Bernier, Carr & Associates and the Paul G. and Kathleen E. Carr Foundation.

Toy and cash donations accepted. Suggested donations of two gifts, one for a boy and one for a girl, and preferably no stuffed animals. All gifts should be unwrapped. Information: 782-8130.

SATURDAY, DEC. 8 n Holiday HullabaZoo, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., New York State Park Zoo at Thompson Park. Featuring cookie decorating, holiday stories by the fireplace, ornament making, picture with Santa Claus and caroling around the zoo. Admission is free with a per person donation of a non-perishable food item, unwrapped toy or personal care item. Benefit for the zoo, Marine Toys for Tots and the food pantry at the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County. Information: 782-6180, www.facebook. com/NYSZoo or www.nyszoo.org.

SATURDAY, DEC. 15

SATURDAY, DEC. 8

n “A Holiday Celebration,” 7:30 p.m., Massena High School. A presentation of classics such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, Victor Herbert’s Babes in Toyland, Berlin’s White Christmas and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Orchestra of Northern New York. Sponsored

by Massena Music Friends. Featuring a local high school chorus. Tickets: $18; senior citizens, $15; students, $15; children ages 12 and younger, free.

Order tickets at www.cpspotsdam.org.

n Elf Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, Flower Memorial Library, 229 Washington St. Sponsored by the library.

Children’s activity that allows kids to make presents for the upcoming holidays. Library staff and volunteers will be helping the children, but ask that parents remain in the building without peeking. No registration required.

Free. Information: www.flowermemoriallibrary.org.

OGDENSBURG MONDAY, NOV. 26 n Steve Lippia’s “Simply Sinatra Christmas,” 7:45 p.m., Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1100 State St. Sponsored

by Ogdensburg Command Performance Series.

Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Cost: $14 to $34; student discounts available. Tickets: www.ilovetheatre.org.

POTSDAM

THURSDAY, DEC. 13 n “20 Under 40” luncheon, noon, Hilton Garden Inn, Arsenal Street. Sponsored by NNY Business magazine, the Watertown Daily Times, Northern New York Community Foundation, Watertown Savings Bank and the Greater Watertown Jaycees. Honoring 20 emerging young professionals under the age of 40 who will be featured in the December issue of NNY Business.

Cost includes lunch of apple orchard chicken salad and beverages. Vegetarian option upon request. Cost: $15. Reservations with number of attendees: Ken Eysaman, keysaman@wdt.net or 661-2399.

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

n Froggy 97 “Jingle Hop” with Pam Tillis, 6 and 9 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive.

Cost: VIP, $35; reserved, $25; general admission, $20. Tickets: www.claytonoperahouse.com or www.froggy97.com.

n “A Holiday Celebration,” 3 p.m., Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, SUNY Potsdam. A presentation of classics such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, Victor Herbert’s Babes in Toyland, Berlin’s White Christmas and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Orchestra of Northern New York. Featuring a local high school chorus. Tickets: $22; senior citizens, $20; students, $10; children ages 12 and younger, free. Order tickets at www.onny.org.

n “‘Tis the Season: Messiah and Carol Sing-Along,” 3 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Part of the Trinity Concert Series. Join the Sackets Harbor Vocal Arts Ensemble, conductor Richard Probert and organist Kyle P. Ramey for this Christmas favorite. Cost: Preferred seating, $14; preferred seating for senior citizens and military, $12; general admission, $12; general admission for senior citizens and military, $10; students, free. Tickets: www.trinityconcerts.org.

SATURDAY, DEC. 15 n Warren Miller’s “Flow State,” 7:30 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive. A film in which Warren Miller explores “the flow state,” a place where skiers and snowboarders achieve where the faster they go physically, the slower things appear to them mentally. Cost: $12. Tickets: www.claytonoperahouse.com or 686-2200.

CROGHAN FRIDAY, DEC. 7 n 15th Annual “Christmas in Croghan,” sponsored by the Croghan Improvement Association. Businesses stay open late with refreshments and specials, Christmas music playing along Main Street with a petting zoo, horse and wagon rides and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus at the fire department from 6 to 8 p.m. with free popcorn.

WATERTOWN

SATURDAY, JAN. 19

FRIDAY, NOV. 30

n “French Organ Symphonies, Volume 2,” 7 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St. Part of the Trinity Concert Series. Second installment of French Organ Symphonies with Trinity’s organist and choirmaster, Kyle Ramey, presenting symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor and his pupil Louis Vierne. Cost: Preferred seating, $14; preferred seating for senior citizens and military, $12; general admission, $12; general admission for senior citizens and military, $10; students, free. Tickets: www.trinityconcerts.org.

n Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:15 p.m., Public Square. Sponsored by the City of Watertown and the Downtown Business Association. Performances by local choral groups begins at 5:15 p.m. with tree lighting and music display at 6 p.m., led by Mayor Jeffrey Graham. Music and lights run every 30 minutes each night from 4:30 to 10 p.m. from Nov. 30 to Jan. 2. Free hot cocoa and coffee from the D.B.A. Information: www.watertown-ny.gov.

THURSDAY, DEC. 6 n Annual Children’s Gift and Fund Drive Reception, 4 to 8 p.m., Black River Valley Club, 131 Wash-

TELL US ABOUT IT — Have an event you’d like to include in NNY Living? Email us at NNYLiving@ WDT.net with the details or visit www.NNYLiving. com and click Events.

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BOOKS

[ MOST READ, LOCAL AUTHORS ]

Top titles by checkout at Flower Memorial Library

The current top five book titles by checkout at Watertown’s Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library are: 1) Woman’s Day “Best Ideas For Christmas” 2) “Fifty Shades Darker” by E.L. James 3) “Beyond Tomorrow” by Fern Michaels 4) “The Tombs” by Clive Cussler and Thomas Perry 5) “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich

Top 5 eBooks at Flower

1) “Smokin’ Seventeen” by Janet Evanovich 2) “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett 3) “In Too Deep” by Jayne Ann Krentz 4) “Fifty Shades Freed” by E. L. James 5) “The Litigators” by John Grisham

Books of local interest

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Raymond E. Petersen, Redwood, a political science professor at Jefferson Community College, has written his second book, titled “The Middle of Everywhere.”

Published by the State University of New York press, “The Middle of Everywhere” is the story of a young man’s quest to keep his hometown’s papermill from closing, which turns into an odyssey across a rural upstate New York county. The book is available for $24.95 at www.sunypress.

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edu or at the JCC campus bookstore.

Mr. Petersen’s first book, “Cowkind,” was published in 1996. Mr. Petersen has taught at JCC since 1985. n

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Mark Monmonier, a distinguished professor of geography at Syracuse University has written a book that takes a comprehensive look at lake-effect snow.

“Lake Effect: Tales of Large Lakes, Arctic Winds and Recurrent Snows” has been published by Syracuse University Press. Mr. Monmonier blends meteorological history with the history of scientific cartography for the book. He also explores the social effects of extreme weather such as lake-effect snow.

The book costs $24.95 and is available through the publisher’s website at www. syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu. n

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Glover Publishing, Canton, has released the book of poetry “Eating the Bread of this World” by West Potsdam resident Becky Harblin.

“The poet expresses with clarity the importance of the simple things in her environment and pinpoints the outdoors that we all absorb but may file away too quickly,” the publisher notes. Ms. Harblin is a wellness practitioner, artist, herbalist and outdoorswoman. She has spent a winter alone in the woods with only the barest necessities, has rescued animals

and is “a keen observer of life.”

The book costs $19.95 and is available at amazon.com. n

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Frederick Rycroft, Canton, has self-published, through Xlibris, the novel “Young World — Book One — The Beginning.”

The novel begins in 1957 in Canton when three teenaged boys develop a friendship that will last a lifetime.

“The book recalls many of the nowdefunct or gone landmarks of the village, its diversified citizens, the uniqueness of a small Northern New York town and the many adventures that young teenage boys can get into,” Mr. Rycroft notes.

Mr. Rycroft worked for SUNY Canton for 35 years, where he last held the position of director of facilities.

His book is available at the SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence University bookstores. It’s also available at online bookstores and at xlbris.com, where it sells for $23.99 and for $3.99 as an eBook. n

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Adams Center resident Klaus Ebeling has written a memoir about his 56-year marriage to Barbara E. (Eldridge) Ebeling with glances back at their ancestors in Germany and New England.

“Tree and Pyramid: The Memoir of a Friendship, Its Endless Roots and Sprouts” costs $4 as an eBook at amazon.com.

Mr. Ebeling said the first 10 percent of the book is free for sample reading.

“This memoir is an optimistic and healing documentary,” Mr. Ebeling writes in the book.

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[ Traditional Arts in Upstate New York 20th Heritage Awards ] Kingston Theater, SUNY Canton

From left, Kathy Morgane, Ilion, Frank J. White, model wooden boat builder, Canton, and Jim Morgane, Ilion. Mr. White was a 2012 North Country Heritage Award recipient.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Ed Lowman, Schroon Lake Square Dancers, and Hannah Harvester, TAUNY folklorist. Schroon Lake Square Dancers were a 2012 North Country Heritage Award recipient.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Joe McWilliams and wife, Ruth, TAUNY Board of Directors. The McWilliams own and operate Catamount Lodge, South Colton. Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, Canton, held its 20th Annual Salute to North Country Legends on Oct. 21 in SUNY Canton’s Kingston Theater.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

The Watertown Red & Black Football Team was a 2012 North Country Heritage Award recipient. Back row, from left, former Watertown Mayor T. Urling Walker, former player John Rankin, former player, coach and team president Tom LaDuke, former players Peter Pike and Bobby Pound. Front row, from left, former player and coach Mike Britton, Coach George Ashcraft, John Morgia and Carl Pike.

SOCIAL SCENE

11

SOCIAL SCENE

[ Third annual ‘Give Thanks for Hospice’ ] Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown

From left, Hospice of Jefferson County Auction Committee members Kelly E. Reinhardt, Sackets Harbor, Cathy Garlock, Alexandria Bay, Marsha Glass, Clayton, and Beth Reddick, Alexandria Bay.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

From left, Tracy Valentine and husband, Ed, Watertown. Hospice of Jefferson County held its third annual “Give Thanks for Hospice” gala evening and benefit auction on Nov. 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown.

12

From left, Hospice of Jefferson County CEO Diana Woodhouse and husband, Don.

KEN EYSAMAN PHOTOS | NNY LIVING

From left, Deanna Nelson, Rodman, John Dames, Dr. Jeffrey Way, wife, Maureen Lundy-Way, Hospice of Jefferson County Foundation board of directors.

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[ Third annual ‘Give Thanks for Hospice’ ] Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown

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SOCIAL SCENE

From left, Dennis G. Quinn, wife, Claudia, Champion, and Rita Walldroff and husband, Marcus, LaFargeville.

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From left, Bryon Perry and wife, Jayne, Watertown.

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MODERN FOLKLORE

Over the river and through the woods ...

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

BY VARICK CHITTENDEN

14

AS STEPHEN COLBERT SAYS, “Thanksgiving is a magical time of year when families across the country join together to raise America’s obesity statistics.

Personally, I love Thanksgiving traditions: watching football, making pumpkin pie, and saying the magic phrase that sends your aunt storming out of the dining room to sit in her car.”

According to Wikipedia — that allknowing source of knowledge these days — modern Thanksgiving, which may be the most tradition-filled of any American holiday, began this way: “The event that some Americans commonly call the ‘First Thanksgiving’ was celebrated by the Pilgrims [in the fall of 1621] to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 53 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. The feast consisted of fish (cod, eel and bass) and shellfish (clams, lobster and mussels), wild fowl (ducks, geese, swans, and turkey), venison, berries and fruit, vegetables (peas, pumpkin, beetroot and possibly wild or cultivated onion), harvest grains (barley and wheat), and the Three Sisters: beans, dried Indian maize or corn, and squash.

The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “thanksgivings” — days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.”

Actually, historians tell us that the first Thanksgiving was not in Plymouth after all. It was at Berkeley Plantation near Jamestown, Va., in 1519, when colonists also were grateful for a great harvest.

But, not so fast. Others insist it was 50 years before either of those, when Pedro Menendez de Aviles came ashore with nearly a thousand sailors and civilians to a grassy spot on the Matanzas River in north Florida near the future St. Augustine, to celebrate the first Christian Mass in America. A great meal followed and thanks were offered to their God. As a folklorist, I’m often interested in the context of human events, the big picture. Besides the what that happened, I want to know about the who, where,

when, why and how. Large celebrations — festivals — almost always include food and meals. Think of Christmas, Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day and the Fourth of July, for instance. But Thanksgiving is the one that’s about food and lots of it.

For many families, the traditions are very predictable, almost set in stone. All of the family gathers at least once in the day or weekend. You go to Grandma’s house as long as you can because that is home. Everybody brings food and family members have their specialties. The menu is fixed: turkey and all the trimmings, mashed and sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, other vegetables — if you’re lucky, from someone’s own garden — cranberry sauce (a discussion inevitably occurs over homemade versus canned) and desserts, pies, especially pumpkin, pecan, apple or sweet potato. There can be variations, too. Vegetarians and vegans may have a say in a modern menu; some families will add familiar ethnic choices from their own childhoods: lasagna or manicotti, kielbasa, collard greens, noodle pudding, falafel or egg rolls, for instance. Dare I say it, eating to excess is a long-standing tradition for celebrations. It’s a time of license, ignoring the rules, so a second serving of turkey or pie is surely allowed. You wouldn’t want to offend the cooks.

Some go all out — special linens on the table, china and crystal (often it’s family heirlooms), table decorations and flowers, a seating plan, and more. In large families, there’s inevitably the children’s table (who sits there and for how long?). Someone may say grace and some hold hands; some offer a toast to a good year, to the family, to the host and hostess.

Besides food and drink, festivals include a variety of customs and rituals.

Thanksgiving has plenty. There may be parades. Since 1924, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been held annually — except during World War II — and, since the days of television, broadcast by NBC each year. The first parade included animals from the Central Park Zoo; the first large

House decorations? Exterior house decorations? n Is there a special prayer offered and by whom? How does everyone participate? Is a toast offered? What is served?

Who makes the toast? n Who cuts the meat? Where? n Are there rules for when hosts and guests start to eat? Are there rules for leaving the table when meal is finished? n Who cleans up? Who washes dishes? n What are men’s roles in preparation and cleanup? What do women do after the meal and cleanup? Where? What do men do? Where? Children? Where? n What do you do with leftovers? What

do you do with the wishbone of the turkey? n What do you eat later in the day? n Are there other traditions observed by the family or its members on Thanksgiving Day? On the rest of Thanksgiving weekend? Church? Traveling? Shopping? n What have I left out? Give brief explanations of unusual answers.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

VARICK CHITTENDEN is senior folklorist and director of special projects for Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and Professor Emeritus of Humanities at SUNY Canton. A version of this column previously appeared in Voices: A Journal of New York Folklore. Reprinted with permission of the New York Folklore Society.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

balloon of many to follow was of Felix the Cat in 1927; and Santa Claus has always been on the final float, symbolizing the beginning of the Christmas season. After all, it’s organized by a major retailer. At least a dozen other American cities have big parades now as well.

There are games. The National Football League has played the Thanksgiving Day Classic since the league’s beginning and the Detroit Lions have hosted a game every Thanksgiving Day since 1934; it’s also a good time for high school games. There are decorations. From the earliest days of pumpkins and corn stalks to humongous inflatable turkeys or pilgrims today, greetings to distant family and friends — cards and phone calls for a long time, emails and Facebook messages today. Music from hymns like “We Gather Together” to songs by Alvin and the Chipmunks and entertainment that might include Charlie Brown and “Miracle on 34th Street” on television. Families have created their own customs, too, like going to church, playing touch football, running races, serving food together in soup kitchens and inviting strangers without families nearby to join them for dinner.

For fun, you might try to do a little folklore research about your own traditions, either today or as you remember them from an earlier time in your life.

Take some time, especially when you’re together, to answer as many of these questions as you can. It will be fun.

Identify specific family names, locations and other pertinent information for the family[ies] involved in your study. n Where do you go to celebrate on Thanksgiving day? n Who gathers for the occasion? Anybody other than family? n Who is the host or hostess? Who is the host family? n When do preparations begin for the dinner? n What kinds of meats are served? n Where do they get the meat? Is it fresh or frozen? How much does it weigh?

Who selects and buys it? n What is the complete menu for the meal? What are the traditional desserts? n Who prepares which dishes? n Who helps in the host’s kitchen? n What time of day is the meal served? n What is the table arrangement for the meal? Are there “assigned” seats? Where do children sit? When is a child eligible to sit with the adults? n Are there special dishes used for the occasion? Glassware? Silverware? Are there specific serving dishes traditionally used for some food items? n Are there special table decorations?

15

WELLNESS

No excuse for the blues this winter

With so much to do, staying active during cold season isn’t hard

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

BY MICHELLE L. GRAHAM

16

THE NORTH COUNTRY DAYS GET shorter and colder this time of year. I’m sure there’s little doubt that many people must mentally prepare for the long slog of winter as our daylight hours fade.

Some of us choose to live here and battle the cold season, while others arrive here by circumstance. Although winter’s days can seem dark and dreary, there is much to take advantage of in this place we call home. Finding ways to embrace the area is not always easy, so I have compiled a “Top 25” list of healthy ways to incorporate things that enhance the mind, body and spirit this winter season.

THE LIST 25. Learn about hunting, go into the woods and explore with an avid hunter let them teach you about wildlife in the north country. You might find that you want to become a hunter yourself.

24. Enjoy the beauty of the Thompson Park Zoo. Walk around the zoo when snow is on the ground, it has a different landscape this time of year.

23. Go sledding. It’s a blast and can make you feel like a child again. Make it into a mini competition to see how many

runs you can get in during an hour.

22. Make a snowman. Challenge one another to make the biggest and best snowman. Find unique ways to decorate your snowman this winter season.

21. Join an indoor sports league for adults or youths. Play soccer, basketball, lacrosse or volleyball. Be active, have fun and get some friends together for some healthy competition.

20. Go to a hockey game. The Thousand Island Privateers have recently moved to the Watertown Municipal Arena at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds. Get out and support our local semi-pro hockey team.

It’s social and it’s fun. Besides, you will get to enjoy some excellent hockey right in our own town.

19. Take a yoga class. Yes, I said yoga.

This really incorporates the mind, body and spirit. Relax and enjoy some quiet time to refuel and refocus.

18. Dust off your old library card or get a new one. Visit our beautiful and historic library. Check out a book and sit down by the fire and chill out.

17. Move your body train for a 5K. Find a friend and train together. Winter terrain can be excellent for conditioning purposes. Challenge yourself with the elements.

16. Get your old ice skates out and lace them up. How many laps can you get in during an hour of skating? Ice skating can be a great workout and fun as long as you can stay on your feet.

15. The Adirondacks are truly in our own backyard. Get to the mountains and enjoy a winter hike. Not only will your hike be beautiful, but you also will get an incredible workout.

14. Try a group exercise class that you have never done before. Diversifying your

workout is an important key to reach your fitness goals.

13. Gather your friends and put together a scavenger hunt. Make it physical, challenging and fun.

12. Get in the pool and do some lap swimming. Watertown and the surrounding areas have many indoor pools that offer open swim times for the community at large to enjoy.

11. Take a drive. Get out of the north country for a bit. Just across the border is Kingston. Walk the city and get to know a new community.

10. If you are into snowmobiling, go to Barnes Corners and take advantage of the many miles of wonderful trails.

9. Participate in a polar bear swim.

Many lake communities host their own version. Only one criteria: you cannot be afraid of ice-cold water.

8. Try crosscountry skiing. Tug Hill has many trails for our winter pleasure. You can rent or buy skis. This also is an incredible workout for your mind, body and spirit.

7. Visit a local treasure to discover tips about healthier eating. The Mustard Seed is an excellent resource to learn about healthier living and eating. Take full advantage of all that they have to offer.

6. Visit the historic Olympic Village of Lake Placid. Check out the bobsled run and, if you are daring enough, you can take the plunge to the bottom.

5. Lake Ontario is a site of beauty in the winter. Grab some friends and try ice fishing. You will be amazed at what you can catch.

4. When all else fails put on your sneakers and walk the mall. You can shop and exercise at the same time — BONUS.

Winter can be a wonderful time to get out and have fun.

Tap into all that is around you. Get out, get physical and have a blast this season.

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Tip No. 19 to beat the winter blues: Take a yoga class. It incorporates the mind, body and spirit and offers time to relax, refuel and refocus.

3. Make the annual YMCA Turkey Day Run part of your family tradition. Set up a challenge and compete against other families for fun and fitness. This is a wonderful way to begin your Thanksgiving Day. 2. Check out downhill skiing at Dry Hill. Watertown and its neighbors are so lucky to have such a wonderful place for all of us to enjoy. This is truly a blessing that’s right in town.

1. Turn off the television. Play a game and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. Eat dinner together and practice gratitude during these long cold winter months.

Winter can be a wonderful time to get out and have fun. Find your inner child and take advantage of all that the north country has to offer. Inside or outside there is something for everyone. Tap into all that is around you. Get out, get physical and have a blast this winter season.

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THE NNY LIFE

While bittersweet, moms grow up with kids, too

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

BY KATIE STOKES

18

IT’S SUCH A CLICHÉ, BUT WHERE HAS the time gone? My babies are no longer really babies and, because we’re planning on sticking with the “two-kid plan,” I find that we are aging out of things that were once daily, integral parts of our lives.

I’m not a big one for change. Personally, if I could relive the same relatively normal day over and over, I’d probably be content. But that’s not really how life works, and because children often feel the same way about change, it’s up to me as their parent to teach by example. It’s time to bid these little life passages a fond farewell and move on. It’s time to say goodbye to babyhood.

KIDS’ SHOWS When my daughter was younger, “Sesame Street” was the only television I’d let her watch and she became so obsessed with Elmo that, for a short time, she only ever referred to herself in the third person: not I, but rather, Diva. As in, “Diva loves Witz cwackers!”

I also developed a very convincing voice for reading the dozens of Elmo books I read to tatters with her soft head tucked under my chin. Regrettably, I doubt I should include my Elmo-mimicking on my LinkedIn resume.

“Yo Gabba Gabba” was another favorite of hers, but probably this was because I forced her to watch it. I used to drop everything during dinner prep when it was time for the special musical guests, like The Flaming Lips and Weezer, and the “Dancey Dances,” led by guest stars like Elijah Wood and Layla Ali. Brobee will always be one of my all-time favorite children’s characters. Who couldn’t love a furry green-striped, red-horned creature whose catch phrases include “Hugs ARE fun!” and “There’s a party in my tum-may!” But when the kids started becoming increasingly exasperated by my spastic Dancey

Dances, I took the hint and switched the channel to “Word Girl” on PBS. MOMS CLUB This year I decided it was time to give up my MOMS Club membership. This organization is where I met some of my greatest friends. Over the past five years, when I needed support the most, the moms I met through MOMS Club were there. The kids were almost daily fixtures in my children’s lives, and the weekly play groups and outings were fantastic for beating the extreme winter loneliness one gets when inside with small children for extended periods of time. But now that Hunk is in pre-school three days a week and I work the other two, we just don’t have time anymore. Deciding not to renew was like leaving a sorority after graduating college. But we all know how much more sad it is when someone doesn’t know it’s time to move on.

BABY-WEARING With two little ones, a big concern of mine was basic locomotion –– how to get from point A to point B without someone falling, wandering into a line of traffic or flat-out making a run for it. My favorite mode of baby transport before Hunk could toddle was a baby carrier. I wore him front-ways, sideways, slung down my front and strapped to my back. My skills reached acrobatic proportions. I could have gone to the baby-wearing Olympics.

It was also like free cuddle time. I could snuggle and do dishes. What could be better? Chores plus snuggle time equals awesome. My peanut, however, began to get heavier, longer-limbed and impatient with the view of the back of my head.

These were the little details that made up enormous chunks of our daily lives during those baby and toddler years.

We’ve moved to new phases, which is

always challenging at first. It takes a little while to settle into a new routine.

Still, I wouldn’t go back for even one extra baby-wearing cuddle. It’s difficult to put things away for a final time, but it’s important to be ready and willing to move on so that all of us can keep growing together.

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KATIE STOKES is an Oklahoma native who has called Northern New York home for more than a decade. She is a freelance writer and blogger and the mother of two children, Diva and Hunk.

She and her husband are raising their children in Hounsfield. Visit her blog at www.NNYLife.com.

Her column appears in every issue of NNY Living.

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

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Clockwise from top left: the New York City Skyline as seen from the top of Rockefeller Center. The Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. Radio City Music Hall — home of the legendary Rockettes — decorated for Christmas. The tree at Rockefeller Center stands tall above the rink as skaters enjoy some ice time. Giant Christmas decorations on 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. A crowd of skaters take to the ice at Central Park’s Wolman Rink. Times Square’s West 47th Street at night.

36 HOURS

{ }

Take a bite out of the Big Apple

Holiday magic, cheer awaits in city that never sleeps

D

TEXT BY KYLE R. HAYES | PHOTOS COURTESY I LOVE NY

DESPITE THE WRECKAGE THAT Superstorm Sandy left in its wake, a trip to New York City in the late fall and early winter is an experience the whole family will not soon forget. Unlike a summer trip, temperatures are cooler for walking tours of the city, sidewalks are not so packed with tourists and shops everywhere are bedecked for the holidays, complete with inventory-clearing sales to take advantage of. In fact, late in the year may just be the perfect time to visit the unofficial cultural capital of the East Coast.

FRIDAY, 3 P.M., FAMISHED Right around the corner from the Hotel Edison is the 49th Street subway station.

Getting around the city by subway is easily the quickest and most convenient way to go from place-to-place. There’s a reason why millions of New Yorkers hop “the train” each day for their commute.

Grab yourself a Metropolitan Transit Authority official subway map on your first day and hold onto it for your entire trip. That map will become invaluable throughout your stay, and will allow you to get wherever you want to go, just like a native Manhattanite.

From the 49th Street station, take the yellow line, the NQR train, downtown to Prince Street. Get off at Prince Street and emerge into the streets of SoHo, a world-class dining and shopping destination. Head east from the subway station toward Lafayette Street. On the corner of Prince and Lafayette is a glistening white restaurant with large glass doors. This is Delicatessen.

Delicatessen is a restaurant with bigcity feel but without the $30-per-plate prices, especially if you’re snagging lunch before an afternoon of shopping. Recommendations for lunch eats include the cheeseburger spring rolls with the ketchup-mustard dipping sauce, the Delicatessen Reuben, and do not leave without trying the truffle-parmesan French fries.

Delicatessen, 54 Prince St., New York City, 1 (212) 226-0211, www.delicatessennyc.com.

FRIDAY, 5 P.M., BEST OF THE BEST After a leisurely lunch on a SoHo street corner, grab a little taste of dessert. Frozen yogurt chains have become the “it” business in New York City, but few compare to the international sensation that has become of Pinkberry. From Delicatessen, walk one block south on Lafayette Street

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

FRIDAY, 2 P.M., DROP OFF AND GO The downside to traveling during the holiday season, no matter where your destination, is inflated pricing on hotel stays.

A favorite place to stay when visiting “the city” is the Hotel Edison. The Edison’s prices are reasonable no matter when you travel to Manhattan, and unless you’re traveling on New Year’s Eve, they stay reasonable during the holidays. What’s even better is they offer a myriad of discounts, including a hefty military discount for service members past and present.

The best selling point for Hotel Edison is its location. In New York City, downtown hotels, in neighborhoods like SoHo

(short for South-of-Houston Street) or the West Village, are often boutique hotels that are both swanky and expensive. Midtown, the theater district, is where many tourists stay, so rates are better. Hotel Edison is located smack dab in the middle of Midtown, at 228 W. 47th St., between 8th Avenue and Broadway. Perfect location for going anywhere in the city. So drop your bags off in the room, and head out into the concrete jungle.

Hotel Edison, 228 W. 47th St., New York City, 1 (212) 840-5000, www.edisonhotelnyc. com.

21

to Spring. Take a left, and head down Spring Street until you see the bright blue and green exterior of Pinkberry Spring Street, between Mott and Mulberry streets. The funky, futuristic interior is all part of the brand, and the frozen yogurt with fresh fruit and candy toppings is addictively delicious.

SoHo has arguably the best shopping in all of New York City. From small oneoff boutiques to giant multi-level flagship superstores for international brands, there’s a little bit of everything in this downtown haven. For the best shopping, visit Broadway and W. Broadway, and weave in and out of shops on Greene, Wooster and Mercer streets. Don’t be afraid to visit some of the most luxurious boutiques on the side streets of SoHo as well. Most brands keep their best products in their New York City stores for shoppers to ogle at their leisure. Whatever you do, avoid Canal Street at all costs.

It’s much hyped, but not worth the time.

If you have the time, and energy, walk up to Bleecker Street and follow it into the West Village. For designer-loving friends and family, there’s the Marc by Marc Jacobs empire, boasting at least four stores in the area, and cupcake lovers who

watch “Sex and the City” will be elated to stumble upon Magnolia Cupcakes. Keep in mind, at Magnolia, that the banana pudding is just as delicious as their cupcakes.

pimento cheese and avocado, covered in red-eye gravy is certainly recommended.

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SATURDAY, 10 A.M., BRUNCH IS BIG There’s a phenomenon in New York City called “brunch.” While brunch exists outside of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, there is no one that takes it more seriously than New Yorkers. They plan ahead for weeks, make reservations or stand in line for hours, just waiting to get a spot at the best brunch place in their neighborhood.

As they say, “When in New York, brunch like the New Yorkers do.” Now that you’re familiar with downtown a little bit, after yesterday’s shopping extravaganza, head to Peels. Located at 325 Bowery St., just west of the main SoHo district, Peels is a one-stop shop for everything delicious. Peels has its own bakery, so fresh-baked delights are warm and straight from the oven, and the best biscuits north of the Mason-Dixon. On the brunch menu is a “build-a-biscuit” option.

Take a look over the choices and select whatever suits your taste buds, although a buttermilk biscuit with fried chicken,

SATURDAY, NOON, UPTOWN TOURS Following your hip downtown brunch, it’s time to take in some of what uptown has to offer. Take the yellow line subway that got you to Prince Street yesterday uptown to Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. This subway stop puts you at the south east corner of Central Park and on the iconic Fifth Avenue. It doesn’t get much more quintessential New York City than this location. Wander north on Fifth Avenue, or take a stroll through the paths of Central Park, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Your younger kids may associate the Met’s bevy of steps with “Gossip Girl,” but the Met is much, much more. If there’s one museum you have time to visit, the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a little bit of everything. Through the end of the year the Met is featuring 60 artists that capture the essence of Andy Warhol, in “Regarding Warhol.” If French impressionism is more to your liking, “Matisse: In Search of True Painting” will be on display through March 17, 2013.

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Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., New York City, 1 (212) 535-7710, www.metmuseum.org.

SATURDAY, 5 P.M., DINNER IS SERVED As you head back to the Hotel Edison to change clothes, and likely give your feet a quick rest, wander around midtown and take in the holiday lights.

In Rockefeller Center, there’s the iconic ice skating rink, with trees decked in twinkling lights. If you wish, walk down Fifth Avenue and look at all of the window displays outside of the department stores. Holiday window displays for New York City department stores like Bergdorf-Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue take months to plan and put together, and they’re not to be missed.

Dinner is even further uptown. It’s in Harlem, in fact. The Red Rooster is the much-lauded restaurant owned by Marcus Samuelsson, of Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” and Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” fame. Mr. Samuelsson’s Red Rooster is a wildly popular restaurant that features cuisine that encompasses Mr. Samuelsson’s background as an Ethopian-born, Swedish-raised chef and the diverse roots of the Harlem

neighborhood. You really can’t go wrong with the menu at Red Rooster, the blackened catfish and grits and the “Bunny Chow” lamb stew are unforgettable.

For dessert, don’t miss the mud pie and lemon bread pudding.

Red Rooster Harlem, 310 Lenox Ave., New York City, 1 (212) 792-9001, www.redrooster harlem.com SUNDAY, 1 P.M., PRIMA BALLERINA Before departing the city for all points north, there’s one last thing to do before you depart. First, hail a cab and head for Lincoln Center. The holiday season would not be complete without a viewing of “The Nutcracker.” And where better to catch a performance than at the home of the New York City Ballet?

World-class ballet dancers and music

by Peter Illyitch Tschaikovsky bring to life choreographer George Balanchine’s version of the fabled Christmas classic.

Tickets start at just $34, and are as expensive as $225, and a Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. is perfect for taking in the two-hour show with enough time to catch your ride home.

The New York City Ballet has exploded with talent as of late and is seeing a

resurgence in interest from the general public. Not only in Lincoln Center one of the most architecturally beautiful plazas in New York City, but the ballet itself is truly unforgettable.

New York City Ballet at the David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York City, www.nycballet.com

GETTING THERE To plan a trip to New York City, the most important initial question is how to get there. The drive from Jefferson County takes between five-and-a-half to six hours, not including stops along the way. Other alternatives that take just about as long include scenic Amtrak train rides leaving from Syracuse or bus and chauffeur services that depart from locations throughout the north country.

JetBlue also departs out of Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport and the 55-minute flight into John F. Kennedy International will get you there in no time. At JFK, take a taxi to your desired location or ride the subway into the city for a budget-friendly alternative.

KYLE R. HAYES is associate editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@ wdt.net.

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NOVE MBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY LIVING

THIS IS NNY

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Highway Nostalgia On Game Farm Road near Brownville sits hundreds of vintage vehicles, most from the 1950s to early 1980s, at Eric Farr and Sons Used Auto Parts. Weathered highway relics line acres of property in columns and rows; a display of metal and marsh at the now defunct salvage yard. — Photos by Justin Sorensen

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THEATRE

A golden season continues to shine Plenty on tap for Ogdensburg Command Performance

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BY AMANDA PURCELL | PHOTO BY MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO

IN 1963, A GROUP OF EIGHT Ogdensburg residents formed the Ogdensburg Community Players with one goal in mind: to bring culture to Ogdensburg and the north country.

Led by president Frank Schwartz, the all-volunteer group scouted for travelling theatre, dance and music shows and performed community productions.

The Players’ first scheduled performance was Syracuse University’s production of Samuel Beckett’s one-act play “End Game.” The play was performed in the Ogdensburg City Hall auditorium, now the city council meeting room.

“The show was done on top of a garbage can,” Mr. Schwartz said. “Anyone who knows or studied Beckett, know he’s tough. But we had a full audience, and they stayed for the full two hours. After that, we knew we had to keep it going.”

Shows were eventually moved to the Ogdensburg Free Academy’s George Hall auditorium to accommodate the larger audiences. “Before long, any Broadway show you can name, it came to Ogdensburg,” Mr. Schwartz said. “People would stand in line all night for season tickets; some even parked their motor homes. We became the guiding light in the north country, there wasn’t anything like us around at the time.

We had everyone coming to our shows including the janitor and the mailman.”

What the organization lacked in funds, it made up for in local volunteers. Ogdensburg Free Academy students served as supernumeraries; they carried spears in operas, performed alongside the Crane orchestra, and served as backstage hands.

“It was a great opportunity for our children, and a big part of why we formed the organization in first place,” Mr. Schwartz said. “We would receive letters of gratitude from the students and some would even go on to work on Broadway.”

The group became known for its quality performances such as Winnipeg Ballet, New York City Opera, American Ballet and productions such as “South Pacific” and “Oklahoma.”

Mr. Schwartz said the group never strayed from controversy.

“We lost a performance because we invited Imogene Coca,” said Mr. Schwartz.

But the biggest controversy came during mid-season, 25 years ago when the Players booked Ballet Africans, Mr. Schwartz said.

“The group was set to perform, but they were to perform topless,” he said. “I was walking down the street a day before the performance when then Board of Education President Bob Simpson, stopped me

and asked me to take a ride with him.”

Mr. Schwartz said Mr. Simpson told him the players could not perform topless.

The next day, Mr. Schwartz purchased 40 bras at Hackett’s.

“I didn’t know what sizes to get, so the clerk just gave me an assortment,” Mr. Schwartz said. “The next day, we told the performers they had to wear the bras or they could not perform.”

When the curtain opened, Mr. Schwartz said he and the audience sat amazed.

“The women had put on the bras sideways and backwards and all over — everywhere except where they should be,” Mr. Schwartz said.

Mr. Schwartz said the bras proved to be an embarrassing and glaring distraction, and at intermission he asked the performers to take them off.

“After that, the performance was wonderful and, most surprisingly, one the most beautiful performances we had ever had,” he said.

As the shows became more and more popular, the organization became difficult to manage financially. By 1989, the company ended its community productions and many of the board members had quit.

“By the late 80s the show had built up a debt,” said Cynthia I. Wilson, who was

Ogdensburg Command Performances / 50th year TICKETS Five-show ticket packages range from $158 to $68 for five shows. Tickets can be purchased by calling the office, 393-2625, or going online at www.ILoveTheatre.org.

SHOWS n Coming back to town for a special holiday performance is Steve Lippia, who will bring “A Simply Sinatra Christmas” on Nov. 26.

His terrific new holiday show presents longtime Christmas favorites with some of the most popular numbers proved to be an embarrassing and glaring distraction, and at intermission he asked the performers to take them off.

MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY LIVING

Sally F. Palao, Ogdensburg Command Performances administrator, in the wings of the stage in the George Hall Auditorium this summer. She helped revitalize the organization when she joined in 1990 and founded YouTheatre: Class Acts for students in grade K-12, in 1992. This year is OCP’s 50th anniversary season.

the children if they enjoyed the performance. One little boy said it was the best three bucks he ever spent. Another boy asked me, ‘Did you know Winnie the Pooh is alive?’”

OCP’s board of directors headquartered its administrative office in Ogdensburg Free Academy in 1997. Mrs. Palao said the board is now working on spreading the YouTheatre performances to other districts. In its 2011-2012 season, YouTheatre performances were held in Massena and Gouverneur school districts.

In 2011, OCP held 12 YouTheatre productions and eight command performances. Audience members from 77 towns visited the theatre.

OCP continues its 50th anniversary with six command performances left in its 2012-2013 season that kicked off Oct. 3.

“Ogdensburg Command Performances has many years of providing really exciting theatre, music, and dance performances for people of all ages,” said Hilary M. Oak, former executive director for the St. Lawrence Arts Council. “They bring in really high quality productions that people may not have an opportunity to see otherwise. We’re very fortunate to have such

Please see OCP, page 45

n Winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama “A Chorus Line” is the musical for everyone who ever had a dream and put it all on the line.

The chance to see Michael Bennet’s masterpiece again or for the first time shouldn’t be missed on Jan. 10. n Embark on a nostalgic 50-year journey with 14 singers/dancers, a six piece band and 300 costume changes in “Hooray for Hollywood.” Enjoy film clips from your favorite movies like “Singing in the Rain,” “The Glen Miller Story,” “Grease,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Titanic” and many more on March 19. n “A Musical Tribute to the Highwaymen” pays homage to the original 1985 group consisting of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

This fully scripted recreation of that amazing band continues the legacy of perhaps the greatest super group in country music history.

See it Thursday, April 11. n “Angel of Music: A Salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber” features the voice of Franc D’Ambrosio and Glory Crampton’s silvery soprano with a stellar ensemble cast performing favorites from “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Evita,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Starlight Express,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Woman in White” and “The Aspects of Love” for an evening you’ll long remember. D’Ambrosio is famous for being the longest running “Phantom” and Crampton played Christine in “Phantom” on Broadway. They will both be in Ogdensburg on Saturday, May 18.

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a board member at the time. “The show sought an executive director and I thought of Sally Palao, who had headed a couple of other arts organizations at the time.”

Sally F. Palao, Ogdensburg Command Performances administrator, initially served as a volunteer consultant.

“We wanted so much to salvage it and make it work, so we came up with a plan,” Mrs. Palao said. “No one submitted expenses for two years. Everything was donated, so all we would have to do is pay the actors.”

By 1992, the debt had been paid off and the group had changed their name from Ogdensburg Community Players to Ogdensburg Command Performances (OCP).

Mrs. Palao began scouting for new talent. While in New York City she discovered TheatreworksUSA, a touring company whose performances target younger audiences. Mrs. Palao decided they would be the start of YouTheatre: Class Acts, for students in grades K-12.

“The board thought I was crazy,” Mrs. Palao said. “We decided to start with one show, “Hansel and Gretel.’”

This year, YouTheatre will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

“I cannot tell you how much the children have enjoyed it over the years,” Mrs. Palao said. “After each show, I always ask

n Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra and memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex and too much sex create “Menopause: The Musical”. This hilarious musical parody is set to classic tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s such as “Puff, My God I’m Draggin” and “Stayin’ Awake, Stayin’ Awake” will have audience members cheering and dancing in the aisles. This play comes to Ogdensburg Dec. 9.

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COVER STORY

A custom-crafted Christmas season

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North country artisans produce wares perfect for gifting TEXT BY KYLE R. HAYES | PHOTOS BY AMANDA MORRISON

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Roxann Ojeda, ‘Sew Much More’

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Roxann Ojeda’s “softies” are hard to miss.

Brightly colored owls and monsters, bats and ballerinas line Ms. Ojeda’s tables at crafter’s markets alongside patterned giraffes and elephants. Whether they’re for children or just for decoration, these pillow-soft stuffed creatures blend quirky charm that make the perfect gift when looking for something a little different.

If stuffed owls in paisley print and neon green aren’t on the shopping list, Ms. Ojeda also creates one-off aprons, dresses and quilts that are all hand sewn. In many of her products, Ms. Ojeda showcases her knack for retro and vintage-inspired designs.

Her aprons have a 1950s vibe that would make June Cleaver jealous, with circle-cut hemlines, dainty bows and tucked waists accented with ribbons.

To view Ms. Ojeda’s wares, visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RoxCrafts. To contact her, call 489-6222 or email rox_1125@yahoo.com.

Adirondack Rug Braiding, hand-braided rugs A rug may be an unconventional holiday gift, but think of it as something that will last forever.

Helen Condon, owner of Adirondack Rug Braiding, Parishville, is widely known for her rug braiding skills, producing intricate rugs and baskets, but also teaching a multitude of classes throughout the area.

When she is not sharing her talent with others, Ms. Condon sets up shop in a former Parishville Grange hall that she restored in 2001. “The Grange,” as she calls it, is now her creative center, where she produces rugs of all shapes and sizes in high-quality, durable and soft wool, and baskets made with similar materi-

als but mixing in found deer antlers and strips of mink fur from discarded mink coats.

Ms. Condon’s “Blue Heron” rug is a best seller and mixes hues of blue throughout the rug, mirroring the Blue Heron’s slate blue feathers, light blue eggs and soft green river grass. Prices for rugs range from $275 to $500. Small baskets begin at $95 and Ms. Condon’s “Hunter’s Pride” basket with antlers and mink is about $250.

Contact Ms. Condon or view her rugs and baskets at www.adirondackrugbraiding.com. A selection of rugs and baskets are available in the TAUNY Folkstore, Main Street, Canton.

Harvest Herb Co., local herb mixes

Thelma L. Hamilton, custom ornaments For more than 20 years, Thelma L. Hamilton has been painting tiny masterpieces on the most delicate of surfaces. Precious glass Christmas ornaments are the canvas on which Ms. Hamilton creates winter scenes and snowmen, angels and notable north country landmarks.

Ms. Hamilton, who lives in the town of Watertown, has been called upon by the Watertown Downtown Business Association to paint a yearly ornament for the association to sell to members and the public as a holiday fundraiser. For more than a decade she has painted landmarks like Samaritan Medical Center, the Jefferson County Fair and Jefferson Commu-

For the foodie in the family, try adding Harvest Herb Co.’s mixtures of dried, locally-grown herbs to their stocking. Not only are these mixtures fragrant, they’re packed with flavor that is unlike anything that can be found sitting on the grocery store shelves.

Owners Wendy Harrington and Stephen Auger carefully custom blend mixtures of dried herbs into dip mixes, teas, drink mixes and seasoning packets.

Unlike the grocery store alternative, many of the herbs are dried as whole leaves instead of powdered. This makes each packet taste just like you’re eating fresh herbs, even if it’s the middle of the winter.

Contact Harvest Herb Co. at 1 (518) 483-0030.

nity College with tiny brushes on festive holiday bulbs.

According to Ms. Hamilton, it takes approximately 20 minutes per ornament, a drastic improvement in efficiency and quality from when she first started painting ornaments more than two decades ago.

Ornaments can be easily customized for a very personal gift. With her new-baby and wedding ornaments, Ms. Hamilton can custom-paint dates and names on the gifts to make each ornament one-of-a-kind.

Most ornaments sell for about $20, not including shipping, and can be shipped in about seven to 10 days. Custom, one-of-akind ornament design starts at $50.

Linda Stoddard-Leonard, textile baskets

shop in the village of Henderson, where she features her own pieces alongside antiques. Her inspiration, she said, comes from calling Northern New York home and she highlights that by using natural elements, created from native materials, like her antler basket ($55), which is made with a real deer antler handle and embellished with a large pine cone rosette, created by slicing a pine cone with a band saw.

Ms. Stoddard-Leonard’s baskets and home goods may be found on her Etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/thekeepershouse or at The Keepers’ House, Main Street, Henderson, which is open by appointment. Contact her directly at lleonar2@twcny.rr.com.

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Many words can be used to describe the textile art baskets and handmade items created by Linda Stoddard-Leonard, of Henderson. Ms. Stoddard-Leonard creates baskets and tabletops, serving trays and centerpieces out of woven pieces of cloth that are not only durable but colorful and eclectic.

Baskets come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colorways and at prices to match any budget. Aside from her textile baskets, Ms. Stoddard-Leonard, who is a floral designer by trade, shapes fresh branches and flowers into wreaths and allows them to dry for au naturale decorations to be used indoors and out.

Mrs. Stoddard-Leonard’s “The Keepers’ House” is also a brick and mortar

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The Little Barn Bulk Foods, a classic ‘North Country Native’ food basket

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Duffy’s Digs, handcrafted jewelry

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Jewelry is always a staple gift during the holiday season. With dozens upon dozens of commercials from national jewelers, it’s hard to miss the reminder that what that special lady in the family wants is necklaces, pendants, bracelets and rings.

Although, how special is a piece of jewelry that is commercially produced and sold throughout the country? Duffy’s Digs in Lowville is a local option for purchasing handmade, custom jewelry made with fine wire, copper, silver and one-of-a-kind stones.

Dorothy K. Duflo began making jewelry less than a decade ago and has since developed a repertoire of techniques and fabrications that make her craft truly unique. From hammering copper for a pendent or wrapping wire and stones for one of her “Tree of Life” necklaces, a Duffy’s Digs piece is often unmistakable.

Mrs. Duflo also works with Jackie Rice of Central New York Glass in Boonville to incorporate Ms. Rice’s line of hand blown glass items and beads into her designs.

Viking knit is one of Mrs. Duflo’s signature techniques, which makes for intricate pieces of jewelry. Using small gauge wire, Mrs. Duflo “knits” it in a round, continuously, to make a chain for bracelets and necklaces.

Prices for Mrs. Duflo’s pieces range from $15 for earrings to $140 for more intricate necklaces in Viking knit. Contact Mrs. Duflo at 376-3839 or tduflo@twcny. rr.com. See her pieces and prices online at www.duffysdigs.com.

In just one year in business, The Little Barn Bulk Foods, Watertown, has become a community staple. Walking into the store with its aged, wooden floors and shelves lined with everything from ghost pepper hot sauce to chocolate covered pretzels, it’s like Little Barn has always been there.

For the holidays, owner Nicole L. Peer Jareo has created a gift that is just as unique as her store. The “North Country Native” basket is just one of the many custom baskets that Little Barn offers, but this one features things anyone from Northern New York can’t live without: Croghan Bologna and cheese curd.

Customizable with any other products that Mrs. Peer Jareo offers, she namely pairs one of her assortment of artisanal mustards with the gift basket. One of the most popular is Nunda Mustard, which is produced in the small town of Nunda, south of Rochester.

For a true locavore, Little Barn offers locally produced maple syrup, honey, jams, jellies, pasta and pasta sauces. Also impressive if the shop’s selection of hot sauces, great for any spice-lover in the family.

Little Barn Bulk Foods is located at 17937 State Route 3, between Watertown and Sackets Harbor, on the Peer farm.

Contact the store at 788-1253 or visit www.facebook.com/littlebarnbulkfoods.

PRZ Enterprises, goat’s milk body products Rachel Zumbach and her husband, Paul, do it all.

In January 2011, the couple started raising goats. By June they were making soap with the milk from the goats and in July they started their business, PRZ Enterprises. However, the business goes beyond just the goat’s milk body products made from the milk of their 46 goats, it also includes plumbing and electrical sales and service to local farms.

Mrs. Zumbach said that getting into goat’s milk body products was something she did out of personal necessity.

“My sister-in-law had been making soap for several years and would give us a few bars for Christmas,” she said in an email. “I have very sensitive skin and noticed a huge difference when using the soap. It didn’t cause itching and my skin didn’t dry out.”

The PRZ Enterprises line of body care products has been expanded to 12 different scents of bar soaps, including Honey Oatmeal, Lemongrass, Patchouli and Vanilla Chai. The Zumbachs also offer exfoliating hand and face scrub, which recently won best in show at the annual American Dairy Goat Association body care competition, an eczema salve, sooth-

ing salve for cuts and scraps and a salve specifically for aches, bumps and bruises.

Various PRZ Enterprises goat’s milk body care products may be found at Sharp’s Bulk Foods, Belleville, The Little Barn Bulk Foods, Watertown, and Painfull Acres Amish Furniture, Adams Center, or online at www.etsy.com/shop/ przenterprises. Contact the Zumbachs directly at 771-6334, przenterprises@gmail. com or on Facebook at www.facebook. com/przenterprises.

Home Again Farm, alpaca fiber products

Catamount Lodge, solid wood furniture When Joe F. and Ruth T. McWilliams purchased property in South Colton, they didn’t just buy a house with a nice yard.

The bought a forest and a lodge. A fourbedroom lodge with 379 acres of land, to be exact.

“We bought it in 2005 from St. Lawrence University,” Mrs. McWilliams said.

“It wasn’t in their business plan, so we decided to buy it from them.”

Mrs. McWilliams has a deep family connection to St. Lawrence County. She and her husband purchased the property while they still lived in Virginia. The lodge itself is available to rent for group, family or corporate retreats but the forest itself boasts trails that are open to the public during daylight hours. The couple

also harvests trees to produce Catamountbranded products, which are all made of hardwoods from the property. Stools in maple or black cherry, Adirondack chairs, blanket chests and birch wood candles are just a few of the offerings made by local craftsmen and Amish woodworkers, all with Catamount woods.

Most Catamount-branded products are made to order. Contact Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams at info@catamountlodge.com for ordering information. Custom-made stools come in three heights, 18-inches, 24-inches and 30-inches, with prices starting at $75. Some Catamount products are also available at the Traditional Arts in Upstate New York Folkstore on Main Street in Canton.

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When visiting Home Again Farm, owner Gail Marsh asks that visitors park next to the barn. Upon arrival, those same visitors are greeted by Mrs. Marsh, and her husband, Daryl’s, herd of moppy-topped alpacas.

Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have owned and operated Home Again Farm, Theresa, since 2005, when they decided to return to the north country from their then home in Central New Jersey. The farm is located on the homestead that Mrs. Marsh grew up on, which dates back to 1831.

The friendly alpacas bolt out of the barn when beckoned by their owners to come meet new visitors, but also produce a fuzzy, fluffy fur that is soft enough to be spun into yarn. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh collect the alpaca fibers to make into their own yarn, but also are part of the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool, which uses both their alpaca fibers and those of other farms to combine and produce garments. The Marshes also import goods using fair trade practices from Peru. All of these wares made with alpaca fibers are available in the farm’s gift shop. With a texture similar to cashmere, the blankets, sweaters, hats and socks that Home Again Farm sells are both warm and cozy. They also sell stuffed alpaca dolls in various sizes, which allows just about anyone to bring home a fluff-topped alpaca of their own.

Home Again Farm is located at 37098 Schell Road, Theresa. Contact the Marshes at 628-5302, marshny@aol.com or visit www.homeagainfarmalpacas.com.

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Wayne Brown, Tired Iron Sculptures

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Joseph Benesch, wooden toy vehicles

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Every child needs a toy that will last longer than the plastic figurine from that big-box store. The one that will be out of the packaging and likely broken before it even reaches home.

That’s not a problem with Joseph Benesch’s hand carved oak, black walnut, ash and cherry wood vehicles. Though Mr. Benesch’s vehicles aren’t just for play, he makes vintage trucks and trains that are perfect for any collector to display on a mantle or shelf, too.

It’s said that if it has wheels, Mr. Benesch has made it in wood. From log-toting tractor trailers to a tanker truck that doubles as a piggy bank, Mr. Benesch’s visions come alive in quality hardwoods from his shop in Holland-Patent. Benesch Creative Enterprises, Mr. Benesch’s company, also offers coat racks made of a baseball that is split in two, nautical-

themed decorations and Adirondack-style gifts such as hardwood paddles made into coat racks and napkin holders hand painted with Adirondack wildlife.

Benesch Creative Enterprises was created once Mr. Benesch retired and turned his talent for making solid wood objects into a business. He and his wife, Sharon, would tag-team projects, Mr. Benesch doing the woodworking and Mrs. Benesch applying the paints and stains. Paint schemes and stains can be applied before clear coat for a truly special truck.

Mr. Benesch’s hand-carved wooden vehicles are available online at www. beneschwood.com in a variety of sizes.

A variety of his works are stocked at the TAUNY Folkstore in Canton, including a 34-inch long, two-piece tractor and trailer stocked with logs for hauling. Contact Mr. Benesch at 865-8257.

Turning old farm machinery, bolts, wires and wrenches into something beautiful is no small feat. But Wayne A. Brown, owner of Tired Iron Sculptures, Lisbon, does just that.

Mr. Brown grew up in a military family that traveled the United States and Japan, but he settled in the St. Lawrence Valley, where he now turns found metal objects into whimsical pieces of artwork that are sure to last a lifetime. From napkin holders made out of horseshoes to an oversized cricket made out of a wrench, with welded-bolt eyes, he turns everyday objects into insects, birds, masks and shapes.

At Tired Iron Sculptures, Mr. Brown sources his media from just about anywhere, whether it’s scrapyards or farmers’ barns. He uses his background in welding, with an artistic welding class under his belt, and inspiration in natural shapes and curves, to create totally oneof-a-kind pieces that range in price from a $100 cricket at the TAUNY Folkstore, to several hundred dollars for larger pieces.

Contact Mr. Brown at 394-0812, email waynebrown@tiredironsculptures.com or visit www.tiredironsculptures.com.

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FEATURES

The snow belt: a survival guide n Native or new, a top 10 to get you through a NNY winter

BY KYLE R. HAYES SURVIVING A NORTH COUNTRY winter doesn’t have to be an uphill battle in the blinding snow. Here are a few easy — and affordable — ways to add some fun to our shortened days in Northern New York without losing your mind. For some more tips and ideas on staying active during the winter months, flip back to page 16 and read this issue’s wellness column.

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Take a group class. Being forced inside by bone-chilling temperatures and snow may is the perfect opportunity to add a little variety to your exercise regimen. Local branches of the YMCA offer a variety of group fitness classes, including yoga, pilates and Zumba. YMCA memberships are less than $35 a month for adults, and with different classes being held daily, it would be tough to get bored. Local branches of the Y include the Downtown YMCA, 119 Washington St., Watertown, Fairgrounds YMCA, 585 Rand Drive, Watertown, and the Carthage YMCA, 250 State St. Visit www.watertownymca.org for information and membership rates.

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Start to Salsa. Taking a dance class is always a bucket list item that gets overlooked. Too embarrassed? Not good enough? Don’t worry about it, Cosmopolitan Club members Tom and Maria Cesta will show you the way. Mr. and Mrs. Cesta are sponsoring a series of ballroom dance lessons at the Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive, that will continue on Fridays, Jan. 25 and March 1. Following the lessons, the opera house is open to free dancing. If learning to waltz, mambo and rumba are more your style, Mr. and Mrs. Cesta are teaching a beginning ballroom dance class at Jefferson Community College from Feb. 6 to March 13. For $65 per person, couples and singles welcome, the Cestas will teach you everything you know to be dancing like a professional in no time.

8

Breaking cabin fever. Winona State Forest, located at the southernmost boundary of Jefferson County, is a veritable winter playground once the snow falls. Last win-

JASON HUNTER | JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS FILE PHOTO

It won’t be long before north country days bring snowfall from the heavens. Don’t fret, there are plenty of ways to survive — and thrive — without contracting cabin fever.

ter, with the mild temperatures and slushy snowfall, wasn’t the best time to visit the forest; however, if this winter is anything like the norm, there will be plenty to do there. Winona Forest is prime for crosscountry skiing, dog-sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing and boasts more than 40 miles of trails. Check out the Winona Forest Recreation Association website, www.winonaforest.com, for events being held in the forest all winter long, including 5K snowshoe and cross-country ski races.

7

Join the club. Northern New York can be just as beautiful in the winter as it is in the spring and fall. Frozen streams and icicles hanging from rock formations can be picturesque, and members of the Jefferson County Photography Club are there to capture them. The Jefferson County Photography Club is a mix of amateur and professional photographers who are brought together by their affinity for photographing the north country.

Visit the club’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/jeffcophotoclub to check

out the works of club members and keep up with their activities. The informal club is open to all and they welcome photographers new and experienced to join in their outings, which give photographers the opportunity to visit places like cemeteries, farms and abandoned stone quarries.

6

Give back. Winter is a tough time for many organizations that rely on volunteers to keep the doors open on a day-today basis. From organizing and sorting clothes at the Impossible Dream Thrift Store to organizing shelves at the community library or assisting soldiers and their families at the Fort Drum USO, there is no shortage of opportunities to donate a little time and hard work to help others. During the holiday season, there’s always a push to give back to the community and there’s no better way to do it than give a few hours of time at the American Red Cross, your local food pantry or just by getting a group together to visit and play cards with seniors at a nearby nursing home.

5

A foodie adventure. There’s a common misconception that all of the good dining in the north country goes away when the summer ends. Sure, restaurants along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River often shutter during the blustery months; however, there’s still plenty of fine dining to be had. Make a culinary adventure out of hitting all of the hotspots throughout Northern New York.

Start with the lobster and crab macaroni and cheese at Café Mira in Adams then try something new and exciting at Pete’s Trattoria on Breen Avenue in Watertown.

For something a little different José O’Connors in West Carthage, but don’t forget about the tried and true classics in St. Lawrence County with the Blackbird Café in Canton, the 1844 House in Potsdam and Violi’s Restaurant in Massena.

4

Start skating. Last year was a bit of a bust for outdoor ice rinks throughout the region. This year, guarantee a good time skating by visit a local ice arena during its free-skate programs. The Watertown Fairgrounds ice arena is open through March and offers various programs for adult skaters, those who play hockey, people who want to learn to skate and a Rock ‘n Skate program for teenagers. The rink is open daily and public skate admission is $2, Rock ‘N Skate admission is $3 and skate rentals are also $2. Visit www.watertownny.gov for public hours. The Cerow Recreation Park arena in Clayton is open from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays for public skating. In Canton, the Canton Pavilion is open for public skating on most Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Check www.cantonnewyork.us for specific schedules and times.

n If you have a packed emergency kit in your

vehicle year-round, here are a few things Consumer Reports magazine suggests adding for winter driving safety:

ICE SCRAPER

Although most snow brushes are equipped with scrapers, a dedicated and heavy-duty scraper will always come in handy.

TIRE CHAINS & TOW STRAP

When a car goes slipping and sliding on ice, and eventually ends in a snow-filled ditch, these will be invaluable. Familiarize yourself with attaching the chains and strap beforehand, so you don’t have to learn while kneehigh in a snow along the roadside.

BLANKET & WINTER HAT

If your car battery dies or your run out of fuel, there will never be enough blankets.

HAND-WARMING PACKETS

These can be found in just about any sportinggood store and are perfect for keeping warm when conditions are below-zero.

SMALL FOLDING SHOVEL

When your car is inundated in a parking lot with freshly-plowed snow, having a shovel on hand will make light work.

CAT LITTER

Adding cat litter to your emergency kit is a cheap, but effective, way to provide traction on icy surfaces.

slower pace allows downtown business owners to get creative and bring in new activities to drive local customers into their shops. Connie Nicolette is one of those shop owners who is doing just that.

Mrs. Nicolette owns Handmaiden’s Garden, 117 W. Main st., and Tea Thyme tea shop, 203 W. Main St. For the fall and winter months Mrs. Nicolette hosts classes, workshops, groups and other events in her shops that cover a variety of topics. Tea Thyme offers a vast selection of teas, from

Earl Gray to exotic blooming tea flowers, with tea accessories and pots to go with them. Spend an afternoon at one of Mrs. Nicolette’s workshops then head next door to test some one-of-a-kind tea blends.

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One for the kids. Adults aren’t the only ones who hate being cooped up indoors all winter long. After the novelty of snow forts and sledding wears off, take the kids to the zoo. The New York State Zoo at Thompson Park sponsors a monthly “Wild About Reading!” event at the zoo beginning at 11 a.m. on the third Friday of every month. For regular zoo admission, which is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to 12, the zoo staff reads stories in the Book Nook and brings a visitor from the zoo itself for an educational program. No registration is required. After story hour, take a walk through the zoo and catch the animals playing in their winter habitats.

1

Slapstick. While hockey culture in the north country might not be as intense as it is in, say, Buffalo or Canada, there is plenty of opportunity to catch a game or two throughout the season. Two teams that are not to be missed are the 1,000 Islands Privateers and the Clarkson Golden Knights. The Privateers have relocated from Alexandria Bay to the Watertown Municipal Arena at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds this year, which not only offers a more central location for games, but the arena also offers expanded food and drink options. The Privateers play on select Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through March at the Watertown arena.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for military and $5 for children ages 5 and 12. For a full schedule, visit 1000islandsprivateers. pointstreaksites.com/ KYLE R. HAYES is associate editor for NNY Living. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@ wdt.net.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

3

Tea Thyme. The village of Sackets Harbor bustles during the summer months and is notably quieter after Labor Day. However, that’s not always a bad thing. A

Winter survival kit / Must-haves in the car

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FOOD

Ring in the new year with a hands-on party n Cook together with close friends for an epic blast

BY BOO WELLS

came to my kitchen in Sackets Harbor and taught a class on Thai cooking. It began like a standard cooking class. It quickly turned into a hands-on social event, where everyone helped create the final product — dinner. After a brief lecture, Chef Simpson divided the peeling, chopping and sautéing tasks.

Then we set to work recreating the Clipper Inn’s spring rolls.

It’s very common for cooking class students to bond over the culinary subject and go from total strangers to fast friends, but

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

This year, my New Year’s Eve party is going to be a hands-on party where we all create small bites.

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A RECENT COOKING CLASS HAS INSPIRED MY PLANS for this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration. In years past, I’ve had visions of a grandiose evening of merriment with champagne toasts, beef wellington, Bellini with crème fraîche and caviar, men in black ties and women in glittery evening dresses.

Then the sexy background music in my head stops and I am left watching the ball drop over Times Square on the television with my three sons and a take-out pizza. “Epic fail” as the boys would say. All the fabulous food magazines and elegant living magazines make a glamorous New Year’s Eve party look so attainable. If Martha Stewart can do it, why can’t I? This is when the sexy music in my head either speeds up triple time and sounds like the Chipmunks are serenading me or starts playing backwards to warn of the serial killer that is about to jump out of the shadows. I am convinced it is my brain trying to remind me that in the real world — or at least in my world — Martha Stewart isn’t an actual person and glamorous New Year’s Eve soirees don’t really exist.

Chef Mike Simpson from The Clipper Inn in Clayton has given me a whole new outlook on entertaining. Chef Simpson

this was different. It was easy, stress free and fun — even for me, the hostess. We prepped, we cooked, we ate and there was laughter and camaraderie. It felt like a party.

I have yet to read an article in a food magazine that tells you, the hostess, how to create a glamorous soirée and work full time, parent the little darlings, stay on top of the laundry, feed the little darlings, look fabulous at all times, and, well, the list just goes on. It could be that Chef Simpson is on to something with his divide-and-conquer-style cooking class. It was fun — everyone was involved and it felt like a party. This year, my New Year’s Eve party is going to be a hands-on party where we create all different small bites. I will buy the ingredients and provide the recipes, but instead of doing all the preparing and cooking myself, my guests and I will do it all together. We will cook together, eat together and toast the New Year together. It may not be a celebration worthy of Bon Appetit or Martha Stewart Living but it will be a huge step up from take-out pizza. Food is love.

BOO WELLS is chef and owner of the Farm House Kitchen, a catering company and cooking school in Sackets Harbor. Contact her at sacketsfarm housekitchen@gmail.com or www.thefarmhousekitchen.com.

Shrimp Shiu Mai (Yields about 4 dozen) INGREDIENTS

½ pounds raw shrimp ½ pounds raw scallops 1 cup thinly sliced Napa cabbage, plus extra leaves for lining the steamer ½ cup chopped scallions (both white and green parts) 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1½ tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoons finely chopped garlic 1 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger 1 ½ teaspoons Asian sesame oil 1 teaspoon granulated sugar ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 large egg white 1 package Shiu Mai wrappers (available at the wonderful Asian Market on State Street in Watertown) INSTRUCTIONS

| NNY LIVING

the heat and carefully take off the lid. Arrange the Shiu Mai in the steamer, you will have to cook them in batches. Cover the steamer and return to medium-high heat. Steam until the shrimp and scallop mix is cooked through, five to seven minutes.

3 tablespoons Panko breadcrumbs 1 large egg white, beaten 10 spring roll wrappers (available at the wonderful Asian Market on State Street) 2 to 3 cups vegetable oil for frying

Chef Mike’s Spring Rolls

Combine the vegetable oil and sesame oil in a sauté pan over high heat (do not leave unattended). Sauté the onion until translucent, add the bell pepper and continue to cook for several minutes, stirring frequently. Add the snow peas, Napa cabbage, carrots and scallions and cook until tender. Transfer warm ingredients to a mixing bowl and add the minced ginger, minced garlic, shrimp, cashews and breadcrumbs. Mix well and let cool.

Fill the spring roll wrapper according to the diagram on the package. Using a pastry brush or your fingers, dab a bit of the egg white around the edge of the wrapper to moisten.

Seal the edges of the spring roll wrappers.

Fry spring rolls in vegetable oil until golden brown and crispy.

(Yields about 10)

INSTRUCTIONS

½ cup vegetable oil 2 ½ teaspoon sesame oil 1 scant cup onion, diced small ¾ small red bell pepper, julienned 15 snow peas, julienned 1 cup Napa Cabbage, sliced thin 1 small carrot, julienned 5 scallions, julienned 2 tablespoons ginger, minced 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 8 ounces cooked shrimp, coarsely chopped ½ cup cashews, coarsely chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

In a food processor, pulse the shrimp and scallops several times to make a paste.

In a large bowl, stir together the shrimp and scallop mixture, sliced cabbage, scallions, cilantro, soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, one tablespoon cornstarch, ginger, sesame oil, sugar, pepper, and egg white.

Working with one wrapper at a time, place a heaping teaspoon of the shrimp and scallop filling in the center of the wrapper. Using a pastry brush or your fingers, dab a bit of water around the edge of the wrapper to moisten.

Crimp the wrapper up and around the filling, squeezing slightly with your fingers to bring the wrapper together like a beggar’s pouch. You can steam the Shiu Mai immediately or freeze and steam them later.

To steam the Shiu Mai, fill a vegetable steamer with two inches of water in the bottom.

Line the basket with Napa cabbage leaves to keep the Shiu Mai from sticking to the pan. Set over medium-high heat and cover. When steam begins to escape from the steamer, remove from

JUSTIN SORENSEN

Shrimp Shiu Mai and Chef Mike’s spring rolls

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FOOD [ CHEF’S TABLE ]

Opera cake: perfection in six acts THE CLASSIC OPERA CAKE IS A work in six acts. Three thin layers of almond cake, each soaked in potent coffee syrup, a layer of espresso-flavored butter cream, a layer of ganache and a topping of chocolate glaze.

Traditionally, white lettering “opera” decorates the top with gold leaf ornaments. The French patisserie house Dalloyau popularized this elaborate French dessert.

In selecting a dessert, I aspire to the more challenging recipes. I like to utilize a variety of techniques and specialty ingredients. The opera cake is no exception. I especially enjoy making and serving this fabulous cake. When properly prepared it all comes together in a rich, delicate fascination for the tongue.

This recipe makes a large cake, but to achieve success, size should not be altered.

½ cup (125 grams) whole milk ¼ cup (30 grams) heavy cream 4 tablespoons (2 ounces, 60 grams) unsalted butter room temperature

INSTRUCTIONS Put chocolate in medium bowl and keep close at hand. Bring milk and cream to full boil, pour over chocolate, wait one minute, then stir gently until ganache is smooth and glossy.

Beat butter until smooth and creamy, then stir it into ganache in two to three additions. Refrigerate ganache, stirring every five minutes until it thickens and is spreadable. About 20 minutes. Ganache can be packed airtight and refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for a month; bring to room temp. before using.

Chocolate glaze

5 ounces (150 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped 1 stick (115 grams) unsalted butter

Cake

(20 servings)

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

6 large eggs 6 large egg whites, room temperature 2 tablespoons (30 grams) granulated sugar 2 cups (225 grams) ground blanched almonds 2 ¼ cups (225 grams) confectionary sugar, sifted ½ cup (70 grams) all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons (45 grams) unsalted butter, melted and briefly cooled

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INSTRUCTIONS Position racks to divide oven into thirds and preheat to 425 degrees. Prepare two 12½-by-5½ jelly-roll pans with parchment paper; brush with melted butter.

In a mixer—using the whisk attachment—beat egg whites until they form soft peaks; add granulated sugar, then continue to beat to stiff and glossy peaks.

In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat almonds, confectionary sugar, and whole eggs on medium speed until light and voluminous, approximately three minutes. Add flour and beat on low speed only until it disappears. Gently fold the egg whites into the almond mixture with a rubber spatula, and fold in the melted butter. Divide batter between two prepared pans and bake cakes five to seven minutes, or until they golden brown and springy to touch.

Place pans on heat-proof counter, cover with parchment paper, turn cakes to unmold. Peel away parchment, turn parchment over and use to cover exposed sides of cakes.

Let cakes cool to room temperature between parchment sheets. Cakes may be prepared a day ahead, wrapped and kept at room temperature.

NORM JOHNSTON

| NNY LIVING

Chef Rebekah Alford 1 cup (100 grams) sugar ¼ cup (30 grams) water Pulp of ¼ vanilla bean 1 large whole egg 1 large egg yoke 1 3/4 sticks (7 ounces, 200 grams) unsalted butter at room temperature

INSTRUCTIONS Stir everything together in a small saucepan and bring to boil. Cool.

INSTRUCTIONS Dissolve instant espresso in boiling water to make coffee extract, set aside.

Bring the sugar, water and vanilla bean pulp to a boil in small saucepan; stir just until sugar dissolves. Continue to cook without stirring until syrup reaches 255 degrees as measured on a candy thermometer. Pull pan from heat.

While the sugar is heating, put the egg and the yolk in a mixer bowl fitted with whisk attachment and beat until eggs are pale and foamy. When sugar is at temperature reduce mixer speed to low and slowly pour in syrup.

Raise speed to medium-high and continue to beat eggs until thick, satiny and room temperature, about 5 minutes.

With a rubber spatula, heat butter until soft and creamy, but not oily. With mixer on medium, steadily add butter in two-tablespoon (30 gram) chunks. When all butter has been added, raise speed to high and beat until buttercream is thickened and satiny. Beat in coffee extract. Chill buttercream, stirring frequently until firm enough to spread and stay where spread when topped with a layer of cake, about 20 minutes. Buttercream can be packed airtight and refrigerated for four days or frozen for a month. Before using bring to room temperature, then beat smooth.

2 tablespoons (10 grams) instant espresso of coffee 2 tablespoons (15 grams) boiling water

8 ounces (240 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Coffee syrup

½ cup water ¼ cup sugar 1½ tablespoons (7 grams) instant espresso or coffee

Coffee buttercream

Chocolate ganache

CAKE ASSEMBLY Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Working with one sheet of cake at a time, trim cake to two pieces, one 10-by-10 and one 10-by-5. Place one square of cake on parchment and moisten layer with coffee syrup.

Spread about three quarters of the coffee buttercream evenly over the cake. (If the buttercream is soft put the cake in the freezer for about 10 minutes before proceeding.) Top with the two rectangular pieces of cake, placing them side by side to form a square; moisten with syrup. Spread the ganache over the surface, top with the last cake layer, moisten then chill in freezer for about 10 minutes. Cover top with thin layer of coffee buttercream.

(This is to smooth the top and ready it for the glaze — so go easy.) Refrigerate cake for at lest an hour, up to six hours; it should be cold when you pour glaze over it. If you’re in a hurry, pop the cake into the freezer for about 20 minutes and continue.

CAKE GLAZING Bring butter to a boil in small saucepan. Remove pan from heat and clarify butter by spooning off top foam and pouring clear yellow butter into a small bowl; discard milky residue. Melt chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Stir in clarified butter. Lift the chilled cake off parchment-lined pan and place on a rack. Put rack over parchment-lined pan and pour over glaze, using a long offset spatula to help evenly smooth across top. Slide cake into refrigerator to set glaze and chill, which should be served slightly chilled. At serving time, use a long, thin knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry to carefully trim cake sides so drips of glaze are removed to reveal layers.

KEEPING Each element of the cake can be made ahead, as can be the assembled cake, The cake can be kept in the refrigerator away from foods with strong odors for a day or you can freeze it. Wrap it airtight once frozen. Keep frozen for a month. Defrost wrapped overnight in refrigerator.

REBEKAH ALFORD is executive chef and partner at Rainbow Shores fine dining in Pulaski. She received her culinary education at Paul Smith’s College in Saranac Lake. Contact her at 298-5110, or visit www. rainbowshoresny.com.

WINE

Holiday wine pairing made easy n A few palate-pleasing picks that won’t break the bank

BY JENNY WALKER

“Good wine, good food, good company – life’s most civilized pleasures” – Michael Broadbent

JENNY’S TOP PICKS n Left, Kim Crawford Mariborough Sauvignon Blanc, Mariborough, New Zealand. Priced from $15; more information: www.kimcrawfordwines. co.nz [asw] n Right, Montezuma Cranberry Bog, Seneca Lake. Priced from $12.99; more information: www.montezuma winery.com. [asw]

OTHER CROWD PLEASERS n Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Calif., priced from $20; more information: www.chateaustjean.com. [asw] n Etude Rose, Napa Valley, Calif., priced from $25; more information: www.etudewines.com.[asw] n Ravines Riesling, Keuka Lake, priced from $15; more information: www.ravineswine.com. n Gruet Blanc de Noirs, Albuquerque, N.M., priced from $14.99; more information: www.gruetwinery.com.

Specially stocked at Arsenal Street Wine & Liquor, 940 Arsenal St., Watertown, for NNY Living. [asw]

kling wine that comes from the most unusual location: New Mexico. Gruet Blanc de Noirs is a steal and one that drinks like a million bucks. All joking aside, it will stand up to your Vueve Cliquot or Moët any day. Cheers!

JENNY WALKER is a culinary school-trained chef. She and her husband, Brian, are proprietors of the 1844 House restaurant, 6885 U.S. Route 11, Potsdam. Visit them at www.1844house.com or call 268-1844.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

WITH THE HOLIDAYS QUICKLY approaching, we will all be doing our fair share of entertaining and socializing.

Whether it’s a grand Thanksgiving Day feast, a jazzy cocktail party or a simple evening with friends, why not feel like a pro when guests are over and break out one of these no-fail wines that retail for less than $25.

So, you’re invited to Thanksgiving dinner complete with all the trimmings.

Here are three suggestions that are sure to please your hosts. Two of them are produced in the Finger Lakes region, just a few hours from the north country. Ravines Dry Riesling from Keuka Lake is a welldone and masterfully balanced Riesling that screams to be paired with poultry. A truly dry and intensely mineral Riesling that is lip-smacking good.

Another gem I enjoy every year is Montezuma Cranberry Bog from Seneca Lake.

This wine is quirky and fun. Best of all, it is produced from 100 percent cranberries.

What better to match with a traditional Thanksgiving spread? It’s an off-dry and unusual crowd pleaser. It starts out sweet then balances out, leaving you with the distinctive tartness of cranberry.

For the red lovers, a Pinot Noir is sure to compliment a turkey dinner. Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir is a sure winner. You absolutely will not find a better value Pinot Noir on the market. This youthfully displays aromas of raspberry, strawberry and cranberry with hints of rose and leather. The palate offers soft tannins that give a creamy texture and a long fruitdriven finish.

As much fun as it is to host a holiday party, it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to decide what wines to serve.

From a cocktail reception to an informal get together, choose a lively Rosé or perhaps a spunky New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. A Rosé can sometimes be overlooked and underappreciated. Traditionally enjoyed in warm weather, this wine leaves room for year-round appreciation.

A Rosé will pair beautifully with cheese, salty nuts, and cured meat. It is a wine that you should drink while it is young. A fine choice is Etude Rosé. This Napa Valley Pinot Noir Rosé is bold and flavorful with notes of fresh cherries and a touch of orange peel.

A consistently outstanding Sauvignon Blanc and one of my all-time personal favorites is Kim Crawford Mariborough Sauvignon Blanc complete with the nofuss screw cap that is becoming more and more politically correct these days. For anyone who is new to the New Zealand wine scene, this is a must try. Bursting with fresh fruit flavors like passion fruit and cut grass.

So what about New Year’s Eve? If you’re like me, you automatically think about champagne. The usual suspects with high price tags are always fabulous, but I like to have a few entertaining secrets up my sleeve.

Here is a particularly phenomenal spar-

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HISTORY

In this 1988 photo, Denny Ellingsworth discusses his decision to live in one of the Black River caves in Watertown. Last year, a group of spelunkers sought permission to explore and map the caves. The north country’s many caves have been a part of local lore for almost as long as some of its cities have existed.

JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS ARCHIVES

Shining some light underground North country’s vast network of caverns mysterious, intriguing

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

BY LENKA P. WALLDROFF

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THE NORTH COUNTRY IS RENOWNED for its natural beauty and geographical features. Tug Hill, the St. Lawrence River, the shores of Lake Ontario, and the Thousand Islands themselves have been attracting generations of tourists to the area since the 19th century.

Sadly, what is perhaps Northern New York’s most intriguing geographical feature hasn’t been visited by tourists or locals since the 1990s: the underground caves. Watertown and a number of surrounding areas, including Dexter, Limerick, Rodman, Adams, Lyme, and Brownville have been built on top of an immense sheet of limestone. Limestone is a soft type of sedimentary rock so called because it originated as sediment- or in limestone’s particular case, the skeletons

of small underwater creatures that have collected over vast amounts of time.

So what does sedimentary rock have to do with caves? Given the soft nature of limestone, it is particularly susceptible to certain compounds like carbon dioxide sometimes contained in water. These compounds react with limestone’s composition to form carbonic acid, a weak acid that slowly begins to dissolve the rock. In Jefferson County’s case, the mighty waters of the Black River slowly but surely carved away at the limestone over the millennia to form abscesses, or caves.

Caves carved out of limestone typically showcase interesting features like springs, sinkholes, disappearing streams, and enlarged bedrock joints. Limestone also introduces minerals and nutrients to the ground that help with soil fertility — something that generations of area farmers

have surely appreciated. Another interesting fact is that limestone caves can exist in areas where there isn’t a surface stream found for hundreds or thousands of acres — a testament to the persistent nature of water. New York is noted for its caves, with the longest networks found around Albany and in Jefferson County.

Simply referred to as the “Watertown Caves,” it was long believed that the first exploration of the local caverns by white settlers was conducted in 1822. However, in 1935, Crandall Phillips, a local judge, discovered the date 1809 inscribed on a cavern wall. Judge Phillips was an experienced cave explorer noted for his numerous underground excursions.

The noted British naval officer, traveler, and author, Capt. Frederick Marryat wrote about the caves. He published his accounts in a thinly veiled work of fiction

LENKA P. WALLDROFF is former curator of collections for the Jefferson County Historical Museum.

She is a former museum specialist and conservator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Happy Holidays!

“

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“ The Sm ART” Choice • Convenient • Affordable • Free parking • Minutes from I-81 and 1,000 Island Bridge • Jet service to Chicago (ORD) and destinations beyond

Exit US 81 at NYS Route 12F - Coffeen Street - Exit 46 follow Route 12F 3.5 miles west

22529 Airport Drive, Dexter, NY 13634

www.watertowninternationalairport.com

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

in 1842. Numerous visitors to the caves reported labyrinthine passages leading to underground streams, high Gothic chambers, and stalagmites and stalactites.

These reports have contributed vastly to our knowledge of these interesting caverns, which have never been professionally or fully mapped. Two local attempts were made in 1958 and 1970 but the results were incomplete. Last year, members of the Western New York cave explorers group Niagara Frontier Grotto contacted city officials in Watertown about exploring the Black River cave under the Watertown Veterans Memorial Riverwalk.

The caves have been part of local lore for almost as long as Watertown has been in existence. Legend maintains that somewhere in their tentacle-like depths they hide a cache of gold, artifacts, and other buried treasure. To date, however, the only artifacts discovered in the caverns have been those left by previous parties marking their visit — a glass bottle containing a slip of paper dated June 1, 1911, bearing the visitors’ signatures, for example.

Outside of individual adventures, some of the caves were used for commercial entertainment. The caves located in Glen Park, just down river from Watertown, were included in a small local amusement park that operated there for some years.

The park was in many ways similar to Coney Island and included a Ferris wheel, merry-go-rounds, concession stands, midway performances, and even a guided tour of the local cave.

The caves were used for practical purposes as well. The caverns under Watertown’s Newell Street were reportedly used for refrigeration. As the ice in those caves formed around mid-winter and did not melt until September, a local brewery used the caves to store beer. In another instance, one of the Public Square caverns was considered by the City Council for a possible bomb shelter during World War II. At one point, Watertown’s Chamber of Commerce even considered opening the caves to the public, hoping to draw more tourists.

While that idea never came to fruition, the caves were used as the venue for nearly 30 wedding ceremonies over the years.

Citing insurance liability, most cave entrances were sealed up during the mid1990s after increasing numbers of people got lost in them or were trapped by falling debris. Though they are no longer open to the public, the caves will certainly live on in local memory and lore.

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HOMES

Bright palatte for Sackets log home Adirondack weaver, artist creates living room centerpiece

BY PEGGY DeYOUNG

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

FAMILY TRADITIONS AND THE owner’s deep desire to move back to the north country inspired this log home. It reflects special memories from spending summers with her family in their log cabin. To create her own special place, she first found the land: a few acres of woods along a creek. Situating the home was the most difficult task of the entire project.

She spent months looking at the land off Dodge Avenue and the views from many angles. In the end, the site allowed her to keep most of the trees on the land, includ-

42

ing a pine tree cluster for privacy and a wonderful creek view.

The home is built of western red cedar harvested from a sustainable forest in the West, then brought to Maine, where it is air dried for years before arriving by the truckload to its final destination. Logs are up to 15-inches in diameter, hand-hewn, leaving some bark on for texture and finished with a labor-intensive hand-applied natural sealant. The house literally twists and groans for the first couple of months as the logs settle into their new purpose. Though not required, the chinking is visually important to define the logs and add character.

The design direction was “from the floor up.” First, antique hickory wide plank flooring was chosen.

During an annual Thousand Islands Art Center summer craft show, the owner fell in love with a handwoven rug called “Autumn in the Adirondacks,” by artist and weaver Lis Barsuglia-Madsen of Harrisville. Lis was commissioned to create the brightly colored striped rug for the living room. The rest of the interior design revolved around the rug. Colors could not be bright enough. The couch was upholstered in a cherry red Ultrasuede with accent pillows of each color in the rug. Throughout the house, interesting rugs, quilts and fiber art add warmth and additional color.

Log and cedar walls become a gallery for

Sackets Harbor log home INTERIOR DESIGN: Porch and Paddle, Clayton, www.porchandpaddle.com RUGS: Lis Barsuglia-Madsen, Harrisville www.scandinavianweaveandknit.com

artwork produced by the owner’s family.

A feature of the home is the floor-toceiling fireplace with a split log mantle and log brackets. Full logs frame the living room window. Even the stairway to the second floor is made of split logs. The strength of the structure can be seen in the log beam ceilings in each room. No logs were wasted, as the hall bath has a vanity made of leftover logs and a countertop of the antique hickory floor planks. The bedrooms are furnished with family heirloom beds covered with brightly colored quilts and hand-woven rugs.

For Thanksgiving, the mantel is decorated with pumpkins, squash and rosehips as well as a nature’s harvest of a bird’s nest on a branch and dried milkweed pods collected from the woods. At Christmas time, a 10-foot evergreen tree flanks the fireplace with evergreen boughs and a collection of carolers on the mantel.

This is a very special place during the winter season and the holidays.

PEGGY DEYOUNG is a nationally certified interior designer who owns the Porch and Paddle Cottage Shop in Clayton. Contact her at deerrun@ twcny.rr.com.

MACAR’S • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring • Lighting

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Clockwise from top left, a large front porch invites visitors to the home. The living room is an interior focal point. Adirondack artist and weaver Lis Barsuglia-Madsen was commissioned to create the brightly colored striped rug. Bark was left on log stairs to add texture before a natural sealant was applied. A second-floor bedroom. The bathroom vanity was made from log scraps used in construction.

JUSTIN SORENSEN | NNY LIVING

JA NUA RY VING NOVEMB ER / FEBRUA DECEMBRY ER 2012 201 2 || NNY LI LIVING

43 43

MY NNY

‘Ives Park gazebo’

BY CATHERINE LaPOINTE / MASSENA MEDIA: Oil on gesso board.

DATE: 2009 ABOUT THE ARTIST: Catherine LaPointe, a 2010 Syracuse University graduate created this oil painting of Ives Park in Potsdam, with its great tree changing into autumnal colors. Ms. LaPointe specializes in book and editorial illustrations but also creates images in a variety of media, including watercolor, of scenes from throughout the north country like Higley Flow State Park, Colton, and the Raquette River in Massena.

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

Give us your best image. If you have captured a snippet of NNY through your lens or on canvas, email it to us at nnyliving@wdt.net.

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OCP, from page 29 a dedicated group of people bringing this caliber of talent to the north country.”

Over the years, OCP has received numerous accolades including the Ogdensburg City School District’s Civic Award for its commitment towards students, teachers and curriculum, the St. Lawrence County of Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Excellence Award, and it has been ranked by the Central New York Business Journal as one of the top cultural and performing-arts organizations in the state.

Mrs. Palao said one of the biggest chal-

lenges OCP faces today is raising money for the organization.

Last year productions totaled $150,000.

The New York Arts Council typically donates $4,000 to 5,000 dollars per year, but much of the organization’s funds comes from grants and fundraisers. Ticket sales cover only one third of the additional production costs, which include hotel accommodations for performers, rent, set assembly and marketing.

Mrs. Palao said the non-profit remains committed to offering quality performances at an affordable price despite increase in costs and decreases in state funding.

“Where most of the population typi-

cally earns close to $15,000 per year, our mission has now about making the performing arts accessible for everyone,” said Mrs. Palao. “We want to encourage those who have never been to the theatre before to come out and buy a ticket.”

“It’s a bargain and twice that,” Mr. Schwartz said. “Tickets cost about $20 to $30 and they’re three times that towards Syracuse and New York City. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the north country.

I’d hate to ever see it end.”

AMANDA PURCELL is a Johnson Newspapers staff writer. Contact her at 393-0610 or apurcell@ ogd.com.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2 01 2 | NNY LI VING

45

WOMEN’S WISE

When disease strikes, don’t let it define you

NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2012 | NNY L IVING

BY JOLEENE DESROSIERS

46

DISEASE IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE. Being diagnosed with a disease doesn’t mean it’s all over for you. If anything, it’s an awakening to just how fragile life is and how abundant the goodness is within it. Life is what we make of it. At least that’s what breast cancer survivor Janet Rebeor, Oswego County, says. And it must be handled with as much humor as we can muster.

“After my diagnosis, I thought, what could I do? There I was, looking at a completely bald woman in the mirror and I thought, ‘Oh my, look at me!’ I had to laugh. Friends would tell me I had a great skull and I thought that was funny.”

So, each day, Janet decided to put her makeup on and get dressed. Once she did, she began to see a different woman in the mirror.

“I didn’t see a bald person undergoing chemo. I just saw me,” she said. “I made it a point to look my best every day, despite my gleaming skull. It made me feel good and it made me feel normal.”

All too often, we consider ourselves abnormal if we don’t look like everyone else or conform to how others think we should. But Janet saw her plight as an opportunity to grow. This single shift in thought made her a warrior, and it’s what keeps her going today.

“You have to hang in there. My husband and I could have said, ‘Oh, woe is us,’ and given up completely. But there is no victory in that. Overcoming my situation, that was victory. You struggle through the hard times and when it’s time and you’re ready, you stand up, dig in and

All too often we consider ourselves abnormal if we don’t look like everyone else or conform to how others think we should act. Life has no rules, just lots of curvy roads.

Ride them joyously. fight. Hang on to your faith, no matter what it is. You’ve got to find the lighter side of cancer — or anything you’re going through — and take it from there.”

By abandoning negative thoughts, Janet focused on a good life and all of its frivolities. Her choice to grow in this way has enabled her to practice compassion and self-love with herself. Today she is the epitome of what she practices. She is love.

Life has no rules, just lots of curvy roads. Ride those curves with joyously.

For Janet, it’s nearly as simple with these words she lives by: “If God brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it.”

DO YOU KNOW OR are you a Northern New York woman who has done something inspiring? If so, reach out to us. We want to share your story.

Email us at nnyliving@wdt.net.

JOLEENE DESROSIERS is a transformational speaker and freelance writer who lives in Pulaski.

Contact her at joleene@joleenespeaks.com. Visit her at www.joleenespeaks.com.

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