Our area is gearing up for the summer and this issue is packed full of great local summer fun! PLUS, we have the WINNERS of the 2022 Mini City Family Choice Awards! So click through and check out all of the fun for this month and congratulations to all of the winners!
Mini City Magazine
The latest issue of Mini City Magazine is here! Click on any of the images to read it for free online now! In this month’s issue we have two summer camp highlights to share with you but you had better act fast because only a few spots remain for both of these amazing options!
We have also opened up the voting for the Mini City Family Choice Awards! Voting will run through May and you can find the link to vote in this issue!
Another fantastic feature in this issue is all about the summer pass you NEED to make this the best summer ever, and the best part? It’s under $100 for the ENTIRE SUMMER. Yes, it’s true! Click through now to read more and make this the best summer ever!
Summer Camp Guide!
We have added some amazing summer camp options to our Mini City Summer Camp Guide, don’t miss checking them all out in our guide by clicking the link below! Spots are filling up FAST!
Little Folks Show with Cowboy Ernie Sites 4/23
Join us for our free monthly family concert series made possible by NYSCA on Saturday, April 23rd 3PM – 4PM at Caffe Lena at 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs.
Here’s a delightful hour of music to enjoy as a family! Relax in the cool comfort of our historic listening room while you introduce the young folks in your life to the joy of live music. The songlist is kid-friendly and the sing-alongs are plentiful. Reserve your seats early for this popular Free series. Made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.
A former rodeo cowboy, Ernie Sites was raised on a family ranch in southern Idaho. Combining traditional and original western singing, song writing, yodeling, cowboy poetry, storytelling and trick roping with his own personal brand of western humor, Cowboy Ernie entertains and educates audiences of all ages.
Because this is a children's show vaccines are not required for attendees.
Saratoga Paint and Sip Studio Celebrates 10 Years in Business ~ Ribbon Cutting 4/24
Saratoga Paint and Sip Studio Celebrates 10 Years in Business ~ Ribbon Cutting
Sunday, April 24 - 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Free
“We are thrilled to celebrate 10 years of connecting to our community with our unique and exciting experience,” said Catherine Hover. “We are grateful to our incredible staff of talented local artists, our guests who make every event a party and our Upstate New York family who make our near 1,500 mile move worth it every day.”
The Hovers’ will be celebrating Paint & Sip’s decade in business with a ribbon cutting on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. The event will include champagne, cake and giveaways for attendees. The celebration continues all month long with $10 off all tickets in April using the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY at checkout.
Click the button below to register now!
Baby Animals with the Easter Bunny at Kulak's Nursery & Landscaping
Don’t miss Baby Animals with the Easter Bunny at Kulak's Nursery & Landscaping located at 1615 Route 146 in Rexford! Come bottle feed BABY goats, lambs and a calf while petting fuzzy baby bunnies and chicks! Don’t forget to bring your cameras while visiting with the Easter Bunny! Oh and of course we have a planting activity for our little growing gardeners.
*Grandma Apple’s Cheesecakes will also be there selling egg shaped, 4oz personal, 4” & 9” cheesecakes varies flavors! Check her out on facebook, you may pre-order as well!
*please note you can show up anytime between 11-3pm. Depending on the size of the lines you can make your rounds through the event in 30-60 minutes. Lines tend to deminish the later the day goes on.
*money will be collected at time of arrival, cash lines always move faster but you can use credit card inside at the counter.
*this is a non profit event, the money collected gets donated to the local farmers who are trusting us and letting us borrow their animals for our event.
*reminder* when you shop local small businesses your money stays within the community!
Tap the button below for more info:
Mini City Magazine :: March
We are so excited about this month’s issue of Mini City Magazine because GUESS WHAT? The Mini City Family Choice Awards are BACK! That’s right! After taking a hiatus during the pandemic, we are bringing back the wildly popular Family Choice Awards which let’s you guys vote on YOUR family favorites. Right now we are accepting submissions for the categories, so if you have a local business that you love, flip through the magazine and find the link to submit your favorite so they can be including in the voting!
In this issue we also have some great spring picks, our Book Club picks, a great Field Trip to take with the whole fam and more! Tap any of the photos below to read it online NOW! xoxo
Spring Vacation Programs at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
Looking for something to do during Spring Vacation? Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park offers “naturally” fun programs with a week chock-full of outdoor programs scheduled.
Trees and Their Bark
Monday, April 18 at 1:00 pm
Join our educators for a walk in Congress Park to learn the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees. Following our hike will be a short craft! To register, call the library at (518) 584-7860 ext. 303.
Spring Scavenger Hunt
Tuesday, April 19 at 12:00 pm
Join us on a guided hike to observe the final days of winter and witness the early signs of spring. Look for new growth that spring brings and signs of animal activity
Owl Exploration
Tuesday, April 19 at 4:00 pm
What makes owls such great nighttime predators, and what animals becomes their prey? Our activity includes an owl pellet dissection! This program is geared for ages 7+ and has a $5 supply fee.
Spring Discovery Walk
Wednesday, April 20 at 12:00 pm
Take a hike with our environmental educators to learn about all the changes that spring will bring to the Saratoga Sandplains ecosystem.
Pollinator Planting
Wednesday, April 20 at 4:00 pm
Spring is the season of growth! Assist our pollinator friends and grow some native plants in your decorated pots! This program has a $5 supply fee.
Nesting Birds Walk
Thursday, April 21 at 12:00 pm
Take a hike to search for the many types of birds nests at the Preserve, then join us for a craft! Can you make a nest better than a bird? Let's find out! This program has a $3 supply fee.
FrogWatch USA Walk with Saratoga Springs Public Library
Thursday, April 21 at 7:00pm
Learn how to identify frogs and toads by sight and sound as they appear from their winter hiding places! Walk with our educators around vernal ponds and listen for their calls. To register, call the library at (518) 584-7860 ext. 305.
Earth Day Clean Up
Friday, April 22, Morning, Specific time TBA
Celebrate your local trails this Earth Day. Join our staff for the good habit of cleaning up our community and protecting our wild spaces by participating in a habitat management project! Specific project TBA
American Woodcock Walks
Friday and Saturday, April 22 and April 23rd at 7:00 pm
Learn about this silly-looking critter then take a guided walk at dusk. Through the meadows we will watch for their mating displays and listen for their calls. What makes these birds so unique? Register to find out!
Registration is required. Space is limited. To register please visit our website, wiltonpreserve.org, and click on the “Public Programs” tab, then “Calendar of Events” to access the online registration form. For more information, please contact the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email atinfo@wiltonpreserve.org.
For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.
Maple Weekend :: March 19-20 and March 26-27
Maple Weekend is here! For two weekends (March 19-20 and March 26-27) visitors can visit local farms for pancake breakfasts, sugar house tours, activities and more!
Visitors to Maple Weekend can:
TASTE a pure and natural food product at its freshest and in its many forms.
LEARN how maple syrup and other maple confections are made.
EXPERIENCE the unique family traditions of making maple syrup in New York State.
CELEBRATE New York’s first agricultural harvest of the season in a family-friendly environment.
MEET the producers who annually make New York the second largest maple producing state in the U.S.
SHARE in the many ways to cook and bake with maple syrup, maple sap and other maple drinks and products.
WITNESS sustainable agriculture at its best.
Click the button below to find a Maple Weekend participant near you! There are so many in our area to visit for both weekend!
Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour: March 19-26, 2022
Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour will take place Saturday, March 19 through Saturday, March 26. Event goers will have the opportunity to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts to-go at participating restaurants all week long. Discover Saratoga will end the week with the traditional celebration we all know and love! Chowderfest will take place on Saturday, March 26. Enjoy live entertainment and family-friendly activities from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. Try $2 (4 oz.) chowder samples and vote for your favorite.
T-shirts ($10, XXL $12) and beanies ($7) will be on sale at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center March 15-26, and the Saratoga Springs City Center parking garage (ground floor) on Saturday, March 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Click the button below for more info:
Opportunity with The Marchesiello Team :: Learn More
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone currently in the Real Estate industry looking for a salaried position instead of staying in sales. Real estate experience is not a firm requirement but is preferred. If the below sounds like you or someone you know email Christine@themarchesielloteam.com for more details!
Maternal Mental Health Support Group with Saratoga Hospital
1ST & 3RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | ZOOM MEETING
More than 70% of women experience the “baby blues” after childbirth, but when these symptoms persist and combine with feelings of anxiety or despair, they could be warning signs of postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. Although it is a frightening time, counseling and treatment are available. You are not alone. Saratoga Hospital offers a bimonthly support group led by a Licensed Social Worker and a Registered Nurse who have completed specialized training specific to postpartum mental health. If you’re interested in joining, please call 518-580-2871 and click here for more information.
Mini City :: Summer Camp Issue 2022
Can you believe it is already time to register for summer camp?! And guess what, these camps are ALREADY filling up, YES! So hop on it and snag your kiddos spot in one of these top local summer camp programs! Flip through this issue to find out more about some of the best programs in our area with all the info on how and when to register. Plus, Christine is back from The Marchesiello Team answering the questions submitted from readers last month and you will love her honest and well thought out answers. Now click on any of the photos below to read the issue now!
Family Hike at Moreau Lake State Park
Let’s explore our winter wonderland! We’ll set out from the Park Office at Moreau Lake State Park on Sunday, February 6th at 2pm keeping a lookout for animals or their tracks, plant life and other wonders of nature. Our route will be determined by the age and ability level of the participants but whichever direction we take we’ll have fun and learn together. Dress for the weather! Cost is $1 per child, pay at the office. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 518-917-2174.
King Brothers Dairy Ice Cream for Breakfast
King Brother’s Dairy’s 3rd Annual Ice Cream for Breakfast weekend will take place on Saturday, February 5th and Sunday, February 6th from 9am-1pm! If you've celebrated with them in the past, you know what the excitement is all about! If you haven't, be sure to visit this weekend to experience it for yourself!
Mini City Summer Camp Guide
It’s that time of year again, time for Summer Camp registrations! Are you a local summer camp who wants to have your camp front and center for local parents? Check out the Mini City Summer Camp Guide, which features both a website guide inclusion and inclusion in our monthly online magazine! Click the button below for more info!
Mini City Magazine :: January
In this month’s issue we have some winter fun with the Mini City Winter Guide, a great piece by The Marchesiello Team that will give you some perspective you might not have considered before, the power of saying no, some Book Club picks and more! Click on any of the images to read it online for free now!
The Mini City Preschool Guide
click the image above to see the 2022 Preschool Guide now!
Family Hike and Knee High Naturalists at Moreau Lake State Park
Knee High Naturalists
Sunday, Jan 9th at 10am
We will meet inside the Warming Hut for story time, then head out for a walk along the lakeshore to see what nature has to show us. Geared toward ages 2-5. Registration is required at 518-917-2174. Cost is $1 per child.
Family Hike
Sunday, Jan 9th at 2pm
Join us as we hike from the office down to the Warming Hut, across to the lake and back up to the office. We’re sure to see animal habitats and tracks! For kids of all ages and their guardians. Registration is required, please call 518-917-2174. Cost is $1 per child.
Moreau Lake State Park is located at 605 Old Saratoga Road in Gansevoort.
Featured
Join the Palette Book Club NOW!
Have you been looking for a great way to connect with our community, an EASY way to connect with some other people and also have fun? Check out the Palette Book Club which is open for sign ups now!
TOP 5 REASONS TO JOIN PALETTE BOOK CLUB IN 2022:
You love to read and want to find a community of others who share your passion
You want to read more and know that anything done in a pack of humans will make you look good (The Cheerleader Effect is real, guys)
It always helps to chat with others after you read a book! You get more out of the experience by talking through it (or laughing through it)
Conversation with other humans about something other than work/global pandemics…SIGN ME UP! To join this club, you DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO READ THE BOOK.
Show up, and you're in! It's all about the experience with zero judgement, ever
This book club is starting out as digital but there are plans to be able to meet in person when it is good to go! The next Book Club Meeting is on Tuesday, January 18th @ 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, plenty of time to pick up the book and get some reading in!
To RSVP for this event, please join the Palette Book Club mailing list!