NatureFest at Moreau Lake State Park is this Saturday, September 16th from 10am to 4pm! Admission is free for this fun family event with crafts, animals, food, silent auction, demonstrations, educational information, something for everyone!
Moreau Lake State Park is located at 605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort.
After a year’s absence, the popular Saratoga Native American Festival is returning to the Saratoga State Park along with a few new changes! For one day only on Sunday, September 10th and now located at the National Museum of Dance, activities will be held indoors with the exception of an outdoor food vendor tent, rain or shine! The festival offers authentic northeastern Native American drumming and dance, storytelling, music, crafts, art and native food.
9:30AM: Vendors Open
10:00 AM: Demonstrations Begin
Demonstrators will start on every hour and half hour mark throughout the day in front of their tables for 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Each demonstration will occur at least twice throughout the day and announced by festival emcee Sheldon Sundown, in addition to raffle and special announcements.
|FESTIVAL SHOWCASE EVENTS|
*PLEASE NOTE: Events in the Main Performance Area and Black Box Theater events may run concurrent of each other. Each showcase will be introduced by festival emcee Sheldon Sundown.
-Main Performance Area, dance studio B-
11:00AM: Tom Porter's Opening Address
12:00PM: Flute Performance by Al Cleveland
12:15PM: Koniwenahawwi (Akwesasne Women Singers)
1:15PM: Onondaga Dancers
2:15PM: Black Hawk Singers Drum
3:15PM Onondaga Dancers
4:15PM: Iroquois storytelling by Perry Ground
5:00PM: Black Hawk Singers Drum
6:30PM: Tom Porter’s Closing Address
-Black Box Theater-
1:30PM: Iroquois Storytelling with Perry Ground
2:30PM: Joseph Bruchac, James Bruchac & Jesse Bruchac
3:15PM: Kontiwenahawwi (Akwesasne Women Singers) & Mohawk Storyteller Kay Olan
5:00PM: Gathering Our Hearts at Standing Rock: Film screening with Oscar-nominated director Fidel Moreno.
To read more information visit www.saratoganativefestival.com.
Camp Little Notch is having a FREE Open House on Sunday, September 3rd from
12-5pm at camp, 744 Sly Pond Road in Fort Ann. The Open House includes tours for parents and a fun afternoon activity for parents and kids ages 5 and up. Combine your visit with an overnight stay and really experience the magic of Little Notch!
Members, alumni, and past campers—introduce your friends and family to the magic of Little Notch. First time visitor? The more you wander, the more you love this place. Come see what all the excitement’s about!
For more information, please contact them at campdirector@camplittlenotch.org.
This is the perfect Sunday family outing, live music on the gazebo stage at SPAC! This Sunday, pack a picnic and throw a blanket on the grass for this Caffè Lena at SPAC free performance starting at 1pm.
Dance and relax with a summer afternoon of songs from the roots and branches of American folk music. These family-friendly festivals will take place on the Gazebo Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. No tickets, Free for all ages!
August 27
1-2 PM | Let's Be Leonard
2:30-3:30 PM | Sweet Megg & The Wayfarers
4-5 PM | Soul Inscribed
We are so excited about the :: BIG NEWS :: that Mini City Magazine is going monthly and we are already planning the BIG September Issue for both Albany and Saratoga! Want to be a part of it? Spots are already filling up with Mini City supporters, click the button below to nab yours before it's gone! We love local businesses and we love featuring you guys, have something you want to see in Mini City? Email us at hello@theminicity.com. xoxo
We are so excited to be bringing Mini City to Albany, and even more excited for the Albany Edition of Mini City Magazine! Click the cover above to read it now!
photo @kayakshakguy via facebook
by Jess Updyke
Over the past couple of years one of the things that ranks very high on my must-do summer list is stand up paddle boarding (SUP). I regularly go for little jaunts around Galway Lake but I do enjoy going to Kayak Shak located in Saratoga Springs several times throughout the summer.
My favorite thing to do is rent a board for $20 for 3 hours and make my way over to Lake Local where I stop off quick to have a drink, maybe a quick bite if I made good timing, use the bathroom and make my way back to the Kayak Shak. Because I typically just stroll on the board and don’t ever try to break any records, it’s the perfectly timed for the three hour time block I paid for. It’s such a fun thing to do solo or with a group of friends.
Speaking of having fun with friends, this one time at band camp. Just kidding. Last summer, Jenny knew how much I enjoyed SUP so she asked if I wanted to go one Sunday morning with her and our friend Catherine. I show up raring to go and expecting it will be similar to my normal route but little did I know, she has us signed up to do SUP yoga! If you could have seen my reaction—which I am sure is not uncommon but totally panicked and was like YOU MUST BE KIDDING!! I was so stressed out because how could I possibly do yoga on a floating board. Seemed impossible to me.
But I pushed through the discomfort and here is what happened:
- It requires a totally different kind of focus, and not just when you’re doing the poses, but also when you’re transitioning between them.
- It seemed even more muscles were needed, I think because it’s a surface that is constantly in motion.
- There is something so peaceful and magical being out on the water and you do form that sense of peace.
- It’s so nice to be out in nature. The lily pads are so pretty. The only frustrating part is not having your phone to take pictures of the beauty.
- Because it’s all about balance, your senses are heightened and you have a new awareness of your breath, mind and body.
- It’s challenging but doable so you have such a sense of accomplishment when finished.
- There is a sense of freedom that comes with doing it on the water to an otherwise earth-bound practice. The worst that can possibly happen is you get wet which actually works out great when you’re hot and sweaty anyway.
- We definitely had some laughs and it was a great way to bond.
- You feel totally reinvigorated when finished.
Floating on water helps you relax but helps you with the MOST important aspect of yoga (and balancing on a paddle board): YOUR BREATH.
Want to try it for yourself? Click the button below to sign up!
Big things are happening here at Mini City HQ, starting with the introduction of the brand new Mini Magazine! These will have a hyper local focus to give you all the info you need for your community. Oh and guess what? It's gonna be monthly! Click the photo above to read the first issue, and stay tuned for the Albany Edition coming next week!
From earthquakes and glaciers to stormwater and invasive species, come aboard the LGA’s Floating Classroom for two hours this summer to learn all about Lake George and how to keep the Lake’s water clean and clear.
Onboard, you’ll enjoy a hands-on adventure and learn all about Lake George water quality. You will find out what makes Lake George unique. You’ll measure water clarity, catch zooplankton, and test pH and temperature. You’ll find out if Lake George is healthy, and what you can do to help keep it that way.
Prices: $17 adults, $16 seniors and $10 children under 18.
Reservations are required and can be made online by clicking the link below:
Getting the kids to eat healthy can be somewhat challenging sometimes, am I right? Forget eating healthy, just getting them to EAT can be a challenge sometimes. So we are always on the lookout for ways to make sure they are getting what they need.
For a while now we've been eyeing the Olly Kids Smoothie Swirly Strawberry Protein Powder but hadn't pulled the trigger on it because let's face it, spending $25+ on something the kids might hate is just not appealing. But one day, little sample packets appeared and so we had to try 'em.
The verdict? The kids LOVE IT. I mix it with just organic milk, I give it to the baby, the big kids, even my extremely picky five year old loves it. They thought it was so good I had to mix some into my flax milk and they were right, this stuff is good. One serving of Kids Smoothie provides 15mg of glucosinolates (a phytonutrient), equivalent to the amount in a serving of broccoli!
The protein powder is a blend of pea, golden chlorella and flax that delivers essential amino acids, omega-3s and powerful phytonutrients with 5 grams of fiber from apple, cassava root and flax to help support healthy, balanced digestion, and even better, it has vitamins sourced from 12 organic fruits and veggies.
The kids liked the strawberry one so much I went out on a limb and got the chocolate one too, also a huge hit. The powders aren't chalky or off tasting at all, and the little kids are always asking me for the "pink milk" now. When we don't have time in the morning for a leisurely breakfast (ie cutting up actual fruit etc) or someone "isn't that hungry" this is our go to, and it also is great at night as that very last pre-bedtime "snack".
We are so excited about this upcoming Flower Crown Workshop at Flower Scout in Troy! We've been crushing on Flower Scout via instagram for a while now, and this workshop is going to be gorgeous.
Flower Scout is a full-service floral design studio, located in the historic city of Troy. The majority of the flowers they use come from local farms, secret woodland forage spots, and from the Flower Scout garden, also in Troy, which supplies bouquets for a 20-member summer CSA and special orders.
Colie Collen, founder, farmer, and designer at Flower Scout, brings her love of all things wild and seasonal to her work with flowers. She seeks to create individual experiences for clients, based on what colors, textures, and shapes the land/garden/season is creating at this particular moment, with their aesthetic preferences continually in mind.
For this workshop the space is really limited and we already have sign ups, so if you want to be part of this lovely all female, relaxing evening, fill out the form below to be added to the invite list (a wait list will be created in the event of a sellout).
The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, returns to its beloved summer home at Saratoga Performing Arts Center tonight, Wednesday, August 2nd at 8pm, to kick off three whole weeks of exhilarating, diverse performances with a bunch of great, family friendly performances you won't want to miss.
The season, August 2 – 19, encompasses wide-ranging classical and contemporary repertoire, world renowned musicians and conductors, family-oriented multi-media offerings and an opera evening.
In today's Mini Guide we'll give you the scoop on the must see family friendly performances and family nights and some tips and tricks on how to do SPAC with the kids.
The grand finale of the Russian Festival will be a spectacular bravura of physical exertion – a Russian-themed Cirque de la Symphonie performance. Russian musical history, ranging from the grandiose emotional expression of the “Big Five” Russian romantics in St. Petersburg to the 20th-century masters Stravinsky and Shostakovich, will be embodied in the choreography of exceptional aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen from around the world. Performance on the Charles R. Wood Gazebo Stage.
The CDPHP Family Night Series (Fridays August 4, 11, 18) Join in for a night of world class entertainment for the whole family! Experience strolling magicians, FREE Stewart's ice cream, free balloon animals, chalk contests, family games and more! Featuring photobooths by Saratoga Photobooth Company, open every Friday!
AND the Albany Medical Center Childrens Workshop on the Lawn (Fridays August 4, 11, 18) The Philadelphia Orchestra principal musicians lead these engaging and interactive workshops on the lawn at 7pm on Family Nights.
Steven Spielberg’s cinematic masterpiece E.T. The Extra–Terrestrial will be shown on four HD screens and accompanied by a live performance of John Williams’s Academy Award®-winning score. One of the brightest stars in motion picture history, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial follows the moving story of a lost alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy.
The film that gave the world one of its greatest movie heroes, Indiana Jones, will make its SPAC debut as John Williams’s epic score is performed live. Set in 1936, a professor of archeology and “obtainer of rare antiquities” Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked by U.S. Army Intelligence to recover the legendary Ark of the Covenant before it falls into the hands of the Nazis. Armed with his hat, whip and wits, Jones must face formidable enemies – and impossible odds – to save the day and the world.
First and foremost, bring a picnic blanket (like the Little Unicorn outdoor blanket that is water resistant, we got ours at The Bundle Store). Folding chairs are great too, and you can pick your spot on the lawn and set up your little camp. We also usually bring along some blankets and favorite stuffed animal friends and of course SNACKS! The concessions are open, so snacks aren't totally necessary, but let's face it, snacks are always necessary with small children. People like to get creative on the lawn at SPAC, I've seen cheeseboards and full on dinner spreads, takeout containers and desserts. Bring something to nosh on and something to drink, put a little bug spray on the kids (honestly though it doesn't get too buggy) and snuggle in to watch the show. There are HUUUUUUGE screens that you can watch on so anywhere on the lawn feels like a great spot.
The Big Latch On is happening THIS Saturday, August 5th at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs from 10:15 AM - 12 PM and Miss Rosie from Kindermusik at Saratoga Sings will be there to lead a short Babies class demo and answer any questions you may have about Kindermusik and the great program here in Saratoga Springs!
Want to take part in the Big Latch On? Arrive by 10:15 to register and stay after the Latch for a Kindermusik demonstration from Rosie, a booktalk from a Northshire bookseller and more!
There will also be information from other local baby-friendly organizations such as, Binx, Sling Babies, and As Love Grows, Birth and postpartum doula services! See https://biglatchon.org/ for more info.
It's almost August and if you're like me you're getting the summer stresses. Part of you is OVER this whole kids are home 24/7 no structure time and part of you is sad that it feels like summer is almost over. Don't sweat it, there is still plenty of summer to enjoy and time to power up for summer fun and outdoor adventures.
Energizer® knows how important it is to keep going even in those hazy days of summer, and with kids that want to stay up past bedtime and catch fireflies you need that extra energy. We partnered with Energizer® who gave us some high performance headlights to try out and Finn and Jack jumped at the chance to give 'em a test run.
The headlights are easy enough for even a five year old to use, just strap it on (strap is fully adjustable) and go. The button is easy enough for little fingers to push (the brightness can be adjusted) and it is absolutely perfect for a game of flashlight tag.
Even better, we packed it into our overnight campers trunks for those nighttime trips to the bathroom and we are definitely going to stash it in the backpacks for our family cabin in Vermont.
Jack and Finn approved, now the only thing to do is get a few more so the whole crew can play flashlight tag in the backyard!
Energizer powers outdoor entertaining throughout the summer—from holidays to family barbecues. A big thanks for partnering with us on this post! #stillgoing #ad
Wanderlust, producer of the largest yoga and lifestyle events in the world, aims to create a retreat experience that lets wellness enthusiasts, mindful adventurers, families, and foodies come together for a weekend of transformative yoga, outdoor activities, organic dining, local wines, live music and inspiring lectures in a breathtaking mountaintop setting. Wanderluster’s can choose from an extraordinary array of activities including yoga, meditation, explorative hikes, running treks, food demos, music workshops—and more— to create an unforgettable weekend escape.
With a variety of on-site lodging and Sun Bowl camping, a dizzying array of beautiful organic food choices, top name industry talent and a back drop right out of a John Muir photo, Wanderlust is a festival for all types and ages…and dogs too! Stratton Mountain Resort is only an hour and fifteen minute drive from Saratoga Springs making Wanderlust an easy one day experience if you decide. You can choose single or multi-day options and “a-la-carte” classes such as SUP or AIReal Yoga. You can also just show up and walk around the event, people watch, visit with vendors and enjoy many free on-site activities and promotions without purchasing a ticket!
Wanderlust’s events encompass Wanderlust Festival, the largest multi-day yoga and music festivals in the world and Wanderlust 108, a one-day “mindful triathlon” taking place in urban parks across the world. For more info, visit them online by clicking the button below:
The Wanderlust Festival tour will continue beyond Stratton with stops in Squaw Valley, California, July 20-23; Whistler, British Columbia (Canada), August 3-6 and Tremblant, Quebec (Canada), August 24-27.
Photography: Eric Huss / All World Photo
In case this is your first intro to the loveliness that is Tubby Todd, let us tell you a little about it. Tubby Todd is a line of clean, plant-based bath products that was created by a mom as a natural solution for her family’s sensitive skin. Every bath product is made with 100% natural ingredients that are simple and safe and this summer they have a limited-edition Summertime Tubby Tropics Bundle that is a summer MUST have!
The Pineapple & Passion Fruit Hair and Body Wash has a soft and fruity scent with a clean, sweet undertone. The Tropical Papaya Bubble Bath smells like fresh summer fruit, and the Coconut & Shea Butter Everyday Lotion has hints of pineapple and cacao seed butter, perfect for summer skin.
Some of our faves? We love the Mama Hand Cream and the Mama Freshening Spray (we keep both stashed in the diaper bag 24/7). Check out the full Tubby Todd line by clicking below:
Family Mondays will feature a wide variety of family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational activities – including the opportunity to pet a retired thoroughbred at the Horse Sense exhibit. The Family Mondays series will be held each Monday of the meet from 11am to 4pm in the Berkshire Bank Saratoga Pavilion.
Saratoga Family Zone :: 2017 capital improvements and upgrades to Saratoga Race Course include a revitalized playground area offering families a smoke- and alcohol-free interactive play area near the Reserved Seats Box Office and the Berkshire Bank Saratoga Pavilion.
New features of the Saratoga Family Zone include: an oval multi-lane running track surrounding the playscape, a miniature replica starting gate, a “selfie” photo station, spring horses and educational panels designed to teach children about the life of a race horse. Surrounded by trees, televisions showing the races and adjacent to the horse path, this area will welcome families with young children to run and play while parents relax. The playground area will also be available as a hospitality space for various special events, including children’s birthday parties.
Read more about Breakfast at the Track by clicking below:
The KIDZ BOP Kids Live Tour is coming to SPAC on Friday, July 21st and we wanna give you guys FREE tickets!
KIDZ BOP records kid-friendly versions of today’s biggest pop music hits sung by kids, for kids. Over the past 16 years, KIDZ BOP has created the #1 music brand for kids, selling more than 17,000,000 albums. Since 2001, families have welcomed KIDZ BOP into their homes and cars, making KIDZ BOP a fun and safe part of their daily lives. KIDZ BOP is proud to be a part of kids’ music “firsts.” For millions of kids each year, KIDZ BOP is their first introduction to pop music, and for tens of thousands of kids, the KIDZ BOP Kids Live Tour is their first concert experience!
Want to check out this year's tour with your kiddos? Simply comment below and one winner will receive FOUR tickets to the performance at SPAC this FRIDAY, JULY 21st at 6pm. The winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday at 12pm. Winner MUST be able to pick up the tickets in person in Saratoga prior to the performance. You may enter more than once.
Tickets are still available but they are going FAST! To purchase tickets click the link below:
Now to enter to win the FREE tickets, comment below and good luck!
Find all these ingredients locally in Saratoga here
Opening Day for the Saratoga Race Course is THIS Friday! There are so many ways to enjoy a day at the races with the kids, but today's guide is all about the breakfast at the track, a long standing tradition for many local families.
Breakfast at the track is a great option for when you want to get a feel of a day at the races but don't want to brave the crowds with little kids.
There are two options for having breakfast at the track. First, you can bring your own breakfast and hang out at the rail to watch the horses warm up, or you can sit and have the breakfast that is served on The Porch of the Clubhouse. Admission is free with breakfast pricing $18.50 for adults and $10.25 for kids 12 and under.
Mini Tip: keep in mind that admission must be paid to re-enter the track once live racing has begun.
Don't miss out on the free walking tour of the famous and historic stable area (weather permitting) while you're there. The first tram that takes you to the stable area leaves the main Clubhouse entrance at 7:30am with additional trams leaving approximately every 15 minutes. The last tour departs at around 9:00am (The Tour is available every race day except Travers Day and Labor Day). The tour is roughly 45 minutes from start to finish, and the last tour (and the most popular/busy tour time) leaves at approximately 9:00am or when the last tram is full to capacity.
Mini Tip: There are no reservations for the tours, and trams tend to fill up way before departure, so get there early.
To read more about the Saratoga Race Course, visit them online by clicking the button below:
