Category Archives: Holiday Shopping Guide

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The window of opportunity to find the perfect gift is starting to close. Fortunately, people who are looking for personalized and unique gifts don’t need to travel far from home.

From Lake George to Glens Falls, small area businesses are stocked and ready to help people find that special something. Small shops give personalized attention in an atmosphere that brings joy back to gift giving, something that may be harder to find in larger retail stores or shopping malls.

The selection at small businesses ranges from gourmet food to high-end clothing.

At MinkyMink, 203 Glen St. in downtown Glens Falls, owner Maura Forcier said those looking for curated clothing and accessories at affordable prices will find themselves in luck at her shop. She specializes in statement pieces that she describes as modern and comfortably chic.

In time for the holiday season, Saratoga Performing Arts Center is offering customizable gifts for music lovers through Dec. 31.

The 2017 holiday collection includes the ultimate classical season pass, which features a lawn seat for all performances of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra and the opportunity to upgrade to the best available amphitheater seat for $5 for any performance, up to five times ($165 through Dec. 31); gift certificates that can be redeemed for tickets to any SPAC performance, Live Nation show or the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival; the flex ticket option for the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival ($56 through Dec. 31); and holiday gift subscriptions to Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at SPAC and Opera Saratoga.

“The ultimate classical season pass is the best kept ‘SPAC insider’ secret. What’s well known about these lawn passes is that they offer the opportunity to experience SPAC’s world-class programming for the entire classical season at an average ticket price of just $7 per performance, less than a movie ticket,” said Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC.

By Maureen Werther

The Glens Falls Collaborative is wrapping up preparations for its annual Hometown Holidays event that will take place at venues around the city.

This year’s festivities will last for two days, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, with a party in City Park hosted by DeeJay DuBray, followed by carols, courtesy of the Glens Falls Symphony Children’s Choir, and a tree lighting with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The chairperson of this year’s event is Nancy Turner, owner of the Bell House Inn at 153 Bay St. in Glens Falls and a newcomer to the city. Turner and her husband, Bill, moved to Glens Falls from Altamont about a year and a half ago to be closer to their grandchildren.

While they were getting ready to open the Bell House Inn, they heard about the Glens Falls Collaborative. Nancy decided to become a member and from there, she went on to become part of the lodging sector on the board.

“Glens Falls Collaborative hosts nearly every event that you see in downtown Glens Falls—Boo to You, Fit Fest, Pet Fest,’” she said, naming off some of the events the Collaborative has initiated since its founding in 2012.

Rich Cirino, president of the Collaborative, said that last year’s event was extremely successful, noting that the City Park was nearly full to capacity.

Fifty-seven percent of New Yorkers plan to spend about the same this year as last on holiday gifts while 31 percent plan to lessen their spending and 9 percent intend to spend more according to a statewide survey of...

Several local businesses have put their support behind Gift Back, an alternative gift fair entering its third year in Glens Falls. Gift Back will be held at Mean Max Brew Works, 193 Glen St., on Friday, Dec. 2, from...