By Ann Donnelly

Walking into the new HiFi Loft shop and listening room at 32 Dix Ave. in Glens Falls, it can feel like returning to a 1970’s “rec room.” 

When owner and audiophile Jason Tavares saw the space, formerly Glens Falls Business Machines, with its wood paneling and a wall of windows looking out onto the street, he knew he had found a space to create his vision of what a hi-fi store should be. 

With the wood paneling, there are now geometric patterned rugs, artwork, a feature wall with retro wallpaper imported from Europe, armchairs, and sofas with throw pillows where fellow audiophiles can relax and enjoy what’s on the turntable. 

HiFi Loft offers a carefully curated assortment of amps, loudspeakers, turntables, and digital sources for any budget, level of experience, or musical taste. They also have a wide range of second-hand and new vinyl record albums. 

“The records bring new and younger customers into the shop,” says Tavares.

While HiFi Loft’s typical customer is a middle-aged male, Tavares’ ideal customers are  young people who love music. 

“They don’t know what they are missing, only listening to music recorded and reproduced digitally. They will see that, with better equipment, they can get much closer to the vibe of a live concert performance,” he said.

Fort Ticonderoga is now hosting private events including weddings, meetings, and other celebrations at pavilions and on the scenic grounds. 

Fort Ticonderoga is situated on Lake Champlain, nestled between New York’s Adirondack Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains. From the newly restored 1826 Pavilion, to the 60-foot Carillon boat, to the King’s Garden and to the heights of Mount Defiance, couples and groups can choose their unique venue to hold their picture-perfect destination event.

One of the on-site venues is the Pavillion.

An 1826 National Historic Landmark home, the Pavilion has a rich past of hospitality and luxury.  Located on the shores of Lake Champlain and surrounded by gardens, the estate is now a location for weddings. The house itself is also a place to host small meetings, intimate gatherings, and cocktail parties.

It features a lake front setting and multiple locates available for ceremonies and receptions. The King’s Garden frames the Pavilion. There is a private bridal suite with private entrance and  family and bridal party waiting rooms.

By Paul Post

Think of a high-powered speed boat that can do circles around ocean liners still leaving the dock. According to M&M Digital Printing officials, that’s the advantage its small size creates over bigger firms by allowing it to shift gears and get jobs done right away.

 “We get a lot of  ‘I need it yesterday’ type calls,” owner Matt Flint said. “There aren’t many printers that you can call and say, ‘Hey, can you print these and do it today?’ That’s where we specialize—that same-day, next-day service.”

 To keep up with growth and customer demand, Flint moved his decade-old business from 95 Broad St., Glens Falls, to a larger space at 726 Upper Glen St. in Queensbury last year.

 “We added some software and equipment including two of our wide-format printers, which streamlined production and we’ll be upgrading our production presses before end of this year,” he said.

 Flint plans to attend next month’s Printing United Expo, in Atlanta, to keep up with industry trends and technologies, and connect with others in the field as well.

 “I try to go every year,” he said. “They have all the most modern printing presses with the latest features, whether it’s UV or spot coating. All of the printing manufacturers’ latest equipment will be there.”

By Ann Donnelly

The Adirondack Folk School, based in Lake Luzerne, has started the process of expanding its facilities by 10,000 square feet to accommodate its programs on the main campus. 

Executive Director Terri Cerveny sent out  Request for Proposals(RFP) to architecture and design firms and expects to award the project sometime in October. He will then have a better sense of the cost and fundraising required to complete it, he said.

The courses, events, and programs the school provides aim to “bring us back to our roots,” said Cerveny. “In the past, people had to make their own baskets, bowls, etc. We want to ensure that the next generation can continue to practice these kinds of crafts.” 

The school has 22 categories of courses, including blacksmithing, canoe making, cooking, nature studies, soap making, and more.

While the pandemic was brutal for many businesses and nonprofit organizations, it brought many people to the Adirondack Folk School. 

“People wanted to get out from behind their computers, use their hands, and get back to their roots,” he said. Demand for the existing courses and new courses continues to grow.