Items tagged with 'Lake George'
Where to rent a boat on Lake George?
Sean emails:
I've got some friends coming into town and we thought it would be a blast to head up to Lake George and rent a boat for the day. There seems to be a ton of places out there that rent so I was wondering if any of your readers have done this before and could perhaps recommend something to us. We'll have 7 adults and are not tied to any particular location on the lake.
If you have a place to suggest -- or even thoughts on what to look for -- we'll be awarding non-redeemable bonus points for suggestions that include a sentence or two about why that's a good place.
Got advice for Sean? Please share!
Earlier on AOA: Where to go paddleboarding?
For sale: castle overlooking Lake George
For sale: a 6,000-square-foot castle in Bolton Landing overlooking Lake George.
List price: $14.8 million.
The "Highlands Castle" has 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, an eat-in kitchen (what self-respecting castle doesn't?), and sits on 7+ acres, according to the Roohan Realty listing. Taxes are just $9,377.
Here are a bunch of photos from the castle's website.
The castle has an interesting story -- both back and current. In the late 70s, the owner -- John Lavender -- says he promised his son that he'd build a castle -- and actually followed through, completing the home in the mid 1980s. In recent years they've been renting it out for events. But as he TU's Chris Churchill detailed back in July, Lavender has been in a tiff with neighbors and the town over renting out the home. Lavender told Churchill that if he wasn't able to work something out, he'd have to sell.
[via @Sorti_ca]
Earlier on AOA:
+ Sold: Amsterdam Castle
photo: Roohan Realty
Adirondack Pub and Brewery
It's off-season in Lake George. That means no kayaks, no swimming, no souvenir shopping, and no tourists. As you drive down Canada Street, most of the buildings are dark with signs in the window reading "Closed for the Season!"
But there is still beer.
Winter getaway: Great Escape's indoor water park
Winter on the outside, something a little more like summer on the inside.
I'll be the first to admit it: I'm not an "artificial environment" kind of person.
I like that New York has seasons, and that each season brings its own activities. January is for sledding. August is for camping. April's for watching the squirrels eat my tulips.
I kind of enjoy not being able to do everything all the time. It makes seasonal activities more special.
Which makes it all the more strange for me to admit: The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark is pretty fun.
Legislature back for another try at budget fix, demand up at food banks, local venture capitalists criticized for not taking enough risks, the weekend in crime
The state legislature is scheduled to be back in town today for another special budget session. David Paterson continued to sound the alarm about the budget gap, warning of "furloughs, layoffs, borrowing, downgraded credit ratings" and a range of delayed payments (including to state workers). He also has continued to blame the legislature -- especially the state Senate -- being in "denial" about the problem. It seems the legislature's not a huge fan of him, either. [CapNews9] [Daily Politics] [NYDN] [NY Post]
Summations in the Joe Bruno trial are expected to start today. On Friday, Jared Abbruzzese, a longtime Bruno friend and business associate, testified that he had hired Bruno has a consultant for the senator's contacts and "aura." He said the $80k he paid Bruno for a horse was payment to settle a "a moral obligation" for canceled consulting contracts. And Abbruzzese also said Bruno introduced him to Donald Trump, who -- in Abbruzzese's words -- "walked over me." Even though Abbruzzese was the prosecution's last witness, he may have been most helpful to the defense. It was also announced on Friday that Bruno will not be testifying in his own defense. [TU] [TU] [Fox23] [NYDN] [NYT] [TU] [Troy Record]
Kirsten Gillibrand has been calling state senators in an effort to get "yes" votes for the same-sex marriage bill. [Daily Politics]
Food banks and pantries report that demand for help is up this year, especially among people with jobs. [Troy Record] [TU]
Schenectady High "persistently dangerous" again, Ellis says people don't feel safe in Albany, state texting while driving ban signed, parking permits for Troy?, Paterson finds catharsis and a milkshake
Schenectady High School made the the state Department of Education's list of "persistently dangerous" schools for the second straight year. Superintendent Eric Ely says the district didn't ask to have the school removed from the list because "We're not happy with what we're seeing." Ely also Schenectady is reporting all of its incidents to the state -- he said other districts are not doing that. [NYSED] [TU] [Fox23]
Former state Supreme Court judge Thomas Spargo, whose chambers were in Albany, was convicted yesterday of trying to shake down attorneys with cases before him. The prosecution alleged that Spargo was soliciting the bribes so that he could pay for his defense in an ethics investigation. Spargo was booted from the bench in 2006. [TU] [Troy Record] [Fox23]
Saratoga Springs police say two people were arrested yesterday after it appears that one of them accidentally shot himself at the Adelphi Hotel in downtown Saratoga. The woman staying with him, who's from New Jersey, was charged with felony weapon possession because she doesn't have a permit for New York. The cops say they were tipped off when the man, who's been charged with reckless endangerment, showed up Saratoga Hospital and wouldn't say how he'd gotten the wound in his leg. [TU] [Saratogian] [Post-Star]
Albany mayoral candidate Corey Ellis said yesterday during a campaign appearance that there "far too many violent crimes in this city, and that too many people don't feel safe in their neighborhoods." Jerry Jennings' campaign has been touting statistics that indicate crime has been dropping in the city. [Ellis press release] [TU]
Jennings held a campaign fund raiser at Michael Bloomberg's home in Manhattan earlier this month. [TU]
Sunken ships + amoebae = art
The 250-year-old sunken ships in Lake George about which AOA recently talked with underwater archeologist Joe Zarzynski are part of a weird new exhibit that promises to "introduce viewers to the contemporary synthesis of art and science." From the Lake George Arts Project:
Artwork based on "The Sunken Fleet of 1758" shipwrecks was scanned and then reduced to a miniature scale. Using micro-lithographic methods, these images were then transformed into 3-dimensional surfaces. Testate amoebae [harvested from Lake George] were released onto these surfaces and allowed to interact with the archaeological artwork. Dr. [Sam] Bowser and science artist Elinor Mossop examined these interactions using microscopy methods. Ms. Mossop interpreted the creatures' exploratory movements and created a series of cutting edge drawings and paintings that show the micro fauna encountering and reoccupying "The Sunken Fleet of 1758." Her approach is based on a previous art/science collaboration between Bowser and New Zealand artist Claire Beynon.
As part of the exhibit, waterproof artwork has been placed on easels at the the bottom of Lake George near the shipwreck.
"Raising the Fleet" opens today at the Lake George Arts Project gallery. There's a reception Friday evening.
The exhibit runs until September 10.
image: Lake George Arts Project
The Lost Radeau: a shipwreck in Lake George
Joe Zarzynski measuring the Radeau
When we heard there was a shipwreck in the middle of Lake George we kind of went, "Waitaminute, what?"
But there is, in fact, a shipwreck in Lake George. Joe Zarzynski told us so. Zarzynski is a former high school social studies teacher turned underwater archeologist. In the 1980's he spent most of his free time chasing the Loch Ness Monster and Champ -Lake Champlain's version of the Nessie.
He stopped actively looking for underwater "monsters" in the early 90's and focused on shipwrecks instead. The shipwrecks were easier to find because-- you know-- they don't move.
Zarzynski says there are actually lots of shipwrecks in Lake George -- more than 200. And he's helped to find a lot of them. But the most impressive wreck he's found is The Lost Radeau a floating bastion from the French and Indian War -- that rests more than 100 feet below the surface of the lake. Now, thanks to his efforts, you can see it too - just be sure to bring your wet suit.
Attorney calls ESP man cave allegations overblown, SPAC ticket surchage floated, Tedisco proposes "Madoff Bill," DEC building urinals criticized for backsplash
An attorney for one of the men accused of setting up a "man cave" in the ESP for smoking pot instead described the space as "a break room" and called the allegations "overblown." One of the accused men has a criminal record -- and there are some questions about whether the state knew that before hiring him. [TU] [CBS6]
The Albany Common Council has passed a resolution that calls on public agencies to not ask a person about his/her immigration status if that person is "not posing a threat." The resolution is non-binding. [TU] [CBS6] [Fox23]
Saratoga Springs' finance commissioner has floated the idea of tacking on a $2 surcharge to rock and pop concert tickets at SPAC. The fee could bring in as much as $500k. SPAC's executive director said the venue is "firmly opposed" to the proposed fee and called it "an onerous tax." [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Saratogian]
The Troy Fire Department says mayor Harry Tutunjian has asked it to tour the RPI campus -- EMPAC in particular -- to get a better sense of the layout of campus buildings. The TFD has been lobbying for RPI to pay a public safety fee to fund additional fire coverage of the campus. [TU]
State Senate gets back to work, Biden in Clifton Park, Salvation Army says it didn't blow the whistle, chip fab has 20 year lifespan, good year for apples
The state Senate, with Pedro Espada caucusing with the Democrats, had a real session last night -- 135 bills were passed. The session was not without drama. Republicans held things up for about two hours because they said Democrats weren't supporting agreed-upon reforms -- Dean Skelos called Democrats "a bunch of phonies." The session got back on track shortly before midnight when both sides announced they had agreed to "a framework" for reform. [Biz Review] [TU] [AP/Daily Gazette] [Daily Politics]
The session also included Espada's installation as majority leader, though it wasn't by a vote because apparently some of the Democrats refused to directly vote for him. [Daily Politics]
David Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch to lieutenant governor is basically on hold until the courts review it. The first hearing is today. [TU]
Joe Biden touted the Obama Administration's stimulus program yesterday during his speech to about 600 people in Clifton Park. The VP announced that New York was getting another $275 million for unemployment insurance. And he said 6,800 jobs would be coming to the state. Among Biden's comments: he would never take the job of Mayor of Albany because it's too hard. (video from the event) [Post-Star] [Troy Record] [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Post-Star]
Plotting and scheming in the state Senate, vote on landfill delayed, Lake George beaches closed, bowling-spectator cop promoted
Today's forecast includes the possibility of severe weather this afternoon and evening. The chance of rain is 80 percent and conditions could include "penny size hail or greater and wind gusts 58 mph or stronger." [NWS] [NWS]
Monday in the state Senate: lots of talking and plotting, but little action. An Assemblyman and a few good government groups are saying that David Paterson could fix the situation by simply appointing a lieutenant governor, and thus giving the Senate a tie breaker. Republicans -- and AG Andrew Cuomo -- say Paterson can't do that. [TU] [NYDN] [Daily Politics]
On a different front, one of the senators has sued the Assembly in an attempt to get it to accept the bills "passed" by the Senate during last week's V8 quorum -- though David Paterson has said he won't the sign the bills even if the Assembly accepts them. [Daily Politics]
Another potential solution that bubbled to the surface yesterday was the idea of co-leadership of the Senate. But it seems the Democrats can't agree with each other, nevermind the Republicans, because many now despise Pedro Espada. And speaking of Espada, he was apparently plotting with the "four amigos" yesterday over lunch at Bongiourno's. [TU] [Daily Politics] [Daily Politics]
The Albany Common Council delayed its vote on the bonds that would fund the landfill expansion. Apparently there's some question as to whether there are enough vote to approve the debt. The landfill could be full as soon as the end of this year. [TU]
Former state tax worker accused of stealing identities, Jennings officially running for re-election, Troy and Albany among highest spending districts, DA wants meeting about Skidmore pot, woman wants to clean up the crap
A retired employee of the state Department of Taxation and Finance was arrested yesterday on accusations that he had used stolen taxpayers' person and financial info to open credit cards and other accounts. He's accused of running up $200,000 in fraudulent charges. Authorities say they found more than 2000 post-it notes with taxpayer data in the man's Troy home. [TU] [AP/Daily Gazette] [Troy Record]
The NY20 special election inched forward yesterday a judge ruled on how some of the absentee ballots should be assessed. The latest unofficial numbers from the New York State Board of Elections has Scott Murphy leading Jim Tedisco by 365 votes. [TU] [NYS BoE]
Tedisco was facing a sticky situation in his current job -- in the state Assembly -- yesterday after someone anonymously sent documents to the TU and various other offices that indicate Tedisco's top staffer had his personal legal bills paid by Repbublican Assembly campaign money. [TU]
Jerry Jennings has officially announced he's running for re-election as mayor of Albany. [TU]
Filming starts today on that Angelina Jolie movie -- here's a listing of the road closures. [AOA]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?