Summer, How I Love Thee...

Beautiful as the Adirondacks are, living here is a package deal that includes the existence of wildly uneven seasons. And guess which is the shortest? Since I’m not into winter carnivals or downhill skiing, I tend to start counting the days to solstice right around Labor Day. But until then, these are some of the things I’ve been drinking in while the sun is still shining at 7 p.m.:


The Saratoga Performing Arts Center



Even the walk in is lovely


The New York City Ballet



If you zoom in, you’ll see that it was in fact “American Girl” night at the ballet.



Making It Elegant



Two industrious ladies from Albany named Jinx and Mary started this tradition about a decade ago. Every summer, they load their cars with banquet tables, flatware, a candelabra, and all the other ingredients necessary for a moveable feast and head to the ballet in high culinary style:




Blueberry Season
Blueberries picked at Winney’s Blueberry Farm in Bacon Hill



Maggie The Wonder Dog, along for the ride...




The Hollyhocks at Sheldon Farm



…and their fried fish on Sundays



Growing herbs on the balcony













The Hudson River encased in a palate of emerald




Booksignings at Red Fox Books in Glens Falls

Kim Sunee autographs her best-selling memoir, ‘Trail of Crumbs.’


The man who lands the big names: Suvir Saran, owner of Devi restaurant in Manhattan and author of "American Masala" and "Indian Home Cooking" cookbooks. I speak from experience: Suvir's books will change your life.




And the one who really has my Heart: Lake George

Where I Swim





Thank God for Mrs. Lapham! She's the one who provides this incomparable and stunning swimming hole. And the drive in isn't bad either:





I know he stuck pretty much to The Berkshires, but sometimes it feels like Emerson’s Spirit casts a veil over this spot: