creative placemaking

Gather Greene: Upstate Overnights

August 19, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

Located in Coxscakie, Gather Greene has 100 acres of land where folks can celebrate, stay, or explore. Their pavilion, cabins, and grounds have views of the Catskills and Berkshires, They have 17 cabins which come with an outside deck, a king size bed, bathroom, closet with large mirror, mini fridge, and caffeine fix. 12 cabins are looking out over the ridge towards the Berkshires, and 5 cabins are nestled into the woods slightly further apart.

What Gabby Loves About This Place

One small detail that makes all the difference – the cabin bathrooms come with sumptuous handmade organic and local toiletries from 2 Note Hudson. I love the emphasis on supporting small and local! Those big windows that allow you a piece of nature while inside is a huge perk too…also great for those Instagram shots.

The Details

Check out this site to explore their cabin stay options and pricing. You can check availability for cabin bookings here! Follow their Instagram for upcoming announcements on fall stays. Connect with them via: website / email

GATHER GREENE

176 Levett Road, Coxsackie, NY 12051

phone: 262-448-3683

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge: Upstate Overnights

August 19, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge was designed to welcome a new generation of urban explorers feel like home during their year-round outdoor adventures of the Catskills. Offering clean and contemporary styled rooms and suites, along with a restaurant with locally inspired cuisine on-site, this lodge in the heart of the mountains is the basecamp for adventurers.

What Gabby Loves About This Place

One word – aesthetic. You can tell that the exterior and interior designs were thoughtfully curated to appeal to people who appreciate a contemporary feel. Oh, and the VIEWS! Especially from their outdoor decks and in-ground, heated pool…can’t beat it. Their website also shows you any “happenings” going on in the immediate area that you could enjoy…it’s a nice touch for those not familiar with the Catskills.

The Details

You can view any openings on this booking calendar, starting in September. Check out their room and suite options via their gallery here! Connect with them: IG / FB / Website

SCRIBNER’S CATSKILL LODGE

13 SCRIBNER HOLLOW RD, HUNTER, NY 12442
T: 518-628-5130 E: HELLO@SCRIBNERSLODGE.COM

CapNY CoWorking Tour: Hone Coworks, Albany

August 13, 2020 By Maureen Sager

Co-working and monthly-lease office space is exploding in the Capital Region! Flexibility, socially-distant camaraderie, and services abound. Come on a sneak-peak tour of art-filled, high-tech Hone Coworks in Albany, and we’ll fill you in on all of our favorite perks.

Hone Coworks is located inside the wooded, shady Great Oaks office park in Albany. It’s close to Crossgates Mall and I-87, but it’s also near to the urban amenities — restaurants, museums, nightlife — of downtown Albany. AMPLE and easy parking is a big plus to this location.

Stylish, Decked-Out Shared Spaces

After entering through the very welcoming Lobby (seen in the photo above right), you’ll come upon the large, open Kitchen section (seen in photo to the right). The color palette is bright and sophisticated — orange, teal — and the furniture and vibe are modern and vibrant. AKA, I wish my place looked like this.

Hone Coworks is tech-ed out and touch-free throughout. You can make a custom cucumber-infused seltzer using an app! Reserve and unlock your conference rooms, make copies — all contact-free.

Hold on, I’m not done with the Kitchen deets, though. There’s Clif Bars and RxBars and fresh fruit! Microbrew coffee by Brewtus, a small batch specialty roaster in Delmar. And wait — there’s Oatly Creamer in the fridge! I know, I’m gushing, but (cue Julie Andrews) these are a few of my favorite things!

Tech-Friendly Workspaces

Now that’s we’ve covered the creamer, we’ll move on to the workspaces. Happily, you’ll find tech-friendly Meeting Rooms of all shapes, sizes and designs, which can be rented by the hour (members’ access is included in their monthly fees). There’s a hip / corporate vibe to these spots, and they’re more than able to handle six-feet-apart spacing.

Another luxe touch is the one-touch feature that turns your desk from a sitting to standing space, AND the Herman Miller office chairs that grace every workspace. Hmm, does a Henry Miller chair beat my sofa? Let me think. Yes, it does.

Artwork All Around

Floor-to-ceiling artwork and triptych by Samson Contampasis

But of all the things to love about Hone, my favorite is the artwork. The artwork that fills the halls and walls is a combination of permanent pieces by regional artists like Samson Contompasis and Lori Kochanski, as well as a rotating gallery wall curated in partnership with Albany Center Gallery.

Okay, and one last shout-out, because Hone Coworks Community Manager Sarah McDonnell set up a jar of Neutrogena make-up wipes for emergency touch-ups. “Masks really screw up your make-up,” she said. “We really try to think of everything you’ll need, and have it here.” Now that’s thinking of everything!

HOW TO FIND HONE COWORKS

Address: 300 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 300, Albany, NY 12203

Website: https://honecoworks.com/

Call: 518-250-4855

Email: hello@honecoworks.com

ACE Creative: Karina Wojnar

August 6, 2020 By Maureen Sager

Some of you may recognize Karina Wojnar, as she is the Development & Membership Manager at Albany Center Gallery. In this position, she fills her time writing grants, planning programming, increasing community outreach efforts, and working with ACG members.

She wants our readers to know her as a daughter, a sister, and friend – someone who prioritizes amplifying the voices of the unheard in the CapNY community. ACE’s Gabby Fisher has been following her on Instagram for quite a while and reached out to feature her for this week’s ACE Creative feature because of her evolving style as an artist. She’s a creative millennial powerhouse.

Karina, where are you from?

I am originally from Northern NJ, a small lake town called Ringwood. Currently I live in Albany! I went to Siena College and loved the area, so I decided to stay after graduation. Why? The people. The energy of the people. The architecture. The quirks. The random cobblestone streets and historical buildings. Running into people you know in cafes and farmer’s markets. The fact that there are people dedicated to community and positive change. How active people are in politics, human rights, and deeper conversations.

How did you get into the creative field?

I’m lucky. My parents value art as essential, so it was always my path to be in the creative field. I grew up dancing, participating in theater, writing, reading, and prioritizing art classes. I applied to colleges with the intention of getting a business degree with a focus in the arts. Throughout my time at Siena College, I fell in love with social justice and the overlap between humanity and art.

Human beings use art to emote, to share facts, to evoke, to connect with one another. I believe art to be how humans use their VOICE. Everyone has a voice and a different way of expressing it, whether through music, visual art, performance, writing, fashion, etc. We all deserve to be heard.

In a prior conversation between the two of us, you mentioned you feel like you haven’t necessarily found your creative “voice” yet. Can you talk a little bit about that? I feel that many people can relate.

I’m still experimenting. For the past couple years, I’ve been combining complementary colors and mixing embroidery into paintings. I’m still learning and figuring out technique. People say that once you can become decent at replicating a piece or style of yours over and over– you’ve found your voice.

I’ve been reading “Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic” by Lisa Congdon. It’s been encouraging and affirming to know that my voice matters and it’s all a part of the process. This journey; experimenting, actively listening to my fellow creatives, research…it will all shape my voice, my art, and my life.

ACG hosted a public art bike tour in downtown Albany

What is it like being part of an arts community in CapNY? What has it been like working with local creatives?

In one word…inspiring. Communication and dialogue with fellow creatives is so important. We inspire each other, help each other out, lift each other up. It’s been rewarding. Working with the local arts community is the reason I want to stay in the area.

If you could leave our readers with a word of advice or positivity, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your art out there. Your voice matters. Black Lives Matter. Black Art Matters.

Connect with Karina!
Facebook
Instagram
Email

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Thank You Rodney Alan Greenblat & Hudson Hall!

July 28, 2020 By wordpress

On July 22nd, ACE took a private tour of Rodney Alan Greenblat‘s show, “Something to Look Forward to” hosted by the artist himself! It was a wonderful show and we are so appreciative to Rodney and Hudson Hall for hosting our group. Don’t miss it! There are safe, timed, socially distant viewings on their website.