Has Spring Fling lost its bling?

Amsterdam, New York’s 3rd Annual Spring Fling street festival was held on Saturday, May 18, 2013, from 10am to 4pm. Although opinions in the local newspaper praised the event as highly successful, it seemed rather lackluster and well… boring. I don’t know if it was me coming down from the celebration of Buddha’s birthday, beautifully orchestrated by the World Peace and Health Organization, or if there was just a general feeling of apathy at Spring Fling. There didn’t seem to be as many people or vendors as last year’s event. The motorcycles were not there this year and it seemed as though vendors were packing up and leaving early. It certainly didn’t help that Main Street was torn up due to the downtown rerouting and resurfacing project. One vendor I spoke with stated that people were not buying like they were last year.

For a fair comparison, I took photos about 2pm for the past two years and photographed from the same place. The photos do not lie.

The rest of the images are from the 2013 Spring Fling Festival

I thought the Police K9 was going for Sno Kone Joe!

Amsterdam Celebrates Mardi Gras!

The Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation proudly hosted a Mardi Gras Dance Party fundraiser at the Creative Connections Arts Center last night. With a crowd of dedicated Riverlink Park Concert fans in attendance,the turnout was fantastic. This was the major fundraiser for the Waterfront Foundation who bring free concerts to Amsterdam every Saturday during the months of July and August. Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys brought the house down with Zydeco music that kept the dance floor full the entire night. Café Nola’s Creole creations even got the OK from the native Louisianans in the band.

The Art Center was transformed to a Mardi Gras inspired showcase. Special thanks go to Emily Gavry who painted the huge Bourbon Street mural that made the room come alive and to Marie Gavry who created the bead and mask centerpieces that graced each table and inflated balloons Saturday morning. Thanks to Evan Gavry who set up the audio equipment, partly owned by Evan with some rentals, and provided audio mixing the entire night. Thanks also to the City of Amsterdam for providing use of the Creative Connections Arts Center.

The Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation Board members responsible for organizing, promoting and running this fundraiser are Paul Gavry, Denise and Robert Terry, Jerry Skrocki and Dave Blaze.

Mardi Gras Dance Party

Links:

Riverlink Concerts

Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys

A Very Buddhist Christmas

The World Peace and Health Organization, led by Buddhist Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi and his Monks, put on a very elaborate Holiday celebration this evening at the Goddess of Mercy Temple on Grove Street. Accompanied by the most recent class of Buddhist students, the public received two solid hours of entertainment followed by refreshments. The celebration was a blend of eastern and western cultural traditions. There was a Chinese Dragon, Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer and Santa accompanied by an elf passing out candy. There was caroling and Chinese Opera, dance and Tai Chi. There was even an American Marine singing in Chinese! The event ended with the audience joining in on stage for a last dance Gangnam style. Words just cannot adequately express the cavalcade of entertainment, so here are the pictures.

Noah’s Ark

Yesterday I attended a special celebration in Auriesville, NY with my second family, the Buddhists. They were celebrating the completion of a pagoda-like structure on top of their headquarters building, a former Jesuit dormitory. The structure serves as a roof and observation deck covering what was once an open elevator shaft. Buddhist leader, Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi dubbed the roof Noah’s Ark. Like the biblical story, it protects residents from violent storms and flooding. It also symbolically represents the Guang Huan Mi Zong health dharma protecting the world from the flood of suffering and disease. The Buddhists were also celebrating the birthday of one of the Chinese students studying the health dharma.

Going with the Ark theme, I decided to photograph the three kittens that found a home with the Buddhists. A male and two female siblings who seem to be the progeny of a Lilac Point Siamese and a Yellow Tabby. A gorgeous sunset followed as if on cue to start the celebration.

I talked with old friends and met several new Buddhist Monks that recently joined the group. It was a very enjoyable evening with my always hospitable friends.

Erie Canal Crawl – Riverlink Park

As the Champlain Canal Schooner Lois McClure made its way down the Mohawk River towards the City of Amsterdam, newly appointed Director of Economic Development and City Historian Rob von Hasseln along with the Mayor’s Office and the Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation quickly planned an event like no other. Billed as the Canal Crawl, Amsterdam’s Riverlink Park was host to the educational schooner, sculptor Alice Manzi whose work The Painted Rocks of Amsterdam adorns the Riverlink Park addition and the Historic Amsterdam League with an information table, books and postcards. Music was provided by members of the 2012 World Champion Scotia Glenville Pipe Band, Misha Murdoch and Reid Perry, French-Canadian and Irish music by Bernd Neumann, Carol Mandigo and Lenny Broiles. Hamburgers, hotdogs and cold drinks were served by members of the Waterfront Foundation.

It was a great day for meeting people, making new connections and of course taking pictures!

Eagle Mills Arts & Craft Show

Nestled on the banks of the Kennyetto Creek in Broadalbin, NY is the Eagle Mills Cider Company. This picturesque farm, only 22 minutes from downtown Amsterdam, is hosting an Arts & Craft Show this weekend and next. Eagle Mills is also a family fun place with activities for kids. I thought it would be a great way to enjoy a fall-like weekend with some friends who also share my love of photography. The event was free of charge although we were surprised with a $5.00 parking fee. The venue provided great subjects for photographing, baked goods and cider to take home.

Riverlink Concerts Fundraiser

The Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation is pleased to participate in Ruby Tuesday’s Community Giveback Program. Join us at Ruby Tuesday’s, Hannaford Plaza, Route 30, Amsterdam on September 13, 14 and 15.Here are some photos of the wonderful entertainment brought to you free of charge through efforts like this by the Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation. Please donate to help fund these events. All you have to do is dine at the Amsterdam, NY Ruby Tuesday on September 14 or 15th and 20% of the cost of your meal will go to the Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation to help fund the concert series. You must present your server with a coupon that you can download and print at www.riverlinkconcerts.com.

YOU MUST BRING THE COUPON WITH YOU!

 

The End of Summer

The Autumnal Equinox occurs on September 22, 10:49am (Eastern Daylight Time) this year, representing the change of seasons with a day of equal light and dark; but it is Labor Day weekend that to most of us means the end of the summer. That was the case yesterday at the Great Sacandaga Lake, at the base of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, where I spent sunday of the last weekend of summer with friends at camp. The weather was fantastic, the water warm and the company good as we celebrated the end of the season. The traditional ring of bonfires around the lake and fireworks (that were better viewed from the sky), meant that autumn was fast approaching. Of course I captured the day with my camera.

There was even a litter of puppies to ogle!

The Tichy Boys

The last concert of the 2012 season for Amsterdam’s Riverlink Park drew a large crowd. The Tichy Boys with Johnny Rabb performed their Rockabilly style music, entertaining those who ventured out on this beautiful summer evening.