Five Things Friday!
Happy Halloween! And, of course, happy Friday. This weekend brings a change of clocks (fall back), perhaps a few flakes of snow and a whole slew of fun happenings around the north country. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and check out the map!
1) First up this week we have (you guessed it) Halloween events. Today, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., you can visit the Old Forge Library, 220 Crosby Blvd., Old Forge, for a Halloween Costume Contest and Party. Prizes will be awarded in both adult and children’s costume categories. There will be photos, refreshments and craft making. For more information, call the library at 369-6008. What’s Halloween without trick or treating? If the weather proves foul, take your little ghosts and fairies to the Mall-O-Ween “All Treats” Event tonight at Salmon Run Mall, 21182 Salmon Run Mall Loop West, Watertown. Mall-wide trick or treating is from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; photos by Creative Imaging and activity center by Fidelis Care New York are from 4 to 7 p.m. in the center court. A portion of the photo proceeds will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. If you happen to be trick or treating around the St. Lawrence University area tonight, be sure to stop at their Theme Cottages! From 4 to 6 p.m., theme cottage residences identified by bright yellow paper pumpkins hung in front of the houses will welcome community trick-or-treaters. A few of the cottages included are the LIGHThouse, 17 College St., Canton; Habitat for Humanity, 50 Park St., Canton; Black Student Union, 52 Park St., Canton. For a complete list, click here. For more information, contact the SLU Office of Residence Life at 229-5250. After the kids are asleep and the babysitter arrives, head over to the Bonnie Castle Resort, 31 Holland St., Alexandria Bay, for the Monster Mash, from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be live music, and don’t worry – no costumes required. For more information, call the resort at 482-4511. If you’re a further south and a fan of the costume option, you can attend the 9th Annual Halloween Costume Party at The Paddock Club, 1 Public Square, Watertown, from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The Club will offer drink specials. There is no cover. The bar opens at 2 p.m., and will close at 2 a.m.; the kitchen will be open until 9 p.m. For more information, call The Paddock Club at 786-6633. Today and tomorrow, Thousand Islands Winery, 43298 Seaway Ave., Alexandria Bay, is hosting a Halloween Weekend. Costumes are encouraged. On Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m., you can get a psychic reading from Wilson Stevenson. The cost for the reading is $5. The winery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, contact the winery at 482-9306 or info@thousandislandswinery.com.
2) This weekend holds an interesting array of musical events. Tonight at Helen M. Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave., the Crane Clarinet Choir is holding their Halloween Concert at 7:30. The choir will perform everything from Romantic classics to rock and roll anthems. The concert is free and open to the public. Can’t make it up there? View it on their website here. For more information, contact Alexandra Jacobs at 267-2718. This evening, you can check out the SoundSandBox at Launders Underground, St. Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, at 8 p.m. The ensemble, directed by David Henderson, will provide live accompaniment to the 1927 silent film “The Cat and the Canary.” The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the university at 229-5184. Join in a Latin Dance Party tomorrow from 9 p.m. to midnight at Between the Buns Sports Bar, 6 Elm St., Potsdam. Salsa dance lessons will be offered from 9 to 10 p.m., and then the dance party begins. The event will feature the Crane Latin Ensemble. There will be a cash bar and equal exchange chocolate sale. Tickets are $12; $7, students. Tickets are available at Northern Music, 29 Market St., Potsdam, Nature’s Storehouse, 21 Main St., Canton, and at the door. Proceeds will benefit Little River Community School. For more information, call the school at 379-9474. Next up, we have a great Halloween season tradition: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be showing at 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive, Clayton. You’re invited to dress up as your favorite character. Tickets are $10. Proceeds will benefit the Watertown Urban Mission. The event is sponsored by Rainbow International, Music for Mission and Community Broadcasters. For more information, contact the opera house at 686-2200.
3) This weekend brings a couple art events. This Sunday is the last day you can catch the “What Now” exhibit of photographs by Eleanor Sweeney at the Adirondack Artist Guild, 52 Main St., Saranac Lake. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call the guild at 518-891-2615. In terms of art creation for the younger generation, you and yours can attend Art with the Animals at the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, 1 Thompson Park, Watertown, on Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. The kids can create an art or craft project inspired by the zoo animals. The cost is $7; members, $5. For information or to register, contact the zoo at 782-6180. Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center, 8023 Route 30, Paul Smiths, is hosting an opening reception for “What the Rocks Remember,” paintings by Sandra Hildreth and photographs by Karla Brieant, from 2 to 5 p.m. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. For more information, call the visitor center at 518-327-6241.
4) What’s a weekend in the north country without a few craft fairs? Tomorrow the Altar Rosary Society of St. Patrick’s Church is holding their Holiday Craft Fair at Knights of Columbus, 138 County Route 50, Brasher Falls, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be available. There is free parking. Admission is $1; students, 50 cents; children 4 and younger, free. The Women’s Organization Craft Fair is also tomorrow. This event is at Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St., Watertown, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; enter through the gym only. The event will benefit scholarship given annually. Admission is $2; $1, with JCC student ID. For more information, contact the college at 786-2200. If you’re in Philadelphia tomorrow, you can stop by the 4th Annual North Country Department Store at Indian River Middle School, off Route 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include local shop owners, service providers, artisans, farmers and producers. There will be drawings for gifts from vendors at the show. For more information, call 786-0284. Last up for craft events is the Potsdam Winter Market, which is tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Cheel Arena, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam. For more information, contact Laura Popielski at 716-725-7782 or email thepotsdamfarmersmaket@gmail.com.
5) The last on the list this week is brain food. Today from 1 to 2 p.m. is a Webinar for National Bioenergy Day, hosted by professor Philip K. Hopke at CAMP Room 175, Clarkson University, Potsdam. The lecture is “Advancing the Use of Wood Pellets as an Important Residential and Commercial Fuel.” For more information on how to view from home, click here. This is the last weekend to browse through Flower Memorial Library‘s Book Sale at 229 Washington St., Watertown. The sale is cash only and the prices are as follows: books, $1; paper backs, 50 cents; children’s books, 25 cents. The sale takes place during library hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. A bag sale begins tomorrow. For more information, call the library at 785-7705. During the Women’s Organization Craft Fair tomorrow, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and greet children’s book author Richard Mickelson, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St., Watertown. Mr. Michelson wrote such book as “The Wizard of OZ, Where Is He Now?,” “Richie and the Baby Girl,” “Richie the Teddy Bear Gets a Puppy,” “Richie’s Glorious Valentine Adventure,” “Richie the Teddy Bear’s Amazing Halloween Adventure,” “Richie and the Baby Boy,” “Richie the Teddy Bear Who Saved Christmas” and “The Frog Who Jumped Over the Moon.” For more information, call 405-458-5642 or email Michelle Whitman at michelle@keymgc.com. If you’d like to review your own work with fellow writers of all ages and genres, you can attend Cape Vincent Art Council‘s Poets and Writers INK tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cape Vincent Community Library, 157 N. Real St. For more information, call Liz Kelly at 654-2413. If you happen to be in the Philadelphia area tomorrow, there’s another book signing happening: Dave Shampine and Daniel T. Boyer will be signing for their book “The Jefferson County Egan Murders, Nightmare on New Year’s Eve 1964,” at the Indian River Middle School, 3 Sand St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clarkson is holding another lecture tomorrow, at 11 a.m., entitled “Facebook, Twitter, Smart Phone, iPod, TV, Red Bull: Now I’m Ready to Study.” Art Bell, Clarkson University director of Center for Excellence and Learning, will be speaking on the topic as part of the Teaching Effectiveness Conference at St. Lawrence University. For more information, contact Ben Dixon at bdixon@stlawu.edu. What’s better than feeding your brain AND keeping that brain locally minded? Tomorrow is the deadline for the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce‘s essay contest, “Why Shop Local and Support Local Business.” Submit your 500-word essay sharing insight on importance of shopping local to Sara Carpenter. She can be reached at 788-4400 or marketing@watertownny.com. Finally, we’ve got a nature activity for you – a sound body is a sound mind, right? Tomorrow, Robert Moses State Park, 19 Robinson Bay Road, Massena, is hosting a Fall Walk at its Nature Center, from 1 to 3 p.m. This hike is going to be guided by naturalist Tanya Spicer. It’s going to be a chilly weekend, so don’t forget to dress for the weather! To preregister or get more information, contact the Nature Center at 705-5022 or ncrebirth@yahoo.com.
Those are just a handful of all the fun things going on in the north country this weekend! As always, have a fun and safe time, and send us your events for next weekend!