Tour Guide

 

Today’s wilderness-wise visitors are a far cry from the 19th-century sports who paid locals to break trails and carry gear. But, even for the independent-minded, there’s something to be said for touring woods and waters with a backwoods-savvy guide.

 

See nature through the lens of veteran Adirondack photographer Gary Larsen during an exhibition of his work at the Northville Public Library. The show, running July 1–31, is sponsored  by the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network. Call (518) 863-2201 or www.svanarts.org for more.

 

Kids can map the stars on July 28 during Summer Skies Astronomy at Up Yonda Farm, in Bolton Landing, beginning at 9:00 p.m. Visit www.upyondafarm.com for details; register at (518) 644-9767.

 

Let your best friend be your guide through the Adirondack Museum (518-352-7311, www.adkmuseum.org), in Blue Mountain Lake. The museum, which opens at 10:00 a.m., will host the Dog Days of Summer on August 7, with doggie demonstrations and activities.

 

Delve into the North Country psyche at Adirondack Authors’ Night on August 10. The annual meet-and-greet with local writers (see “Word Play,” Au­gust 2007) starts at 7:00 p.m. at Hoss’s Country Corner (800-952-4677, www.hossscountrycorner.com), in Long Lake.

 

On August 13 take a Butterfly Hike with naturalist Gary Lee. Meet at the Arts Center/Old Forge at 10:00 a.m. For information call (315) 369-6411 or see www.artscenteroldforge.org.

 

Throughout the summer the W. W. Durant celebrates 20 years of cruising Raquette Lake with a packed schedule, including romantic moonlight trips and champagne brunches, plus kid-friendly pizza cruises. Visit www.raquettelakenavigation.com or call (315) 354-5532 for a full schedule.

 

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

July 2–4: Lake Placid International. Sprint races begin at 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; register by June 24. Distance races start at 11 a.m. on Sunday; no advance registration required. Village park, south side of Mirror Lake, Lake Placid. (518) 418-9144

 

July 4: Willard Hanmer Guideboat Races. Public boat launch, Saranac Lake. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; races start at 10 a.m. (518) 891-1990. www.saranaclake.com

 

July 7–August 25: Wild Wednesday Expeditions. Explore diverse habitats with naturalists from Tupper Lake’s Wild Center; register in advance. Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Center, Paul Smiths. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. (518) 359-7800 ext. 116. www.wildcenter.org

 

July 24: Cranberry Lake Poker Paddle to benefit Clifton Community Library. Register in advance. Paddle to pick-ups around the lake, starting at 1 p.m., then play your hand at Cranberry Lake Lodge. (315) 848-3256

 

July 31: Saranac Flatwater Challenge. Canoe and kayak races for all skill levels on the Saranac River. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Town of Saranac Recreation Center; competitions start at 11 a.m. Benefits the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Foundation. (518) 957-2996

 

August 1: Lane 10K Lake Run. Race around Lake Pleasant. Registration at 9 a.m. at the Speculator pavilion; run starts 10 a.m. at the Lake Pleasant firehall. (518) 548-4521

 

August 6–8: Family Canoe Camping: Lake Lila. Includes day hikes and lessons in natural history and canoe skills. Sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club; register in advance. Meet in Tupper Lake, 9 a.m. (518) 523-3441. www.adk.org

 

August 7: Race the Train. 8.4-mile run alongside the Upper Hudson River Railroad tracks. Proceeds go to Johnsburg Dollars for Scholars. Meet at the North Creek station by 8 a.m. (518) 251-2602. www.uhrr.com

 

August 7–8: Beach Volleyball Tournament. Four-person teams; all levels of play. Benefits the Prospect Family and Child Center. Million Dollar Beach. Registration begins at 8 a.m., matches at 9 a.m. (518) 792-7493. www.prospectcenter.com

 

August 8–13: The Grand Tour. Bike tour from Glens Falls to Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, with stops in Lake George and Ticonderoga. Register in advance. Adirondack Community College, Queensbury. 6 a.m. (800) 567-8356. www.explorebybike.com

 

August 14: Two-Man Scramble Golf Tournament. Nick Stoner Golf Course, Caroga Lake. 8 a.m. (518) 835-4220

 

August 14: Adirondack Spintacular. Bike, run or walk around Great Sacandaga Lake to benefit local students with chronic diseases. Mayfield fairgrounds. 8:30 a.m. (518) 863-8998. www.adirondackspintacular.com

 

August 15: Ididaride. Twenty- or 75-mile bike tour in the central Adirondacks. Sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club; register in advance. Starts at Ski Bowl Park, North Creek. 8:30 a.m. (800) 395-8080. www.ididaride.org

 

August 21: Newcomb North Country Challenge. Five-mile recreational paddle and 10-mile race around Lake Harris. Sponsored by the Newcomb Chamber of Commerce. Town beach, Newcomb. Registration begins at 9 a.m.; events start at noon. (518) 582-4601. www.nymcra.org

 

August 22: Way North Century. Fifty- or 100-mile loop through the northeast Adirondacks and beyond; register in advance. Plattsburgh Air Force Base Oval. 8 a.m. (518) 563-7620. www.adirondackcyclingteam.com

 

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

July 10: Morehouse 175th Birthday Celebration. Fishing derby, music, games and chicken barbecue. Morehouse recreation hall, Hoffmeister. 8 a.m. (518) 548-4521

 

July 10: Picnic in the Park. Cooking demonstrations, workshops, music and Teddy bears’ picnic. Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake. 10 a.m. (518) 352-7311. www.adkmuseum.org

 

July 10–11: Woodsmen’s Days. Logging demonstrations and competitions. Municipal Park, Tupper Lake. Check for times. (518) 359-9444. www.woodsmendays.com

 

July 16–17: Lake George Community Band Festival. Ten concert bands to perform, as well as ensembles. Shepard Park amphitheater, Lake George. Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. (518) 222-1302

 

July 16–18: Woodworking and Fine Arts Weekend. Indoor and outdoor exhibitors, demonstrations and barbecue. Bradt Building, Northville. Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. (518) 863-8876

 

July 17–18: Arts in the Park. Crafts, music and more. Arrowhead Park, Inlet. 10 a.m. both days. (315) 357-5501. www.inletny.com

 

July 23–24: Smoke Eaters Jamboree. Music, rides and games. Recreation Field, Warrensburg. Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m. (518) 623-9598

 

July 30–August 1: The Adirondack Living Show. One-stop shopping at Lake George Forum. Check for times. (518) 371-6363. www.adirondackliving.com

 

August 6–8: Stony Creek Mountain Festival. Music, children’s activities and pig roast. Friday, Stony Creek town center, 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, recreation field, 11 a.m. (518) 696-3575

 

August 7: Flea Market to benefit the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing and Rehabilitation Auxiliary. Crafts, plants, baked goods and more. Ski Bowl Road, North Creek. 10 a.m. (518) 251-2447

 

August 8: Adirondack Folk Music Festival. Demonstrations and performances. Town park, Schroon Lake. Noon. (518) 532-9259. www.schroonlakearts.com

 

August 14–15: Adirondack Mountains Antiques Weekend. Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, and Byron Park, Indian Lake. 10 a.m. each day. (518) 352-7311

 

August 20–22: New York State Woodsmen’s Field Days. Contests, workshops and more. Oneida County Fairgrounds, Boon­ville. Check for times. (315) 942-4593. www.starinfo.com/woodsmen

 

MUSIC & THEATER

July 1, 15, 29 and August 5, 12: Lake George Community Band Summer Concert Series. Shows followed by fireworks. Shepard Park amphitheater, Lake George. 8 p.m. (518) 222-1302

 

July 7: The Last Dragon presented by the Puppet People. Sponsored by the Ticonderoga Festival Guild. Knights of Columbus pavilion, Ticonderoga. 10:15 a.m. (518) 585-7015. www.ticonderogafestivalguild.org

 

July 13: African Dance and Drumming. Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Blue Mountain Lake. 8 p.m. (877) 752-7715. www.adirondackarts.org

 

July 14: Crooked Still. Roots music sponsored by the Lake George Arts Project. Shepard Park, Lake George. 7:30 p.m. (518) 668-2616. www.lakegeorgearts.org

 

July 14–17: The Marriage of Figaro performed by the Seagle Music Colony. Oscar Seagle Memorial Theatre, Schroon Lake. 8 p.m. each night. (518) 532-7875. www.seaglecolony.com

 

July 23: Aniko Szokody Piano Quintet. Sponsored by Upper Hudson Musical Arts. Tannery Pond Community Center, North Creek. 7:30 p.m. (518) 681-1715

 

July 27–August 22: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Pendragon Theatre, Saranac Lake. Check for times. (518) 891-1854. www.pendragontheatre.org

 

July 30: Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night. Rat-Pack take on the classic comedy, presented by Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. Town beach, Cranberry Lake. 2 p.m. (877) 752-7715. Check www.adirondackarts.org for parkwide performances. 

 

August 1: Tequila Mockingbird plays blues and swing. Sponsored by Sacandaga Valley Arts Network. Waterfront Park, Northville. 5 p.m. (518) 924-3008. www.svanarts.org

 

August 6–22: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Depot Theatre, Westport. Check for times. (518) 962-4449. www.depottheatre.org

 

August 7: From Beethoven to Barber with pianist Christopher Johnson. The Sembrich, Bolton Landing. 7:30 p.m. (518) 644-2431. www.thesembrich.org

 

August 19–22: Upper Hudson Bluegrass Festival. James King, Acoustic Blue and more. Ski Bowl Park, North Creek. Check for times. (518) 251-2240. www.upperhudsonbluegrassfestival.com

 

August 21: Sven Curth. Funkabilly and blues sponsored by Jay Entertainment and Music Society. Village green, Jay. 6:30 p.m. (518) 946-7824. www.jemsgroup.com

 

August 22: Preachers and Politicians: A Program of American Opera and Song presented by High Peaks Opera Studio. Beth Joseph Synagogue, Tupper Lake. 8 p.m. (518) 359-9675

 

LECTURES & WORKSHOPS

July 10: Adirondack Roundtable Series. Director and producer Jim Burrows discusses “Maintaining a Private Life in Show Business” over breakfast. Sponsored by the Lake Placid Institute for the Arts and Humanities. Crowne Plaza Lake Placid Resort. 8:30 a.m. (518) 523-1312

 

July 11: Wild Fruits and Herbal Teas with wild-foods expert Jane Desotelle. Sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club; register in advance. Adirondak Loj, Lake Placid. 4:30 p.m. (518) 523-3441. www.adk.org

 

July 17: Adirondack Roundtable Series. Writer John Cooney discusses “News Without Newspapers” over breakfast. Sponsored by the Lake Placid Institute for the Arts and Humanities. Crowne Plaza Lake Placid Resort. 8:30 a.m. (518) 523-1312

 

July 26: Water Quality in the Adirondack Park. Talk by Dan Kelting, director of the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College. Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake. 7:30 p.m. (518) 352-7311

 

August 13–August 15: Field Guide to Nature Writing featuring Bill McKibben and Verlyn Klinkenborg. Sponsored by Adirondack Center for Writing; register in advance. Paul Smith’s College. (518) 327-6278. www.adirondackcenterforwriting.org

 

August 14: Adirondack Roundtable Series. Attorney and restoration-addict Howard Stahl discusses “Saving Historic Properties” over breakfast. Sponsored by the Lake Placid Institute for the Arts and Humanities. Crowne Plaza Lake Placid Resort. 8:30 a.m. (518) 523-1312

 

August 14–15: Digital Photography/Photoshop Weekend with Carl and Greta Heilman. Register in advance. (518) 494-3072. www.carlheilman.com/photo-workshops-calendar.html

 

August 15–26: Adirondack Writing Summit for beginning and published writers, with nationally-known and Adirondack authors as well as professional writing coaches. The Woods Inn, Inlet. Check for schedule. (540) 454-4495. www.itsyourlifebethere.com/adirondack.html

 

August 20: Pack Basket Workshop with Sandy Muller, of Clear Creek Weavers. Register in advance. Abanakee Studios, Indian Lake. 10 a.m. (518) 648-5013. www.abanakeestudios.com

 

EXHIBITIONS

July 10–August 13: Kathleen Ann Thum. Drawings and paintings. Lake George

Arts Project’s Courthouse Gallery. (518) 668-2616. www.lakegeorgearts.org

 

July 16–August 15: Central Adirondack Art Show. Featuring more than 200 artists. Arts Center/Old Forge. (315) 369-6411

 

Editors’ Note: Because Inside & Out must be prepared so far in advance of publication, telephone numbers are included for the confirmation of dates and times of events.