If you've been following along for a bit, you'll know we have a serious love for our little hometown of Glens Falls, NY, which only grows deeper in the summertime. Neighbors gather on front porches, couples bike to the Saturday Farmers Market, and families enjoy Friday night movies under the stars in City Park. Our summer nights are spent walking downtown, enjoying drinks on the patios of our favorite restaurants, and listening to the sounds of live music floating through the air from different venues in the city. It's our own little slice of Stars Hollow, and it just keeps on getting better.
We gave you the run down of our favorite spots in our Winter Guide here, but since this pretty city comes alive in a new way in the summer, we’d love to share our tried and true summer favorites and a few great new spots that have popped up since last post.
WHERE TO EAT
Coffee + Breakfast
Fresh ADK: A weekend favorite, we love grabbing breakfast on their sidewalk patio after the Farmers Market. Our usual: avocado toast and the egg white sandwich. Tons of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options make this a hit for us, and coming soon: a marketplace selling dry goods and fresh produce.
Juicin Jar: Perfect for a grab-and-go juice or smoothie, or stick around on their sweet patio for a fresh summer salad. Our top picks: the Berry Bliss Smoothie and every last one of their cookies and muffins - delish!
Spot Coffee: The perfect place for a morning coffee made better by the windows that open wide onto Glen Street and the sweet little tables set up out front. We love walking down here first thing in the morning on weekends, sitting outside with the pups, and watching the city wake up.
Kelly's Roots: Basically Tom's second home, he grabs coffee or a Nutty Kale smoothie here every day on his way to work. We love to relax on their covered patio on weekends with a smoothie or açaí bowl and just maybe some blueberry pancakes on the side ;)
Spektor: A great coffee spot with a warm, cozy atmosphere. It's one of Tom's usual coffee stops on our way out of town on a road trip. In the nicer weather, they've got some outdoor seating while you're sipping your coffee (Tom) and devouring your cronut (me)!
Lunch + Dinner
Downtown Social: New this summer, DTS is an exciting addition to downtown that boasts an amazing restaurant space and bar, a stage area for live entertainment, and a speak-easy style Bourbon Room. I honestly can't say what I love more - the atmosphere or the food. Favorites so far: the Breads and Spreads platter, the Vegetable Risotto (so good I've had it twice!), and the Carbonara. Did I mention there's prosecco on draft? See you there ;)
If that weren't enough, their multi-faceted approach also includes a deli, which just opened! We can't wait to enjoy the space in the mornings over coffee and an egg sandwich.
Doc's Restaurant and Bar: Also new this summer, we're so excited that Doc's has opened their doors just below the Park Theater (more on that below), and just as excited to see their progress on an outdoor patio coming soon! The perfect spot to enjoy a meal at the bar (beware: the pub mix is so good I had to tell Tom to take it away!), we love their grilled cheese (with mushrooms, asparagus, and red pepper!) and are so happy that they have the Impossible Burger on the menu. We also really love the staff's willingness to put the Mets game on - thanks guys! :)
Morgan and Company: One of our favorite date night spots, Morgan and Co. is summer dining at it's finest. Between their beautiful hardwood porch and their stone patio surrounded by blooms, you just can't beat it. You can usually find us at the porch bar enjoying a prosecco (for me) and a Common Roots IPA (for Tom), with our pal Kris the bartender having put in our appetizer before we even sit down :) Our version of Cheers for sure, we just love everyone here.
Raul's: Overlooking the circle downtown, Raul's has a prime sidewalk patio and the very best margaritas, chips and guac. Bonus points for their commitment to our environment by going straw-less and incorporating great vegetarian and vegan options into their menu!
Davidson Brothers: In the words of my dad, "everyone always looks like they're having so much fun there!" :) . With a perfect outdoor seating area on Glen and Exchange Streets with bistro lights hanging above and live music playing, it's easy to see why. We love grabbing a table for two on the Glen Street side and watching the world go by.
Park Patio at The Q: Overlooking our beautiful City Park, the Park Patio is a great spot to relax in the evening while enjoying their outdoor fire pits. Don't miss the Park Patio Summer Music Series on Wednesdays from 4-8pm for live music, drinks, and small plates!
Downtown City Tavern: Our go-to for pizza and benders, DTCT is also a favorite spot for craft beer. With a screen rotating through their extensive selection, you're sure to find a brew that fits the bill. Bonus points for their sunny patio on Elm Street in the summer!
Samantha's: Always delivering on atmosphere and freshly made comfort food, Samantha's is a weekday favorite. Tom swears by the "Melties" section of the menu (try the Caprese and the Hot Mess!), and I'm all for the Caprese Salad.
Rock Hill Bakehouse: A popular lunch-time stop during the week, be sure to stick around on weekends for some live music to keep you entertained. A great local staple on Exchange Street with lots of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options.
Drinks
Mean Max: Join the dart league, test your brain power on trivia night. or just belly up to the bar for a drink. The tap room offers cider, wine, and cocktail options as well and this just in... they've started canning their most popular beers to take home!
Common Roots: A long time favorite of ours, Tom has been known to accidentally take the long way home to pick up a favorite four pack for the fridge. That said, we tend to linger much longer in the summer, enjoying a cold brew and relaxing on the red Adirondack Chairs out front. There's always something going on, from pop-up food trucks, to yoga classes, Wednesday geers and beers, Thursday music series and more.
Sweets
Coopers Cave: Situated directly on the Warren County Bikeway, Coopers Cave is a great spot to pedal for ice cream on a hot summer day. Grab a couple scoops of their homemade hard ice cream and relax on a picnic table under the shade trees before biking home. The perfect afternoon treat!
Rob and Deb's Frozen Dreams: My favorite place for soft ice cream in the city, their flavor calendar is always on my radar! Though it's tough to pass on my old stand-by (vanilla in a dish with rainbow sprinkles - I know, I'm basically five years old), their chocolate/peanut butter twist and raspberry chocolate twist are high on the list of family favorites.
WHAT TO DO
Summer Events: We are so lucky to be able to enjoy a full itinerary of events downtown during the summer, from Take a Bite on Wednesdays (featuring small plates of favorite meals from local restaurants), to Friday night Movies in City Park under the stars. On Monday nights, you can find concerts in the City Park Gazebo, and Thursdays bring the Food Truck Corral at The Shirt Factory. And on Saturday morning, you can bet you'll find us at the Farmers Market in the Pavilion downtown.
Park Theater: We couldn't love The Park more. Our city has so much history and even more potential, and The Park is the perfect recent representation of this. Thanks to the foresight, determination and investment of local developer Elizabeth Miller and her team, The Park Theater has been completely restored and is once again bringing entertainment to Park Street. From concerts to theater and dance, The Park has a little something for everyone. An added bonus: being able to enjoy drinks and dinner at Doc's Restaurant before a show! Check out the schedule of upcoming events and grab tickets here.
Adirondack Theatre Festival: ATF is such a special part of the city in the summer, and it's so exciting to see the award winning talent the festival draws to our little city. Year after year, the festival grows in popularity and continues to bring more dynamic features to the stage. The season is already in full swing and we can't wait to see the next show - The Jedi Handbook! Check out the rest of the season and buy tickets here.
Warren County Bikeway: Stretching from downtown Glens Falls all the way to Lake George, the bikeway is the perfect place to pedal in the summer. We mainly use the path to bike to Coopers Cave for ice cream ;) , but this beautiful paved path is perfect for walking, biking, and running on any stretch of the nearly 10 miles.
Crandall Park: Our favorite place to walk the dogs, we're in the park at least once a day (although the pups would rather we were there more!). We love watching the new families of ducks with their ducklings swim on the pond throughout the spring and summer, and spying the turtles sunning themselves on logs. Parents teach their kids to fish in the stocked pond, and you can usually find a hammock or two swinging between the pine trees on a sunny summer day.
Hyde Collection: Including works by Rembrandt, Degas, Picasso, and Renoir to name a few, the Hyde is a perfect place to while away a summer afternoon. Be sure to take a few minutes to visit the Butterfly Garden behind the Hyde House. Inside tip: admission is free on the second Sunday of the month!
Chapman Museum: We are loving this summer's exhibit - The Secret Life of Signs! An ode to the craftsmanship of these visual landmarks, the exhibit celebrates ghost signs, neon signs, and vintage plastic signs from around the region. Bonus: they are offering walking tours of Glens Falls for an up-close look at the signs of the city and the history behind them.
WHERE TO SHOP
New since our last post, Rude Betty is full of cards and gifts from favorites including Beekman 1802 and Emily McDowell. Visit Fountain Square Outfitters for Patagonia and outdoor gear, Minky Mink for favorite brands like Free People and 7 For All Mankind, and Lake George Olive Oil for the very best - you guessed it - olive oil and vinegar. Check out the Shirt Factory and LARAC Shop for the best works from local artists. For fun stationery and goods designed in Glens Falls, check out Ramble Goods online shop. If you're hunting for antiques, stop by a few of our favorites in the surrounding area: The Fox and the Chicken Coop, and Antiques Market Place.
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We hope you have a chance to visit our little city this summer, and love it as much as we do! If you're local, we'd love to hear your summer favorites in the comments!
For more Glens Falls charm, follow along on Instagram @glensfallsliving!