Standing room only
The Bandersnatchers
Alex Selby, summer tour guide extraordinaire, rocking out with his crewBeatlemania
Beatlemania, my favorite Skidmore tradition (check out some of my other "favorite things" around Saratoga), was awesome! We got there at 7:30 pm and there were no seats left. We were able to bring in chairs and sit at the very back. The Zankel Music Center (coming soon) will be able to accommodate the entire crowd!
Standing room only
The Bandersnatchers
Alex Selby, summer tour guide extraordinaire, rocking out with his crew
Standing room only The Bandersnatchers Alex Selby, summer tour guide extraordinaire, rocking out with his crew
Twenty-four hours of Manchester, Vermont
The admissions office held its annual reading retreat. The admissions committee leaves Saratoga and spends twenty-four hours in Manchester, Vermont. We carefully cover all aspects of the application review process. (No cameras allowed during our meeting:))
After a full day of work, we headed into town and spent some time in the outlets. I went with a group to the Northshire Book Store and spent an hour or so happily reading. Some of us later went to the Burr and Burton Academy Hockey game. The team's head coach, Corey Herrington, is a Skidmore Alumnus (class of 96).
Leaving the admissions office for Manchester, Vermont
Travel gift exchange to round out the official part of our meeting
Peter keeps getting taller at Skidmore. In front of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester
Burr and Burton Academy Hockey game!
Jane reads a question to an opposing team during a game of Cranium
After a full day of work, we headed into town and spent some time in the outlets. I went with a group to the Northshire Book Store and spent an hour or so happily reading. Some of us later went to the Burr and Burton Academy Hockey game. The team's head coach, Corey Herrington, is a Skidmore Alumnus (class of 96).
Leaving the admissions office for Manchester, Vermont
Travel gift exchange to round out the official part of our meeting
Peter keeps getting taller at Skidmore. In front of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester
Burr and Burton Academy Hockey game!
Jane reads a question to an opposing team during a game of Cranium
More Gore = More Sore
Skidmore has an ideal location in so many ways. We are three hours from some incredible cities like New York City, Boston and Montreal (not to mention being in Saratoga Springs). We are at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and we are close to some great ski mountains!
Peter is happy because Gore has gondola
Permanent smile from the cold
Skidmore is:
90 miles from Mount Snow
87.2 miles from Killington Ski Resort
64.2 miles from Stratton Mountain
61.9 miles from Gore Mountain
19.4 miles to West Mountain
Peter and I decided to go to Gore for the day. He has a season pass at Gore (which he got for $300 because of his young age:)) and I buy the Price Chopper pass books (3 tickets + a couple companion tickets for $105). We had an awesome day of skiing and boarding. Peter cut out early but I continued to board until closing (and I am really feeling it today)!
Peter is really tall and I am really short (and Peter was standing on a pile of snow)
Peter is really tall and I am really short (and Peter was standing on a pile of snow)
Peter is happy because Gore has gondola
Permanent smile from the coldMy Favorites list
My favorite Pizza: Panza's. This place has thin crust pizza that is only made a few nights a week. It is located on the lake and I would guess the vast majority of Skidmore students don't know about this hidden gem. I've only known about this place for a few years.
My favorite shop: Alpine Shop is a cool little snowboard/ski shop that students can walk to from campus. They have a friendly dog in the shop, free popcorn, and knowledgeable staff.
My favorite restaurant: Lanci's is hands down the best dining experience in Saratoga and beyond. It is a tiny restaurant where you will be treated like you are the only guest in the place (we were the only guests the last time we were there). The food is top notch, the service is excellent and I can't think of a better restaurant experience (anywhere) for a quiet dinner for two.
Favorite Bagel shop: Uncommon Grounds is the obvious choice here. It really is a coffee shop and I hear their coffee is really good ( I don't drink coffee so I wouldn't know). Our office will get a bunch of bagels and cream cheese for a nice treat every once in a while.
My favorite hotel to recommend: The Springs Motel. It's not the nicest place in town. In fact, it is probably one of the most affordable in town. The Springs Motel is consistently clean and most of the guests are repeat clients/guest. It is also owned by one of Skidmore's security officers.
Favorite Fast Food: Moe's. Huge portions for really fair prices. I usually get the Overachiever, Billy Barou, or the Homewrecker. The queso sauce is addictive.
Favorite place for a Sandwich: Roma's Deli! I've only ordered one type of sandwich here for the last few years; domestic prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, lettuce, onion and light Italian dressing on an Italian sub. Olives on the side.
Favorite place for a quick bite downtown for less than four dollars: Esperanto. The rice and beans plate is an awesome meal for so little money. Don't forget to try the dough boy (you'll need more than one to fill up).
My favorite shop: Alpine Shop is a cool little snowboard/ski shop that students can walk to from campus. They have a friendly dog in the shop, free popcorn, and knowledgeable staff.
My favorite restaurant: Lanci's is hands down the best dining experience in Saratoga and beyond. It is a tiny restaurant where you will be treated like you are the only guest in the place (we were the only guests the last time we were there). The food is top notch, the service is excellent and I can't think of a better restaurant experience (anywhere) for a quiet dinner for two.
Favorite Bagel shop: Uncommon Grounds is the obvious choice here. It really is a coffee shop and I hear their coffee is really good ( I don't drink coffee so I wouldn't know). Our office will get a bunch of bagels and cream cheese for a nice treat every once in a while.
My favorite hotel to recommend: The Springs Motel. It's not the nicest place in town. In fact, it is probably one of the most affordable in town. The Springs Motel is consistently clean and most of the guests are repeat clients/guest. It is also owned by one of Skidmore's security officers.
Favorite Fast Food: Moe's. Huge portions for really fair prices. I usually get the Overachiever, Billy Barou, or the Homewrecker. The queso sauce is addictive.
Favorite place for a Sandwich: Roma's Deli! I've only ordered one type of sandwich here for the last few years; domestic prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, lettuce, onion and light Italian dressing on an Italian sub. Olives on the side.
Favorite place for a quick bite downtown for less than four dollars: Esperanto. The rice and beans plate is an awesome meal for so little money. Don't forget to try the dough boy (you'll need more than one to fill up).
My favorite Skidmore tradition
This post is going to spawn in to another post about all of my favorite things at Skidmore! However, this post is specifically about my favorite Skidmore tradition, Skidmania Beatlemore. Originally dubbed "Beatlemania" seven years ago on the 40th anniversary of the coining of the term "Beatlemania" -this festival is probably some of the best two hours spent in the Skidmore community. http://www.skidmore.edu/~gthompso/mu344-Beatles/Skidmania/Skidmania-2007.htm
See you there!
See you there!
Skidmore Invite
My colleagues and I arranged for a group of students from New York City to spend a Saturday at Skidmore. Thanks to all of the Skidmore students who helped make the day an enjoyable one for all of our visitors!
Thursday night activities
Thursday, November 29
There are so many things to do at Skidmore. There were at least four events I wanted to attend on Thursday alone and it was impossible to attend them all. The Honors Forum has a series of panel discussions called "Shades of Grey"(recently changed to "Degrees of Grey") and Thursday nights' specific topic was about Global Warming.
There was a movie sponsored by the Black Faculty and Staff Group on campus immediately following the "Degrees of Grey" discussion.
The "tree lighting" ceremony is one of my favorite traditions on campus and was going on Thursday night as well.
Rithmos is one of the many talented dance groups on campus and they were performing on Thursday night too!
The Victorian Street Walk was also going on and this was what we ended doing. It was very hard to find parking (we drove from home) but once we did we strolled into town to see a huge crowd (over 21,000 people attended last year) scattered across Broadway. I was only able to snap 3 photos before my camera battery ran out.
Inside the first store we stopped into. We enjoyed the free Masala Chai tea here.
One of Skidmore's own a cappella groups!
We enjoyed free warm cider and cookies all around town. We wanted to get some kettle corn, but the line was too long and we had to rush back to campus to catch our next event, The Cherry Orchard.
Anton Chekhov's play written in the early 1900's was one of the many productions the theatre department puts on per semester. It was featured in our Theatre Open House a weak earlier and had rave reviews from the audience. Kudos to the entire cast and staff of the production. You guys are incredibly talented and hard-working!
There are so many things to do at Skidmore. There were at least four events I wanted to attend on Thursday alone and it was impossible to attend them all. The Honors Forum has a series of panel discussions called "Shades of Grey"(recently changed to "Degrees of Grey") and Thursday nights' specific topic was about Global Warming.
There was a movie sponsored by the Black Faculty and Staff Group on campus immediately following the "Degrees of Grey" discussion.
The "tree lighting" ceremony is one of my favorite traditions on campus and was going on Thursday night as well.
Rithmos is one of the many talented dance groups on campus and they were performing on Thursday night too!
The Victorian Street Walk was also going on and this was what we ended doing. It was very hard to find parking (we drove from home) but once we did we strolled into town to see a huge crowd (over 21,000 people attended last year) scattered across Broadway. I was only able to snap 3 photos before my camera battery ran out.
Inside the first store we stopped into. We enjoyed the free Masala Chai tea here.
One of Skidmore's own a cappella groups!We enjoyed free warm cider and cookies all around town. We wanted to get some kettle corn, but the line was too long and we had to rush back to campus to catch our next event, The Cherry Orchard.
Anton Chekhov's play written in the early 1900's was one of the many productions the theatre department puts on per semester. It was featured in our Theatre Open House a weak earlier and had rave reviews from the audience. Kudos to the entire cast and staff of the production. You guys are incredibly talented and hard-working!
Decisions, decisions, decisions
It is restaurant week in Saratoga. There are a number of restaurants in town that feature pre-set menus for $18.19 (Saratoga was founded in the year 1819).
We are planning to go to one of the restaurants on Tuesday night. We hope to to return downtown on Thursday for the Victorian Street Walk
We can't decide on Hattie's or One Caroline.
Hattie's chef was featured on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay."
One Caroline was featured on "Rachel Ray's $40 a day". This restaurant features incredible live music (see Sarah Pedinotti if you have the chance!) in addition to their great food. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
It's easy to see why the Skidmore community is so lucky to have Saratoga Springs!
We are planning to go to one of the restaurants on Tuesday night. We hope to to return downtown on Thursday for the Victorian Street Walk
We can't decide on Hattie's or One Caroline.
Hattie's chef was featured on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay."
One Caroline was featured on "Rachel Ray's $40 a day". This restaurant features incredible live music (see Sarah Pedinotti if you have the chance!) in addition to their great food. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
It's easy to see why the Skidmore community is so lucky to have Saratoga Springs!
Great Conference!
I had the opportunity to attend the cFES National Conference last weekend! It was an incredible conference for many reasons; networking (Aloha to my new friends from Hawaii), professional development, and brainstorming were all very easy to do at the conference. I don't think I've been to a conference so chock full of speakers who challenged, provoked and inspired educators to continue in our efforts to promote early college awareness in under served populations across the United States.
The view from our room
Another pic from our room
The Mario Pena Award was given out to two very hard-working people. Phil Smith, Dean of Admission Emeritus at Williams College, and our very own Mary Lou Bates, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Skidmore College!
I forgot to mention the conference was held just north of Saratoga Springs at the Sagamore Resort.
The view from our room
Another pic from our room
Another post about food!
We had a group of prospective students visit us on campus last night so I had the chance to go to dinner in the D-hall with them. The lunches (as I have posted) are very good, but this dinner was amazing!
Carved turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes and more!
The pumpkin cheesecake was so good!
Crepes!
Seafood Paella!
Cranberry relish on the left!
Carved turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes and more!
The pumpkin cheesecake was so good!
Crepes!
Seafood Paella!
Cranberry relish on the left!NCAA tournament home game!
Our field hockey team recently hosted a home game for the NCAA tournament. It was on a Wednesday afternoon and I was able to attend. 
Go team!
Final score: 2-0 Skidmore!
Congrats to the field hockey team who has been nationally ranked all season long!
Beau Breslin's Scribner Seminar "The Killing State" held class at the game (It was a "do or die" single-elmination game)
Beau Breslin's Scribner Seminar "The Killing State" held class at the game (It was a "do or die" single-elmination game)
Go team!
Final score: 2-0 Skidmore!Congratulations to Gail Cummings-Danson
Shortly after I graduated from Skidmore, I filled a survey out to reflect on my Skidmore experience. I specifically remember suggesting Skidmore continue to raise the profile of the athletics program. Skidmore has done just that over the last ten years and it starts from the top down. Our president, Phillip Glotzbach, is an avid supporter of athletics and the hiring of our (relatively) new athletic director, Gail Cummings-Danson, is a testament to our commitment to the student-athlete experience. We now have the Thoroughbred Society, a group of student athletes who are recognized for a GPA of 3.67 or above! The last induction ceremony honored over 70 (seventy) student-athletes!
Gail was recently inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Megan Buchanan, our Associate Athletic Director extraordinaire, organized a surprise party for Gail.
Surprise!
Gail was recently inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Megan Buchanan, our Associate Athletic Director extraordinaire, organized a surprise party for Gail.
Surprise!
Trek to MUWCI
I was driven to the airport shortly after my breakfast to catch my flight to Pune. My airline had no record of my reservation even though I showed them my confirmation email and number. After purchasing (another) seat on the plane, I had to rush to catch my plane.
I arrived in Pune a short twenty minutes later and found the driver from MUWCI (Mahindra United World College India). Little did I know I was on the same flight as two other college representatives from College of the Atlantic also traveling to MUWCI. All three of us crammed into a "Jeep" and hung on for a nearly two hour ride (due to traffic) through the Indian countryside. MUWCI, like all UWC schools, is an incredible place because of it's location. It is located among the poorest villages in India and this impacts the "community interaction" projects available to students.
I arrived at MUWCI where Mike McGahan, the college advisor, showed me to my "residence house." The accommodations were much nicer than I expected and I was excited
to spend the next 20 hours at MUWCI.
The front of my residence at MUWCI
My room at MUWCI. Thanks again Mike!
The view from MUWCI
A pathway on MUWCI's campus
I had lunch in the dining hall and got to feel the energy the students on campus exude. I appreciated the opportunity to be able to spend a prolonged period of time on campus (at all my school visits) because I'm able to really experience the daily culture of the school.
One of my three meals at MUWCI
After a wholesome lunch, I presented to a much larger group of students than I expected. Many students that were not necessarily interested in Skidmore came to the my presentation to see a video (youtube link coming soon) they had heard about. Shortly before leaving for India, I was able to catch two MUWCI alums who are first-year students at Skidmore. We filmed a video greeting to their classmates. (Thanks again to Matt in the Media Lab for help with the video!!)
I met with a couple of students individually after my presentation and suddenly it was time for me to go on my "community interaction" trip. I met 14 MUWCI students at the Social Center. We squeezed into two jeeps and headed down the road to a local orphanage. We spent the late afternoon playing and socializing with local orphans. I was prohibited from taking photos but I'm sure you can imagine the scene. Some of the MUWCI students have been visiting this orphanage for two years but even the newer MUWCI students had a great impact on the orphans.
MUWCI students posing in front of the orphanage
I arrived in Pune a short twenty minutes later and found the driver from MUWCI (Mahindra United World College India). Little did I know I was on the same flight as two other college representatives from College of the Atlantic also traveling to MUWCI. All three of us crammed into a "Jeep" and hung on for a nearly two hour ride (due to traffic) through the Indian countryside. MUWCI, like all UWC schools, is an incredible place because of it's location. It is located among the poorest villages in India and this impacts the "community interaction" projects available to students.
I arrived at MUWCI where Mike McGahan, the college advisor, showed me to my "residence house." The accommodations were much nicer than I expected and I was excited
to spend the next 20 hours at MUWCI.
The front of my residence at MUWCI
My room at MUWCI. Thanks again Mike!
The view from MUWCI 
A pathway on MUWCI's campusI had lunch in the dining hall and got to feel the energy the students on campus exude. I appreciated the opportunity to be able to spend a prolonged period of time on campus (at all my school visits) because I'm able to really experience the daily culture of the school.
One of my three meals at MUWCIAfter a wholesome lunch, I presented to a much larger group of students than I expected. Many students that were not necessarily interested in Skidmore came to the my presentation to see a video (youtube link coming soon) they had heard about. Shortly before leaving for India, I was able to catch two MUWCI alums who are first-year students at Skidmore. We filmed a video greeting to their classmates. (Thanks again to Matt in the Media Lab for help with the video!!)
I met with a couple of students individually after my presentation and suddenly it was time for me to go on my "community interaction" trip. I met 14 MUWCI students at the Social Center. We squeezed into two jeeps and headed down the road to a local orphanage. We spent the late afternoon playing and socializing with local orphans. I was prohibited from taking photos but I'm sure you can imagine the scene. Some of the MUWCI students have been visiting this orphanage for two years but even the newer MUWCI students had a great impact on the orphans.
MUWCI students posing in front of the orphanage
Breakfast in the hotel
I woke up early after a much needed sleep in my hotel room. I rushed downstairs to enjoy the buffet breakfast. I didn't know when the next time I would get to eat so I quickly put my eating skills to the test.
Assorted fruit juices
Bhaji (but I don't know if this dish was correctly marked)
Poori
Assorted fruit juices
Bhaji (but I don't know if this dish was correctly marked)
Poori
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