ADK Talks

Memorial Day Mailbag: Adirondack Summer Starts Here

Memorial Day weekend in the Adirondacks can mean sunshine, dock weather, chilly rain, black flies, parades, boats on trailers, and the first real feeling that summer is almost here. In this episode of ADK Talks, Jane and Steve kick off the season with a Memorial Day weekend guide and a listener mailbag. They talk about what the Adirondacks feel like as seasonal businesses reopen, favorite early-summer events return, and visitors start heading north again. They also answer listener questions about how ADK Taste and the podcast began, why they focus on positive recommendations, what makes a place worth featuring, and which hidden gems they love most. What you’ll hear in this episode * Memorial Day weekend in the Adirondacks is beautiful, unpredictable, and worth packing layers for. * The hosts share tips for choosing one region instead of trying to see the whole park in one trip. * Jane highlights the Great Adirondack Garage Sale, a 200-mile treasure hunt through the Central Adirondacks. * Steve talks about classic signs of the season, from boats on the Northway to Memorial Day parades. * They share rainy-day ideas, including museums, local theaters, galleries, and historical societies. * The mailbag covers how ADK Taste started, why the podcast came next, and how listeners can send ideas. * Jane and Steve share favorite Adirondack “hidden gems,” including Newcomb views, stargazing, breweries, and ADKX. * The episode looks ahead to June events, including Americade, cycling races, the Lake Placid Marathon, and William Shatner’s return to Ticonderoga. Resources: * Great Adirondack Garage Sale [https://www.adktaste.com/adirondack-events/great-adirondack-garage-sale-2026]  * Americade 2026 in Lake George [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/americade-2026-lake-george-adirondacks]  * William Shatner at the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour [https://www.adktaste.com/adirondack-events/william-shatner-star-trek-set-tour-ticonderoga-2026]  * On The Equator Sauna Rentals [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/mobile-sauna-rental-lake-george-on-the-equator] * Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adirondack-experience]  * The Sembrich [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/the-sembrich-opera-museum]  * Seagle Festival [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/seagle-festival-2026-schroon-lake-adirondacks-podcast]  * Lake George [https://www.adktaste.com/lake-george]  Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com]

Cooking Up the Future: Inside Paul Smith’s Culinary Program and Adirondack Hospitality

In this episode of ADK Talks, we sit down with Chef Robert Dumas, Director of the Institute of Adventure, Hospitality, and Food at Paul Smith’s College. Chef Dumas brings a remarkable perspective to the table. His career has taken him from washing dishes in a neighborhood Chinese restaurant to cooking aboard a Navy submarine, serving at the White House, teaching at the collegiate level, and now helping shape the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals in the Adirondacks. What does “adventure hospitality” mean? At Paul Smith’s, it’s where food, lodging, recreation, and the natural world meet. Chef Dumas shares how the college’s culinary, baking, hospitality, and resort management programs are rooted in hands-on learning, local food systems, and the unique setting of the Adirondack Park. What you’ll hear in this episode * How Paul Smith’s College is training chefs for today’s hospitality world. * Chef Dumas’s path from New Orleans kitchens to the Navy, the White House, and higher education. * Why local farms, regional ingredients, and seasonality matter in culinary training. * What students learn from visiting Adirondack producers and cooking with local ingredients. * How kitchen leadership has changed, and why today’s students respond to teaching, purpose, and respect. * What visitors should look for in a great Adirondack dining experience. * A peek inside Paul Smith’s student-run bakery and restaurant, plus plans for future lakefront dining. * Why Paul Smith’s VIC and the St. Regis Canoe Area are among Chef Dumas’s favorite Adirondack places. Resources: * Paul Smith’s College Culinary Management [https://www.paulsmiths.edu/academics/programs/culinary-management/] * Paul Smith’s College [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adk-talks-podcast-paul-smiths-college] * Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/paul-smiths-vic-adirondacks-trails] * Adirondack Harvest [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adk-talks-podcast-adirondack-harvest-local-food?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Deer’s Head Inn  [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/deers-head-inn?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Juniper Hill Farm [https://juniperhillfarmcsa.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Harmony Hills Farmstead [https://www.harmonyhillsfarmstead.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Farmer Ground Flour [https://www.farmergroundflour.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adktalks-podcast-adirondack-center-for-loon-conservation?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com]

Chasing Giants: Northern Pike, Conservation & the Art of Adirondack Guiding

In this episode of ADK Talks, we head out on the water with Aaron Gaza of Aaron’s Guide Service, a licensed New York State guide who helps anglers discover the beauty, challenge, and thrill of fishing in the Adirondacks. Aaron takes us from Great Sacandaga Lake to Saranac Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, and beyond, sharing what makes Adirondack fishing so special: thousands of lakes and ponds, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and that unforgettable feeling of being surrounded by protected land, mountain views, and open water. What you’ll hear in this episode * Aaron shares how childhood trips to Middle Saranac Lake sparked a lifelong love of fishing. * Why Great Sacandaga Lake is one of his favorite Adirondack fisheries. * How fishing changes from spring and summer to fall and winter. * Why hiring a guide can help with lake choice, timing, safety, and finding fish. * A thoughtful look at conservation, overfishing, sonar, and responsible catch-and-release practices. * What beginners should know before heading out, from weather and clothing to ice safety. * Aaron’s favorite Adirondack stops, including Jim’s Bait Shop, Sport Island Pub, and Noon Mark Diner. Resources: * Aaron’s Guide Service [https://www.aaronsguideservice.net/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Adirondack Free Fishing Days  [https://www.adktaste.com/adirondack-events/free-fishing-days-new-york-state-2025-june?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Great Sacandaga Lake [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/glamping-in-the-adirondacks-at-glampful?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Saranac Lake and the Tri-Lakes Region [https://www.adktaste.com/ultimate-guide-adirondacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Lake George [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/algonquin-restaurant-bolton-landing-lake-george?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Fish Creek Pond [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/fish-creek-pond-campground-day-use-area?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Forked Lake  [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/forked-lake-campground-adirondacks?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Noon Mark Diner [https://www.noonmarkdiner.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Jim’s Bait Shop [https://www.jimsbaitshop2023.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks Episode  [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adiriondack-podcast-adk-talks-search-and-rescue?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Sport Island Pub [https://www.sportislandpub.com/] Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com]

Protecting Adirondack Loons: The Science, the Threats, and the Hope

Loons are one of the defining sounds of an Adirondack summer, but protecting them takes far more than admiration from afar. In this episode of ADK Talks, we welcome back Denise Silfee of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, along with Dr. Lizz Schuyler, the organization’s new Senior Director of Science and Conservation, for a fascinating conversation about what loons can teach us about the health of Adirondack lakes. We talk about why loons are such powerful environmental sentinels, how decades of research are helping scientists track mercury and other pollutants, and why new concerns like PFAS and wake boat activity are getting so much attention. Denise and Lizz also walk us through loon banding, rescue efforts, the dangers of lead tackle and discarded fishing line, and the simple ways everyday recreation choices can make a real difference for wildlife. You’ll also hear about new ways the public can get involved, from the annual loon census to a new community science effort focused on boat activity, plus summer events, guided paddles, and bird nerd trivia. If you love Adirondack lakes, wildlife, and the haunting beauty of a loon call at dusk, this episode is for you. What you’ll hear in this episode * Loons spend five to seven months of the year at sea, and researchers still have much to learn about that part of their life cycle. * Why loons matter as indicator species, and how mercury, acid rain, and emerging contaminants like PFAS can reveal the health of Adirondack waters. * How loon banding works, what scientists learn from it, and why individual birds can be tracked for decades. * Why lead tackle remains such a serious threat, especially when loons ingest hooks or jigs through fish. * What wake boats may mean for loon nests, water clarity, fish habitat, shoreline erosion, and overall lake health. * How listeners can help through the loon census, guided paddles, rescue reporting, and the new Tackle Box Ambassador program. Resources: * Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation [https://www.adkloon.org] * Adirondack Loon Center in Saranac Lake [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adirondack-center-for-loon-conservation-saranac-lake] * Loons on ADK Talks [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adktalks-podcast-adirondack-center-for-loon-conservation] * Loon Zoom events [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/loon-zoom-series-2026-adirondack-center-for-loon-conservation] * Paul Smith’s VIC [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/paul-smiths-vic-adirondacks-trails] * Great Adirondack Birding Celebration at Paul Smith’s [https://www.adktaste.com/adirondack-events/great-adirondack-birding-celebration-2025] Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com]

The Adirondacks as a Classroom: Inside the Adirondack Semester at St. Lawrence University

In this episode of ADK Talks, we talk with Jacob McCoola and Nicole Panek about St. Lawrence University’s Adirondack Semester, an immersive fall program where students live off-grid in a yurt village on Massawepie Lake. They share what daily life looks like without phones or laptops, how students learn through outdoor leadership and place-based study, and why the experience leaves such a lasting impact. From shared meals and handwritten coursework to loons, lake water, and deep community, this is a fascinating look at a one-of-a-kind semester in the Adirondacks. Jacob and Nicole also explain how students balance rigorous academics with the practical realities of living in the woods, from cooking and hauling water to learning how to communicate, solve problems, and live closely with others. They talk about the kinds of students the program attracts, the personal growth that often happens over the course of the semester, and why the Adirondacks offer such a rich setting for this kind of education. What you’ll hear in this episode * Living in a yurt village for a full semester * Starting with a seven-day canoe trip * Learning without phones or computers * Building community through shared daily life * Why the Adirondacks make such a powerful classroom * How the experience changes students long after they leave Resources: * St. Lawrence University Adirondack Semester [https://www.stlawu.edu/offices/adirondack-semester] * Adirondack Semester Weekly Updates [https://www.stlawu.edu/offices/adirondack-semester/weekly-updates] * Donnelly’s Soft Ice Cream [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/ice-cream-donnellys-saranac-lake] * Mt. Arab [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/first-day-hikes-adirondacks-new-years-day-2026] * Raquette River Outfitters [https://www.adktaste.com/adirondack-events/guided-loon-paddle-little-clear-pond-august-14-2025] * Why Loons Return to the Same Adirondack Lake Each Year [https://www.adktaste.com/blog/adk-loons-return-same-lake] Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com]