Free Time

Me: Hmm. What should I discuss in today’s blog post? I know! (calling off) Brother Maynard! Consult the book of armaments!

(A man dressed in monk’s garb enters, carrying a sacred text.)

B.M: (chanting) Pie iesu domine, dona eis requiem. (Opens book.) Book of Armaments, Chapter Two, Verses 9-21: (reading) And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade on high-

Me: Skip a bit, brother,

B.M.: And the Lord spake, saying verily, “let us look not at my work this day. Nay, let us browse through the haven that is this small glimmering hamlet, hidden amongst the trees and lands of farming. If any declare themselves against this, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.” Amen

***

As in most of my professional experiences, we here at The Glimmerglass Festival spend a large portion of our time quoting and adapting Monty Python skits. Anyway, through this digression I’ve decided that instead of examining my life on the job today I’d like to look at life after hours.

Like (I think) I said, The Glimmerglass Festival is situated on State Highway 80 in the beautiful rolling hills and farmlands of upstate (apparently it’s “upstate” if it’s above Westchester) NY.

Six or seven miles down the road to the right is Richfield Springs, a small town with a big tradition of quality farms and sick karaoke every Thursday night.

At any point during a Production Day Off (PDO), you can usually see fellow coworkers at P-Chop (known to non-locals as Price Chopper) or over at the Laundromat, preparing for a new week. If you’re feeling particularly bold, you can even make the drive out to New Hartford or Herkimer, the nearest outpost of “civilization,”  to see a movie, visit your friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart or go to a mall.

One of my favorite things to do on a weekend is to turn the other way on Route 80 and go into Cooperstown. Every Saturday morning between 8 and noon, they have a Farmers Market, and let me tell you, it is chock-full of little goodies. I thought I had eaten some pretty good food in my time, that is, until I purchased and cooked some of their wares. MMMMMmmmm good. There are also great little restaurants and grills hidden in back alleys, a large, open lake to play on and, of course, the Baseball Hall of Fame (if you’re into that).

If you’re of legal age, there is a brew tour through six local breweries and wineries, including the Cooperstown Brewery and the company favorite, Ommegang Brewery. They also have great food and atmosphere, so lunch at Ommegang is always a good choice, even for those under 21.

Hanging out with other interns and staff in the pursuit of shenanigans (see picture above) is always an option.

Otherwise, going to one of the many lakes to swim or kayak on a hot day, or laying out in a hammock at a park are great ways to escape the daily hustle and bustle of working at an opera festival. And if all else fails, I enjoy going for nice runs through the countryside, taking in the fresh air and all that jazz. ‘

The lesson is, life outside of the Opera can be as exciting as the shows themselves.

…Well, almost.

So come visit us for a performance and stay for a weekend. There are good eats, good times, good people and great atmosphere, all just a mere 3 hours upstate from the hustle and bustle of NYC. We look forward to seeing you here and we hope you will enjoy your stay in the area.