Monday, April 27, 2015

Antique Boat Museum Announces 2015 Event Schedule & More



CLAYTON, New York (April 26, 2015) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today details of the upcoming 2015 season.
The celebration of the Museum’s re-opening, which is presented by Vintage Doors, will include a number of giveaways on the ABM’s Facebook page leading up to the first day of the 2015 season on Friday, May 1. Facebook followers will have the opportunity to win merchandise, books, and event tickets.
The ABM officially re-opens on May 1 at 9 a.m. and will be open 7 days a week through Columbus Day. 
2015 Event Schedule
This season, the ABM embarks on yet another full calendar of activity that will see more than 40 public and private events, not including multiple ABM education courses, occur at the Museum in the 23 weeks between May 1 and October 12. Nearly every weekend not slated to host a Museum event is scheduled for a wedding or other private gathering.
In May, the ABM will play host to the annual Volunteer Breakfast. This affair will take place on May 21 and serves as a recruiting event, as well as a time for past volunteers to declare their interests in helping for the season. On May 22 from 5-7 p.m., the ABM invites the public to attend the formal opening of the Museum’s newest exhibits during a free reception, catered by DiPrinzio’s.
In June, the popular 1000 Islands Family Day returns on June 13. This free admission day is presented by Watertown Savings Bank, Fidelis Care & WWNY-TV and will feature numerous displays and activities, as well as discounted speedboat rides. Also, the Great International Steamboat Flotilla returns for its fourth consecutive year on June 14-20. The month will be capped off by a new event this summer, Halfway to Christmas Boat Parade, which participants are encouraged to light up their boat in Christmas décor.
POSH Picnic returns on July 3 and will feature an auction with extravagant items. On July 11, the Museum will host the 5th annual Concours d’Elegance Classic Car Show. British cars are the marque of the year. And, the biggest event of the summer sets sail on July 31, as the 51st annual Antique Boat Show & Auction gets underway. Known as the longest running Antique Boat Show in North America, this year’s show is shaping up to be an encore to last year’s event.


Finally, the Caravan Stage Company (www.caravanstage.org) will float into the dock at the ABM this coming August 14 & 15 for two nights of high-flying, mesmerizing aerial acrobatics and a world-renowned theatrical performance that is sure to be the talk of the 1000 Islands this summer season. The performances are already this summer’s hottest ticketed event and has sold more than 600 tickets as of April 25.
A current event schedule is shown below, but subject to change.
2015 Event Schedule
May 1                                       Museum Opens
May 8-10                                   ABM/ACBS Symposium
May 21                                      Volunteer Breakfast
May 22                                      Exhibition Opening Reception
June 10                                     National Iced Tea Day – complimentary iced tea for visitors
June 13                                     Watertown Savings Bank “1000 Islands Family Day” presented by Fidelis
Care & WWNY-TV - Free admission all day courtesy of WSB
June 15-21                                Great International Steamboat Flotilla
June 27                                     Halfway to Christmas Boat Parade
June 28                                     USCG Auxiliary Free Boat Inspection Day 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
July 3                                        POSH Picnic/Clayton Fireworks
July 11                                      1000 Islands Concours d’Elegance Classic Car Show
July 31 – August 2                      51st Annual Antique Boat Show & Auction
July 31                                      Fleet Fete and Auction Preview – fundraising reception to benefit the
ABM’s in-water fleet
August 1                                    Boat Auction presented by Antique Boat America 1 p.m.
August 1                                    Boat Show Block Dance featuring 1960s cover band Dunes & the
Deltunes       8 p.m.
August 14 & 15                          Caravan Stage Company performance of ‘Hacked’
September 5                              Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
2015 Admission Rates
General admission rates for the 2015 “summer” season are shown below –
Adult                                         $14
Senior (65+)                              $12
Youth                                        $8
Child (6 & under)                       Free
ABM/Frederic Remington Art Museum Combo Pass
$17
Group                                       Call ahead for rates
Military (active/retired)               Free
Retired Military Spouse               $9


Museum Hours of Operation
9 a.m. until 5 p.m.          7 days a week beginning May 1 through Columbus Day
About ABM
Located on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York, the ABM features a collection of over 300 antique and classic boats, among thousands of recreational boating artifacts. The Museum is home to the world’s largest runabout of its kind and a 112-year old gilded-age two-story houseboat. In 2015, the ABM will host the 51st annual Antique Boat Show and Auction, the longest running such show in North America. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

BOAT RESTORATION SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD MAY 8-10 AT ANTIQUE BOAT MUSEUM IN CLAYTON NY



CLAYTON, New York (April 14, 2015) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, has announced details of the 2015 Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) and ABM jointly hosted symposium to be held May 8-10 in Clayton.
Symposium 2015: Boat Restoration will officially kick-off the 2015 event calendar at the Museum.
This weekend-long symposium is for people with a passion for boating and building boats, boat owners, and everyone in-between. Presentations will cover carvel and lapstrake planking, as well as steam bending among other topics. Instructors include Bo & Kathy Muller of Muller Boatworks and Rueben Smith of Tumblehome Boatshop. They will be available all weekend to answer boat restoration questions.
The weekend will also consist of speedboat rides (weather permitting) and a tour of the ABM’s Doebler storage facility.
Registration is only $199, if registered prior to April 20 ($225 after), and includes dinner on Friday night at The Clipper Inn, breakfast at the ABM on Saturday and Sunday, along with lunch on Saturday.
For more information or to register, log on to abm.org or contact Julie Broadbent at jbroadbent@abm.org.
About ABM
Located on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York, the ABM features a collection of over 300 antique and classic boats, among thousands of recreational boating artifacts. The Museum is home to the world’s largest runabout of its kind and a 112-year old gilded-age two-story houseboat. In 2015, the ABM will host the 51st annual Antique Boat Show and Auction, the longest running such show in North America. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.

CLAYTON NY TO SERVE AS PORT OF CALL FOR 2 LUXURY CRUISE SHIPS




CLAYTON, NY (April 14, 2015) – Mayor Norma Zimmer and the Village of Clayton have announced that the Thousand Islands Regional Dock and Clayton Cruise Ship Terminal located at Frink Park in downtown Clayton will welcome two luxury cruise ships over the course of the 2015 summer and early fall. MS Saint Laurent and Pearl Mist will make port calls into Clayton between May 10 and October 17. In total, 13 large cruise ship visits are slated for the Regional Dock this summer.

MS Saint Laurent, a 286-foot cruise ship, which was recently refurbished after being purchased by Haimark Line, will be making its maiden voyage under its new name and owner in 2015 and will dock in Clayton a total of 11 times between May 10 and October 17. The five-deck, 105 stateroom luxury liner will make numerous trips along the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as the upper Great Lakes. The ship previously sailed the St. Lawrence Seaway while known as Cape May Light and Sea Voyager.

Pearl Mist returns to Clayton after making two visits in 2014. The 335-foot ship features six decks with 108 staterooms. The vessel, which is owned by Pearl Seas Cruises, will again make two port visits, both of which will be overnight stays.
Both ships carry up to 210 passengers.
In addition to the cruise ships, Clayton is also expected to receive a visit from a US Coast Guard Cutter over the July 4th holiday.

2015 Port Schedule for Clayton, New York (as of April 14, 2015; subject to change)
Date                                     Hours in Port                  Vessel

May 10                              cancelled                        MS Saint Laurent
May 14                                                                       MS Saint Laurent
May 17                             7am – 6pm                       MS Saint Laurent
May 26                             9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
June 22                             9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
July 1                                 9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
July 3                                    TBD                                       US Coast Guard Cutter
July 16/17                        8pm – 8pm                       Pearl Mist                          (overnight visit)
July 28                                 9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
September 11                  9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
September 13/14          8am – 8am                       Pearl Mist                          (overnight visit)
September 20                  9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
September 29                  9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
October 8                          9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent
October 17                        9am – 1pm                       MS Saint Laurent

About the Thousand Islands Regional Dock and Clayton Cruise Ship Terminal
The Thousand Islands Regional Dock and Clayton Cruise Ship Terminal became a U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard certified 105c Port of Entry in October 2011.
Recent vessels to call upon the port include; tall ships – Lynx, Pride of Baltimore II and Empire Sandy; yachts – Blue Moon, Lady Sandals, Unity, Battered Bull, Freedom; tugboats – Robinson Bay, Performance and Commodore Straits. In 2014, the port welcomed cruise ship Pearl Mist on two separate occasions.

The Regional Dock is conveniently located just off the main shipping channel at Frink Park along Riverside Drive in downtown Clayton.
For more information on the Thousand Islands Regional Dock and Clayton Cruise Ship Terminal, contact the Village of Clayton at 315-686-5552 or visit www.villageofclayton.org.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Springtime shots of Singer Castle on Dark Island


These photos of Singer Castle, by Jean Papke, were taken just this morning from the St. Lawrence River shore in the Thousand Islands. What a contrast to her recent pictures when it was all so winter-like. Jean reminds us that it is only 34 days until Opening Day. Click on photos to see them larger.





"The beautiful Spring came;
and when nature resumes her loveliness,
the human soul is apt to revive also."
       ---Harriet Ann Jacobs