WORDS & IDEAS
The 11th Annual Jane Austen Retreat, Wiawaka Holiday House, 3778 NY-9L, Lake George. Friday-sunday. $25$30. (Food and lodging is $155 per night) 518-321-1887. The Jane Austen Society North America (JASNA)-NEW York Capital Region presents its annual celebration of the British novelist, this year with facilitated discussions of “Emma ,” viewing and discussion of filmed adaptations of the novel, and presentations from local JASNA members Dr. David Shapard, Nancy Duell and Jane Murphy, along with special guests JASNA president Liz Philosophus Cooper, who will discuss “Jane Austen, Working Woman: I must keep to my own style and go in my own way,” and visiting lecturer Juliette Wells.
“Historic Washington County: A Photographic Portrait,” Historic Salem Courthouse, 58 E. Broadway, Salem. 7 p.m. Thursday. Free. 518-854-7053 or salemcourthouse.org. Photographs from the newly released book will be presented by authors Judith Flagg and Elizabeth Cockey. The book contains more than 160 images from all 17 towns in Washington County that were collected over a two-year period from archives, libraries, museums and private collections. Copies of the book will be available by the Washington County Historical Society which will receive all of the sale proceeds.
Historic Fifth and Madison Avenues, Corner of Nelson and Fifth avenues, Saratoga Springs. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. $5-$20. 518-587-5030 or saratogapreservation.org. Learn
about these grand residential streets lined with elegant Victorian and Craftsman houses with Debbie Studwell.
“The Life and Work of Clarence Schmidt,” Woodstock Artists Association, 28 Tinker St., Woodstock. 3 p.m. Saturday. Free. 845-679-2940 or woodstockart.org. Join Calvin Grimm, Tad Wise and Roger Ricco for a discussion about the life and work of the “outsider artist” and pioneer of monumental environmental sculpture. Two short films by Beryl Sokoloff documenting Schmidt’s achievements will be shown and available for purchase.