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The warmer time of year is my favorite time of year to enjoy the great outdoors and farmers' markets like the downtown Schenectady Greenmarket. It's also the time to break out the barbecue equipment, and resume grilling and smoking meats, fish, pork, poultry, vegetables, and seafood for my friends and family...Whether you are hosting a relaxed gathering or a more sophisticated party, the gourmet shops listed in this magazine all offer great customer service and can help you with culinary tips and short cuts to WOW your guests Best of all, you can often find ready-to-serve products to combine with your own creativity...To serve your favorite cocktails, shop at any of the stores listed in the Specialty Gourmet Food Shopping Guide towards the end of each issue-for products, premium wines, beers and spirits. Also, visit any of the restaurants and shops advertised in this magazine for the best service and local luxury products..I grew up on Jay St. Our family were members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Franklin Street (now home to Schenectady Light Opera, where I first play acted in Gypsy at the age of 9). The Open Door Bookstore was my favorite place to frequent, and my mom always shopped on downtown State Street..Enjoy the articles and travel stories, but please remember to support our advertisers and let them know that you saw their business advertised in our magazine... Thanks for reading Taste of Schenectady(R) and Beyond magazine.