Lake Placid – On Monday April 8, our region of Upstate New York will observe a once-in-a-lifetime event when a total solar eclipse will be in full view. The Lake Placid area will be rife with eclipse chasers from all over the nation as we will be in the path of totality.
Eclipse time in Lake Placid will be from 3:25 PM to 3:28 PM Eastern time on April 8.
For safety purposes, there are some precautions that must be heeded. The most obvious steps concern the observance of the sun’s rays. This must only be done with special eclipse glasses that protect the eyes from permanent damage. Mirror Lake Inn guests who booked their stay with our special package will receive complimentary glasses.
Local NBC Plattsburgh meteorologist Ben Frechette posted recently on Facebook, drawing needed attention to this precaution.
“Bottom line… you should never look at the sun through sunglasses. You won’t be able to see the partial phases of the eclipse, and risk permanent damage or blindness. You have to use ISO-certified eclipse glasses (look for the logo) for proper protection.
“The only time it’s safe to look at the sun without eye protection is during the 2 to 3 minutes of totality, when the sun is completely covered. Eclipse glasses should go back on immediately when the light starts to return.”
Depending on your source of information, smartphones/iPhones may or may not be impacted by direct exposure to the eclipse. Thinking that all electronic devices are not created equal, it’s best to do some research on your specific phone prior to taking aim on April 8.
Since the eclipse will be a daytime event in the Adirondacks, as the moon moves closer to covering the sun, it will be completely dark in Lake Placid. For a few minutes, stars and planets will appear. It will look like dawn or dusk. However, in reality, it will be mid-afternoon. If you have pets, expect them to act a bit differently; they might think it’s getting closer to their bed time.
The Mirror Lake Inn will provide special service to its guests in the run-up to the eclipse and the day of. We will offer an outdoor bar at our private beach from 11 AM to 5 PM. This will be for guests only, with service to include canned beer, wine and cocktails.
The View Lounge, The View Restaurant and The Cottage Café will welcome guests daily during the eclipse time frame. No reservations are required for breakfast in The View which will be offered as a buffet, a la carte sit-down dining or a la carte room service.
Reservations are needed for dinner in The View Restaurant. There will be special features added to the traditional dinner menu, and a special prix fixe menu on Sunday and Monday nights. Dinner service begins at 5:30.
The adjacent View Lounge will serve from 2:00 to 10:30 PM Friday to Monday. The Lounge menu is available beginning at 5:30.
The Cottage Café along the shore of Mirror Lake will be open daily for lunch and dinner from 11AM to 9 PM. No reservations are taken.
We’ll have more information on this event as time draws closer, featuring special viewing locations around the Lake Placid area.