SARATOGA SPRINGS — Comedian, actor and author Paul Reiser brings his stand-up tour to Universal Preservation Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Reiser was voted one of Comedy Central’s “Top 100 Comedians of All Time” and has starred in popular shows “Mad About You,” “Stranger Things,” “The Kominsky Method” and most recently “Reboot.”
The following night, Sunday, Oct. 8, Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti will perform in the Great Hall at UPH. Botti has collaborated with Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin, among many others.
The iconic Judy Collins will be in the Great Hall to celebrate the holiday season with a show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16.
Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online at universalpreservationhall.org. Groups of 10 or more can get their tickets by calling 518-382-3884 ext. 139.
Vienna Tang, musical artist and climate action activist will be performing and speaking in the Spa City Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Photo by Samantha Hines.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Singer-songwriter and climate action advocate Vienna Teng will be paying an unusual, multi-faceted visit to Saratoga Springs that features three nights of musical performances at Caffe Lena, a Climate Action Workshop, and an appearance at Skidmore College.
Caffe Lena will host Teng’s musical performances Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 1. Concert-goers can expect an intimate experience, in-between song stories, setlists built from audience requests, and a blend of folk, pop, and classical influences that has earned Teng a global following.
Drawing on over a decade of professional experience in climate and environmental sustainability, Teng will also host a workshop on Sunday, Oct. 1 to help Saratoga community members discover what enjoyable, meaningful climate action looks like to them, tailored to their particular interests and context. This workshop is free and open to the public with advance registration at: www.eventbrite.com/e/101-climate-action-workshop-with-vienna-teng-caffe-lena-tickets-570023755397?aff=odcleoeventsincollection.
Teng’s visit to the Spa City, which is slated to include meetings with community leaders to help advance Saratoga Springs’ climate-related initiatives, kicks off with a visit to Skidmore College Sept. 28 when she will engage with students, faculty, and staff to explore the intersection of art, music, and climate action.
For tickets and information regarding the Caffe Lena shows, go to: caffelena.org. For more information about the artist and climate-action activist, go to: viennateng.com.
A conversation with author of The Women Who Made New York and former New York Times journalist, Julie Scelfo, takes place Oct. 18.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s Action Council fundraising event, “SPAC in Conversation,” will return with Julie Scelfo, author of The Women Who Made New York and a former New York Times journalist.
Moderated by SPAC President & CEO Elizabeth Sobol, the discussion will explore the inclusive, intersectional collection of biographies in her book, which reveal how it was women—and not just men—who built one of the world’s greatest cities.
The event takes place Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the Spa Little Theater and the Hall of Springs, and will be highlighted by a plated lunch and boutique shopping.
Scelfo’s book, The Women Who Made New York, reveals the untold stories of the phenomenal women who made New York City the cultural epicenter of the world. Many were revolutionaries and activists, like Zora Neale Hurston and Audre Lorde. Others were icons and iconoclasts, like Fran Lebowitz and Grace Jones. There were also women who led quieter private lives but were just as influential, such as Emily Warren Roebling, who completed the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge when her engineer husband became too ill to work.
The schedule of events kicks off at 10 a.m. with a Conversation with Julie Scelfo, Spa Little Theater, to be followed by Boutique shopping, Hall of Springs; Luncheon at 12:30 p.m., and Book signing and raffle drawing at 1:30.
Cost to attend the fundraiser is $100 and includes admission to the discussion, Hall of Springs luncheon and boutique shopping. Tickets may be purchased at spac.org or by calling at 518.584.9330, ext. 142.
Photos provided by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will present the 2023 Saratoga Giant Pumpkinfest on Saturday, September 23 in downtown Saratoga Springs. This free and fun-for-all-ages event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center parking garage.
Growers from all over the state and the Northeast bring the biggest pumpkins from their harvest and compete for the coveted title of “Heaviest Pumpkin of the Year.”
Attendees can view giant pumpkins, some over 1,000 pounds, and watch the official weigh-off, which begins at 11 a.m. The festival will include fall activities as well as food and beverage vendors, and is located near the Saratoga Farmers’ Market at High Rock Park.
“We’re excited to host this family-friendly event as a kick-off to Saratoga County’s fall season of promotions for local farms and our agricultural sector,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president Todd Shimkus in the release. “It’s hard to explain how large and heavy these giant pumpkins are until you see them, so our hope is that we will have many returning guests as well as first-time event attendees curious to see what the fuss is all about.”
For more information visit saratoga.org/tourism/giant-pumpkin-fest and follow the event on Facebook.
Photo provided by Ballston Spa Central School District.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa CSD Community Education Program is offering two adult sports opportunities in the evenings this fall. They will include Co-Ed Indoor Soccer on Mondays and Men’s Basketball on Wednesdays.
Each includes a 10-week session beginning the week of Sept. 25. There is a $35 registration fee for district residents.
The Adult Walk About Fitness Program is a low-impact fitness activity providing a safe, indoor walking course for our community. This program is offered Monday through Thursday, beginning on Oct. 10 and ending March 28, 2024, when school is in session. There is a $20 registration fee for district residents. Walkers may join the program at any time throughout the session.
Pre-registration is required for all programs and fees are due at the beginning of each course. Those interested may register for courses by mail or in-person at the District Office, 70 Malta Ave.
Additional information regarding any of the courses offered is available online at www.bscsd.org or by calling 884-7195 ext. 1329.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Regional YMCA will be hosting its annual ‘LiveSTRONG, Live Fun’ event at the Saratoga Lake Golf Club on Friday, Oct. 6. All proceeds directly benefit their LiveSTRONG at the YMCA programs.
LiveSTRONG at the YMCAis a joint effort between the LiveSTRONG Foundation and the YMCA to provide semiannual health and wellness programs to adult cancer survivors, at no cost to the participants.
The goal of these programs is to help survivors move beyond cancer in mind, body and spirit through a tight-knit community and healthy and active wellness programming. The Saratoga Regional YMCA has operated LiveSTRONG at the Y for over a decade, impacting over 400 individuals to date.
This is the third year the YMCA has run a Golf Scramble and Dinner event to raise money for the program. This event will kick off at 11 a.m., followed by a dinner event shared by past participants, YMCA staff, volunteers and allies of the LiveSTRONG mission.
Register your team, donate or consider a sponsorship through the event’s landing page: srymca-livestrong-live-fun-2023.eventlify.com/, or contact the Y’s Fundraising Coordinator, Kirstin Swartz, at Kirstin.swartz@srymca.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community, will be holding its sixth annual “Share A Step” virtual fundraiser beginning Friday Sept. 22 through Thursday, Sept. 28.
The weeklong fitness initiative offers participants the opportunity to raise funds for The Wesley Community’s Life Enrichment Program, which provides social and therapeutic activities tailored to each Wesley resident.
Competitors of all ages and fitness levels are invited and encouraged to work toward a fitness goal, such as running or walking one mile per day, completing a bike ride around the neighborhood, a run on the treadmill or virtually traveling the distance of a popular local trail.
Participants are asked to track and log their progress, take pictures of each exercise and tag it on Facebook and Instagram with #shareastep to show their progress and motivate others to stay the course.
“The Wesley Community is thrilled to once again kick off “Share A Step,” which is not only a much-needed fundraiser to support the health and well-being of our residents, but also a great way for people to stay active,” said The Wesley Community CEO J. Brian Nealon in a press release. “We encourage individuals and teams of all ages and fitness levels, locally and nationwide, to participate.”
This year, “Share A Step” donations will support the Life Enrichment program at Wesley Health Care Center. The initiative provides an array of services focused on improving quality of life and well-being of residents. This is achieved through customized programs that pursue the interests and passions of each individual, while guiding them through such challenges of life as intellectual and physical disabilities.
There are several ways for the local community to join in: By registering as a participant; by registering as a team, friends or colleagues, and challenging other teams; by becoming a sponsor or making a personal monetary donation.
To learn more, visit: p2p.onecause.com/shareastep.
First time Pan Am Team member, Kell Berliner (white uniform) in action at the US Nationals earlier this year. Photo by Roy E Nanjo, provided by Jason Morris Judo Center.
CALGARY, Alberta — Seven athletes from the Jason Morris Judo Center in Glenville have qualified to compete for the USA Team in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from Sept. 15-16.
The Pan Ams are significant due to the fact an athlete can earn valuable points on the world rankings toward qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Hannah Martin will be making her seventh appearance at the Pan Ams at 63 kg, with her best result being a bronze medal in 2013, 2017, and 2019. Nicole Stout will be competing in her fifth Pan Ams at 78 kg.
Nate Keeve is heading to his fourth Pan Ams at 100 kg, with his best result being a bronze medal in 2021. Ari Berliner is competing for the third time, taking bronze at 66 kg in 2022. Kell Berliner, Alex Knauf, and Melissa Myers all will be making their Pan Am debut in Calgary.
The Jason Morris Judo Center has now placed at least one athlete on the Pan Am team for 20 straight years. The JMJC has placed four athletes on the team seven different times and had three athletes on the team five times. Ari Berliner, Keeve, Knauf & Martin also represent the New York Athletic Club. Four-time Olympian and JMJC owner Jason Morris will accompany the group to Calgary to coach them.
Managing the Arts in Rural Areas, byHubbard Hall Executive & Artistic Director David Andrew Snider.
CAMBRIDGE — Hubbard Hall has announced the publication of “Managing the Arts in Rural Areas,” by Hubbard Hall Executive & Artistic Director David Andrew Snider.
Post-pandemic, a significant portion of the population hungers for hands-on, in-person arts experiences at a human scale. At the same time, rural areas are ripe with innovation, community connections, and an entrepreneurial spirit that fits well with creativity and arts-based community engagement.
As rural areas continue to evolve past their previous ties to agriculture, industry, and mining, the arts offer new ways to enrich communities, spark local economies, and create tourist destinations, in tandem with their glorious surroundings, Snider writes.
Snider has more than 25 years of experience as a director, educator, producer, and administrator. Currently he is the executive and artistic director of the Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education in Cambridge, and a lecturer in the arts administration program at Skidmore College.
“Managing the Arts in Rural Areas” is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book
Hot Tuna bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen performing on stage at SPAC on July 3, 2017. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
ALBANY — Hot Tuna returns to the region with a show at The Egg Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady (who prior to Hot Tuna had joined forces as members of the iconic Jefferson Airplane lineup) – will be joined by drummer Justin Guip.
The show is billed as the final Hot Tuna electric – “Going Fishing Tour.” Show time is 7:30 p.m., tickets are $59.50-$79.50 and available at The Egg Box Office at the Empire State Plaza, by telephone at 518-473-1845 or online at www.theegg.org.
