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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Annual Celebration of The Life Of David Cassidy in Spa City Aug. 16

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The David Cassidy Memorial Legacy Group hosts a celebration of the life of David Cassidy Monday, Aug. 16 at Putnam Place. 

The event will kick off with an hour long “mix & mingle” at 3 p.m., followed by the Celebration of Life event from 4- 8 p.m. 

Cassidy was a one-time resident of Saratoga Springs and is best known as a singer as well as an actor in the 1970s TV show “The Partridge Family.”  The vocalist, composer, author, producer, director, actor and Broadway/theatre entertainer was an avid horseman and philanthropist.  Cassidy died in November 2017 at the age of 67. 

The event will feature the David Cassidy Remember Me Awards ceremony, as well as serving to honor 70’s Long Island based band Danny Calvagna & 45 RPM.  Calvagna lost his life to COVID-19 and DCMLG will offer a special tribute. 

In addition, videos showcasing three band,  Sly Fox & The Hustlers, RBones Revival and Twice Removed will be shown on the big screen, and a silent auction will be held to raise money for various charities that Cassidy held dear to his heart including: The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Friends of Saratoga County Animal Shelter and Columbia Greene Humane Society.

The event will continue into the evening with a live performance by Joe’s Boys, performing a variety of David Cassidy’s solo work, music from the Partridge Family and “good time rock n’ pop” songs from the 60’s, 70’s 80’s and beyond.  They will be joined by special guest, Vance Brescia.

Tickets are $25 in-person attendance, $15 live stream. Go to www.putnamplace.com.  To reach out to the David Cassidy Memorial Legacy Group, send email to: DavidCassidyIts4ever@gmail.com. 

An Afternoon of Song with Saratoga Soprano Sylvia Stoner, and Suna Gunther

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

BOLTON LANDING – The Sembrich continues its 2021 Summer Festival with Nature, Our Gentlest Mother an afternoon song recital with sopranos Sylvia Stoner and Suna Gunther. The show will take place 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. 

Celebrating the connection of nature and song, listeners will experience the beauty of Aaron Copland’s settings of Emily Dickinson poems, luscious songs by Richard Strauss, and works of women composers including Lori Laitman and Lili Boulanger.

A diverse professional singer and actor, soprano Sylvia Stoner – Artist-in-Residence in Voice at Skidmore College -has been seen on stages across the country in both opera and theater. Her operatic credits include Lisa in Pikovaya Dama, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Manon in Manon Lescaut, Nedda in I Pagliacci, and Marguerite in Faust. 

Soprano Suna Gunther is currently a professor of voice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a 14-year member of the Grant Park Chorus of Chicago and was assistant music director and soprano soloist for Trio Chicago and Friends for ten years, with whom she traveled the world on behalf of the U.S. State Department as a “cultural ambassador.”

Tickets are $30 and are available online at TheSembrich.org/festival or by calling 518-644-2431. This performance will take place on the lakeshore under a performance tent. A rain date is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. 

The Sembrich is located at 4800 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing. For more information, visit www.TheSembrich.org or email: Office@TheSembrich.org. 

Sembrich Hosts Live-Stream of World Premiere Opera HARMONY with a Champagne Toast

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

BOLTON LANDING – The Sembrich will host a live-stream of Seagle Festival’s world premiere opera HARMONY with a champagne toast at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14. The evening will include a live introduction by The Sembrich’s Artistic Director Richard Wargo, a champagne toast, and a live-streamed screening of Seagle Festival’s world premiere event.

HARMONY, by Robert Carl and Russell Banks, is set in Keene Valley and includes numerous Adirondack references. The opera tells the story of young composer Charles Ives, his love for high-class harmony Twichell, and the interference of Twichell family friend Mark Twain in their Betrothal – based on true events.

Tickets are $20 and are available online at TheSembrich.org/festival or via phone at 518-644-2431. The event is sponsored by the Lake George Mirror.

The Sembrich is located at 4800 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing. For more information, visit www.TheSembrich.org or contact us at 518-644-2431 or Office@TheSembrich.org.

News & Notes: Week 4 Events At Saratoga Race Course

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

The Saratoga Race Course Gates open at 11 a.m. each day, including weekends, with the exception of Runhappy Travers Day, Saturday, August 28. The 2021 Saratoga summer meet will include the following events and happenings:

Week 4 Race Schedule
Tune in to Talking Horses for in-depth analysis from handicapper Andy Serling and other guests.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, Troy Stakes and Alydar: Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, a one-mile inner-turf test for sophomores at Saratoga Race Course, commemorates the induction ceremonies that will take place across Union Avenue earlier in the day. The 37th edition of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame is part of a loaded card that includes the $120,000 Alydar, a nine-furlong test for older horses, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy, presented by Horse Racing Ireland, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older horses.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 
Whitney Day: Three-time Grade 1 winner Swiss Skydiver is set headline Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney which offers an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The filly, victorious in last year’s Preakness Stakes and Alabama, will try to become the first female to capture the Whitney since Personal Ensign in 1988. To do so, she will have to defeat Maxfield, considered the top older horse in training, and Knicks Go, the Pegasus World Cup winner. The blockbuster Whitney Day card will also include the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test for sophomore fillies and the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational, the second jewel of the Turf Triple series for sophomore males in its first running with Grade 1 status. Whitney Day will also feature the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for fillies and mares on turf, and the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8
Saratoga Oaks Invitational: Sunday of Whitney weekend concludes with three graded stakes highlighted by the upgraded Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, the second leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies. The card will also include the Grade 3, $300,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for turf fillies and mares, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies. 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
Features the Mahony and the New York-bred Evan Shipman Handicap. 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12
Features the New York-bred Saratoga Dew Handicap. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6

NYRA Hometown Hero presented by CDPHP
NYRA will announce the next honoree in its Hometown Hero program, presented by CDPHP, which recognizes local essential workers for their service and dedication to the community during the pandemic. Each honoree receives the opportunity to present a trophy in the winner’s circle. Nominations are being accepted through August 15 at CDPHP.com/Heroes.

Babe Wines and Cooperstown Distillery Tastings
Fans will be invited to enjoy two complimentary tasting events at Saratoga: Babe Rosé wine outside The Cutwater Stretch from 1 to 3 p.m. and the Cooperstown Select Bourbon Old Fashioned from Cooperstown Distillery at the Jim Dandy Bar from noon to 4 p.m. Must be at least 21 years old; while supplies last.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Display
Fans will have their first of two opportunities to check out the new all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, which will be on display near the Clubhouse escalator throughout the afternoon, courtesy of Upstate Ford Dealer Group.

Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage
The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from The Stony Creek Band.

Piazza Italia
The Piazza Italia, located in the Saratoga Events Pavilion, near Gate A, will host live music featuring Franklin Micare from noon to 4 p.m. Fans may enjoy authentic Italian food and beverages at the Piazza Italia every day of the Saratoga meet, including paninis with Italian meats and cheeses, Fratelli Beretta cold cuts, Monti Trentini cheeses, Italian Bindi Gelato, Tiramisu and Peroni Beer.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7

Bruce Johnstone Best Turned-Out Horse Award
NYRA will honor the legacy of the late horseman Bruce Johnstone by bestowing the “Bruce Johnstone Best Turned Out Horse Award” to the groom of the horse deemed by NYRA racing officials to be best presented in the paddock ahead of the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test. Johnstone, who succumbed last year to a lengthy battle against cancer, transitioned from a successful career as a trainer to management at NYRA, where he spent the last 13 years of his career as Manager of Racing Operations.

Handicapping Seminar
Popular handicapper Pete Fornatale will host a 30-minute seminar to discuss his picks for Whitney Day. The event begins at 9:15 a.m. at the New York Thoroughbred Breeders booth near the Dunkin’ concession. Attendance is free.

Wine Tasting Trifecta for Whitney Day
Fans will be invited to enjoy several complimentary tasting events on Whitney Day, starting with La Crema from Jackson Family Wines at the La Crema Sonoma Coast Experience pop-up bar located across from the Clubhouse exchange from noon to 4 p.m. Wine lovers will also enjoy samples of Whispering Angel Rosé near the Travers Bar from 1 to 3 p.m. as well as Babe Rosé outside The Cutwater Stretch also from 1 to 3 p.m. Rounding out the afternoon will be a sampling of Ketel One Botanicals from award-winning Ketel One family made vodka at the Ketel One Longshots Bar located on the ground floor of the Grandstand from 3 to 5 p.m. Must be at least 21 years old; while supplies last.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Display
Fans will once again have the opportunity to check out the new all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, which will be on display near the Clubhouse escalator throughout the afternoon, courtesy of Upstate Ford Dealer Group.

Volcan Tequila Tasting and Summer Music Stage
The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from The Bluz House Rockers.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8

Brunch at The Rail at the 1863 Club 
Fans are invited to enjoy a brunch buffet while experiencing The Rail at the 1863 Club, the first-floor banquet space at the 1863 Club. Tickets are $85 and include the buffet, soft drinks and Post Parade program book. Reservations are available by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX or online at NYRA.com/1863Club.

Berkshire Bank Family Sundays
The popular kid-oriented weekly event will feature a wide variety of free family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational activities each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, located inside Gate A near the Saratoga Race Course Box Office. 

Low Roller Challenge Handicapping Contest
Every Sunday features the Low Roller Challenge Handicapping Contest, available exclusively on-track with a buy-in of $40. Registration begins at 11 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage
The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers.

Season-long Daily Events and Activities:

Berkshire Bank Family Zone
Fans will enjoy 40 days of the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, an interactive play area for children located near Gate A, which will be complemented by the return of Berkshire Bank Family Sundays. The popular weekly festival will include free games, attractions and educational activities each Sunday of the season inside the Berkshire Bank Family Zone.

Breakfast at Saratoga
Tram tour of our famous and historic stable area (weather permitting). The first tram leaves the main Clubhouse entrance at approximately 7:30 a.m. with additional trams leaving approximately every 15 minutes. The last tour departs at around 9 a.m. The Tour is available every race day (there is no breakfast on Runhappy Travers Day, Saturday, August 28). Driven by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). Enjoy a morning buffet on The Clubhouse Porch while the thoroughbreds train on the main track. Breakfast is held daily from 7 to 9:30 a.m. and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  No reservations are accepted for breakfast dining. $20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12. 

Saratoga Fashion Days
Fashion Saturdays, which was previously held once each week, will expand to a 40-day series of pop-up boutiques featuring stylish clothing, accessories and jewelry for women and men. The Saratoga Fashion Days’ boutiques will be located in the following areas: Lifestyles of Saratoga across from the Jockey Silks Room Porch; Miss Scarlett, Saratoga Rocks and the Winning Silks Collection near The Stretch; and Bumble B Boutique near the paddock mutuels building (weekends only).

Saratoga Walking Tours
History, highlights, unique architecture, and landscapes at Saratoga Race Course. Approximately 45 minutes. Daily Walking Tours bring the more than 150 years of history within Saratoga Race Course to life. Ever wonder why we ring a bell at 17 minutes to post or why there is a canoe in the lake in the infield? Take a guided tour to get to know The Spa! Tours are scheduled at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. each racing day and costs $3 per person or $10 for a family. For more information on our tours, please contact our Guest Services Department at 518-584-6200 ext. 4433.

Upbeat on the Roof Presents: Sun is Poison on Aug. 12

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College’s Upbeat on the Roof concert series continues Thursday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. with Sun is Poison. 

 A lo-fi solo project of Ballston Spa’s Will Seifart, Sun is Poison creates immersive works that meld the mechanical sounds of drum machines and synths with banjos, guitars, and honest and poignant lyrics. Sun is Poison will be making its Upbeat debut.

 The Upbeat on the Roof concert takes place on the Tang lawn near the campus outdoor volleyball courts. Visitors are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, and coolers, and are advised to arrive early as capacity is limited. Free parking is available off Perimeter Road, next to the museum. The Museum is on the Skidmore College campus at 815 N. Broadway in Saratoga Springs. In case of rain, the event will be canceled.

 The Upbeat on the Roof concert series, now in its twentieth season, will conclude Aug. 19 with Heavenly Echoes. For more information, call 518-580-8080 or visit https://tang.skidmore.edu. 

Nacre Dance Group Accepting Applications for Choreographers

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nacre Dance Group is accepting applications for choreographers for Nacre Dance Group’s 6th annual “So, You Think You Can Choreograph?” performance. 

This program is Nacre Dance Group’s annual competition designed to highlight up-and-coming choreographers in modern dance.  For the 2021 competition, selected choreographers will be asked to create a piece in-the-round at The Universal Preservation Hall on Saturday, Nov.  6. 

This is a great opportunity for choreographers to present their work before a large audience.  Audience members along with a panel of judges vote to select the winning choreographer who will set a piece of original choreography on dancers in the Capital Region in spring 2022. 

Interested choreographers can apply at www.nacredance.org/sytycc. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15, and selected choreographers will be notified by Sept. 30. For additional information, contact Artistic Director, Beth Fecteau at Beth@nacredance.com or by calling 518-817-3833

Squeeze Coming to SPAC

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Squeeze, featuring Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook have announced a 24-date headlining adventure – interspersed with 18 support dates for Daryl Hall & John Oates – that will be staged on Aug. 15 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

 “I’m so excited to be back on stage and in the thick of our wonderful set list of songs,” said Chris Difford, in a statement. “Seeing an audience again will be inspiring and emotional, it’s been too long.”

Adds Glenn Tilbrook: “I think this is my most anticipated U.S. tour since our first in 1978.  Our great band is just getting greater and we are also welcoming Owen Biddle, who joins us from Nashville. Can’t wait to see you!

Squeeze’s debut self-titled album was released by A&M in 1978 (after a three-song EP) with pop songwriting hooks and melodies hark back to the ‘60s British Invasion.  That album included the track, “Take Me I’m Yours,” followed by a cadre of   hits on the UK charts including “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Pulling Mussels From A Shell,” “Black Coffee in Bed” and “Labeled With Love.”  Squeeze’s hits “Tempted,” “Hourglass” and “853-5937” (from East Side Story) made their mark in the U.S. in 1981.

Squeeze disbanded in 1999 and reunited in 2007, releasing three new albums since then (2010’s Spot the Difference, 2015’s Cradle to the Grave and 2017’s The Knowledge,) as well as various member solo projects. 

Hyde Collection: Last Chance to See European Treasure

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

GLENS FALLS — The Hyde Collection has announced a rare opportunity to view a rare European treasure before it returns to Europe on Aug. 22. 

The Hyde Collection is exhibiting an oil sketch by the great 17th-century Flemish painter, Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641). Reportedly discovered in a barn in Kinderhook, New York, the old panel was acquired by Hudson, New York collector Albert B. Roberts. After years of private research that engaged Bender Grosvenor, host of Fake or Fortune, Mr. Roberts’ convictions were vindicated when art historian Rev. Dr. Susan Barnes published the panel as an authentic work by Anthony Van Dyck in the March 2021 edition of the eminent art history publication The Burlington Magazine. 

The panel is a preparatory sketch for the Flemish artist’s St. Jerome that is now at the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 

During its final month in upstate New York, the panel hangs in the company of the region’s finest collection of contemporaneous works at The Hyde Collection. Anthony Van Dyck’s Study for St. Jerome will be on view as part of The Hyde Collection’s exhibition Finding Van Dyck until Aug. 22. The Hyde Collection, located in Glens Falls, is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and reservations, visit www.Hydecollection.org.

YMCA Youth Basketball Sports Scores: July 28

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

3v3 League

Black Team vs. Green Team 
Green – 22: Ethan Hammer – 16, Spencer Rugger – 2
Black – 10: Max Parella – 6, Thomas Oswald – 4

Red Team vs. Blue Team
Blue – 20: Nick Cameron – 18, Harrison Thomas – 4
Red – 15: Jeffrey Oswald – 14, Lex Straus – 3

Jr. Division 

Five Guys v. Curtis Lumber
Five Guys – 56: Chase Billington – 26, Mason Wagner – 13
Curtis Lumber – 23: Jacob Hernandez – 11, Michael Carson – 4

Carson’s Woodside Tavern vs. Saratoga Gelato
Saratoga Gelato – 57: Jasyn Thompson – 30, Owen Mongan – 8, Alexander McDonald – 8
Carson’s – 50: Noah Diulio – 18, Tabias Daloisio – 12 

Sr. Division

PBA vs. Fat Paulie’s 
Fat Paulie’s – 51: Antone Robbens – 11, Bryant Savage – 10
PBA – 36: Drew Crossett – 16, Van Valkenburg – 9 

Pashley’s Construction vs. Cudney’s Launderers & Dry Cleaners 
Pashley’s – 42: Stephen Beebe – 11, Charlie Didonato – 10
Cudney’s – 32: Kemauri Johnson – 11, Braylon DuMortier – 5, Will Trimble – 5 

Saratoga Stampede Tryouts

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS ­— Saratoga Stampede is in their 21st year of providing baseball opportunities for Saratoga County athletes from age 13 to 19. They will be running tryouts at East Side Rec in August at follows. Tryouts will be held on Monday, Aug. 9 from 6 to 8 for the 13U age group (12U moving up), on Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 6 to 8 for the 14-16U age group, and Wednesday, Aug. 11 (if necessary) for the 13U moving up age group. For more information visit saratogastampede.com or contact Paul Mound, General Manager by calling 518-852-3508 or send an email to SSA12866@aol.com.