Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge No. 161 announced that it will be hosting a dual event on Friday, November 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lodge at 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs. The Elks will be holding an Open House for members of the community interested in learning about the Lodge’s charitable activities assisting veterans, youth, seniors, victims of domestic violence, the unsheltered, individuals with cerebral palsy, and those in need in the Saratoga Springs-Wilton area. Lodge committee members will be present to talk about the services the Lodge provides to these populations, as well as Elk’s state and national competitions available to youth such as the Hoop Shoot, Soccer Shoot and State Youth Golf Tournament.

The Elks are also excited to welcome Madison & Pearl as their new in-house catering company. Attendees the November 20 open house will have the opportunity to ask Beth Alexander. Director of Hospitality and Events, and Anna Gilbert, Director of Catering Operations, any questions about Madison & Pearl’s booking process, menus and event planning. Food for the event will be provided by Madison & Pearl’s Catering Chef Edward Clark, and the evening’s menu will be overseen by local culinary legend Chef Jasper Alexander of Hattie’s Restaurant. Guests will be able to sample a delectable selection of culinary delights throughout the evening, including Hattie’s award-winning fried chicken. Madison & Pearl has already started booking events for November and well into next year.

“For me, hospitality has always been about so much more than food. It’s about bringing people together, creating memorable experiences, and making people feel genuinely cared for. Catering allows me to combine my love of food, creativity, and entertaining with the opportunity to be part of some of life’s most meaningful celebrations,” said Beth Alaxander, Director of Hospitality and Events for Madison & Pearl. “I’m especially excited about our partnership with the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring Madison & Pearl’s approach to thoughtful food and genuine hospitality to a venue that has such a strong connection to the community. We look forward to creating beautiful events and lasting memories there.

Reservations are required to ensure an accurate headcount for the food, and must be made either by email to hello@madisonandpearl.com or by phone to Beth Alexander at (518) 791-2788 by no later than November 15, 2026. There is no charge to attend.

Anyone interested in becoming an Elks member will be welcome to complete an application and have their questions answered by a member of the Membership Committee. If you are interested in getting involved in the community, have free time to fill, or are recently retired, please come to this event.

The Elks also wish to express their gratitude and deep appreciation to Simply Food by Maura, the Lodge’s caterer for the past four years, and wish Maura Pulver well in her next chapter.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, the group’s community service projects, and how to get involved is invited to attend “Discover Saratoga Springs Rotary” on Thursday, November 12, from 5:30–7:30 pm at Artisanal Brew Works, 617 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

“At this fun and casual gathering, we’re inviting people to learn about Saratoga Springs Rotary and discover how they can join us to make a difference in our community,” noted Bobbi Jo Lucas, president-elect for 2027-2029.

The mixer format at the event will allow for informal conversations and include a short program, featuring speakers from Drilling for Hope, Lifeworks Community Action, and the Saratoga Center for the Family.

“We hosted a similar event last November and the response was impressive,” said Dan Klein, who is currently president of the club. “People in this community are seeking ways to help out their neighbors and build a stronger community. Thus far in 2026, we’ve added several new members to our club, including people of all ages and backgrounds.”

The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club is known in the region for producing its annual Home & Lifestyle Show each winter at the Saratoga Springs City Center. From that fundraiser, the club funds community grants and distributes select major gifts to Saratoga area non-profits. In addition, and in conjunction with the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation, the club awards over $100,000 annually in scholarships to local students. The club is one of 45,000 clubs in Rotary International, a worldwide service organization with more than 1.2 million members. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self” and club members are active participants in a variety of community service projects.

 Anyone interested in attending the open house is asked to RSVP by November 4 to saratogarotarymembership@gmail.com. There is no ticket cost to attend; light appetizers will be served, and attendees can pay for their beverage orders.

More information about the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club and its activities is available at saratogaspringsrotary.org.

iTheatre Saratoga presents a World Premiere production of “I SAW HITLER” by Mary Jane Hansen based on the writings of Dorothy Thompson. 

As fascism takes root in Germany, renowned American journalist Dorothy Thompson travels once again to Berlin to report on the response of German citizens to their lost sovereignty and reactions to The Night of Long Knives (the Nazi purge of its own revolutionaries). She is almost instantly issued an Order of Expulsion as punishment for an unflattering interview with the (future) Führer conducted three years prior. With just 24 hours before she will be forcibly removed from the country— an unprecedented action against a foreign correspondent— Ms. Thompson must fight for more time and the opportunity to conduct her interviews on behalf of the free press.

“As far as I can see, I was really put out of Germany for the crime of blasphemy. My offense was to think that Hitler is just an ordinary man, after all. That is a crime in the reigning cult in Germany, which says Mr. Hitler is a messiah sent of God to save the German people.”

“I SAW HITLER” is a multi-media presentation and premieres at Saratoga Arts located at 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY. Performances are Nov. 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15, 22 at 2 p.m.. Tickets available at itheatersaratoga.org. 

iTheatre Saratoga is a non-profit professional theatre in the Capital District currently celebrating their 16th season. 

On Saturday, November 14, photographer Jon Dragonette will discuss “The Wilderness Within,” a body of work that grew from his return to the Adirondack region after almost two decades building a photography career in California. Dragonette will host his discussion at Spring Street Gallery from 7 to 8 p.m., 110 Spring St, Saratoga Springs.

Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Dragonette spent years working between San Francisco and Los Angeles, photographing commercial campaigns and editorial portraits for national and international clients. Before returning to New York, he had already begun shifting his practice toward documentary photography and traditional film processes, moving away from the demands of commercial work and toward a more personal, introspective approach.

Returning to the landscape where he grew up became an opportunity to continue that transition. Familiar mountains and forests took on new meaning, offering a way to reconnect with his roots while exploring unfamiliar territory within his own artistic practice.

“The Wilderness Within” is a black-and-white photographic essay created during a 16-week solo expedition into the Adirondack backcountry. Working with a 4×5 large-format film camera, Dragonette ventured into the mountains through demanding winter conditions, carrying his equipment into a landscape that tested both his physical endurance and his resolve.

The project also marked a shift in how he approaches photography. Moving toward large-format film and the historic platinum/palladium printing process, Dragonette embraced a slower, more deliberate way of working. The resulting prints bring together the physical presence of the landscape and the quiet, often difficult terrain of personal reflection.

For Dragonette, the mountains became more than a subject. They offered a way to examine the relationship between the world outside and the wilderness within ourselves. The work reflects a homecoming, but also a process of rediscovery: returning to familiar ground with a different perspective, new tools, and a renewed sense of purpose.

During the artist talk, Dragonette will share the experiences behind the project, discuss the challenges of photographing in the Adirondack backcountry, and explore how his return home led to new artistic practices and a deeper connection to the landscape.

Ballston Spa— Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum is thrilled to announce the local premiere of short film “Her Self-Inflicted Decapitation,” on October 30 at 6:00 p.m. Directed by local filmmaker Noah Manglapus, this horror film tells the story of Sarah D., a writer seeking inspiration in the diary of a famous murderess, who soon discovers their lives are bound across time and space in mysterious and horrifying ways. 

“Her Self-Inflicted Decapitation” was filmed earlier this year entirely at Brookside Museum, a former resort hotel built in 1792 that now serves as the home of the Saratoga County History Center. 

“We were delighted that Noah was moved by our space and wanted to shoot this movie at the museum, and we are so looking forward to screening the completed film,” said Dr. Anne Hollmuller, Executive Director of the Saratoga County History Center. “This is a chance to view Brookside through a whole new lens.” 

The event will begin with a screening of “Las Hadas de la Sombra,” a locally produced horror short film directed by Ryan Jenkins. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A featuring director Noah Manglapus. Throughout the night, attendees can enjoy hot popcorn, soft drinks, and a good scare. Come in a historical dress, a Halloween costume, or as you are. All tickets are $5, and are available at, brooksidemuseum.org. Additional tickets will be for sale at the door. 

“Her Self-Inflicted Decapitation” was written & directed by Noah Manglapus and produced by Nathan Barbour and had its world premiere as an Official Selection at the 2026 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum invites the community to get into the Halloween spirit at its upcoming Trunk or Treat event on Wednesday, October 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. This family-friendly celebration will feature costumes, candy, creatively decorated vehicles, and plenty of Halloween fun.

The event will bring together local community members, Museum staff, and volunteers, who will transform their vehicles into festive Halloween displays. Children and families are encouraged to dress in their favorite costumes and make their way from trunk to trunk, collecting treats and enjoying a safe, welcoming, and accessible trick-or-treating experience.

Admission to both the Trunk or Treat event and the Saratoga Automobile Museum will be free, giving families the opportunity to explore the Museum’s exhibits while enjoying the Halloween festivities.

The Museum is also inviting community members to join in the fun by decorating their own vehicles and handing out candy. Whether spooky, silly, or creatively themed, each decorated trunk will help bring the Halloween celebration to life. Participants who wish to decorate their vehicles are asked to provide their own candy to distribute to trick-or-treaters.

“We’re excited to bring families and neighbors together for a fun Halloween celebration at the Museum,” said Megan Hennessey, Executive Director. “Trunk or Treat is a wonderful opportunity for our community to get creative, celebrate the season, and make lasting memories in a safe and welcoming environment.”

Whether you’re decorating a vehicle, bringing the kids for trick-or-treating, or exploring the Museum, everyone is welcome to take part in this festive community celebration.

For more information about Trunk or Treat and other upcoming events, visit www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

Twenty years ago, while Maria Popova was working at an advertisement agency, she started sending weekly emails to her colleagues to elicit an intellectual spark. 

At the time, Popova had recently immigrated to America from Bulgaria to attend the University of Pennsylvania, while balancing four jobs to finance her education. 

The contents of the email compelled her co-workers to share the nuggets of insight they were receiving. This reaction repeated exponentially. So, charged with encouragement, Popova started a weekly publication, Brain Pickings, in 2006.  

Twenty years later, it remains a one-woman passion project to explore the complexity, and often duality of human consciousness. The only thing that has changed over its two-decade legacy is its name – now The Marginalian.

In 2012 the Library of Congress included The Maringalian in its permanent digital archive due to its cultural significance and historical importance. 

On October 23, twenty years to the day of when she emailed her advertisement colleagues, Popova is bringing her curiosity to Saratoga Performing Arts Center, along with friends she has made along the way. “Constellating Wonder: Maria Popova and Friends Celebrate 20 Years of The Marginalian” is an intersection of science, philosophy, and untapped wonder. 

The Marginalian, according to Popova, is not a source of salvation, but rather an embodiment of life’s anomalies. 

“I am one of them – a living question, ambiguous and unanswered, perhaps unanswerable,” Popova wrote. “We are always learning how to live. The Marginalian is just my record of that never-ending process.”

Attendees can expect Popova to read passages from the books that have most touched her over the years, each of which she will introduce with a reflection on its resonance to the eternal questions we live with: what do we make of our suffering, why did the world have to be beautiful, how do we see more clearly and love more purely.

“Maria Popova is one of the most extraordinary thinkers and cultural voices of our time, and her work has had a profound personal impact on how I see and think about the world,” said Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “For years, Maria’s books and The Marginalian have led me into a new way of understanding the deep interconnectedness of art, science, literature, philosophy, and the natural world—and of approaching all of it with greater wonder and curiosity. Maria has inspired millions to think more deeply and expansively, and I am thrilled that SPAC will be the place where we celebrate her remarkable work and the twentieth anniversary of The Marginalian. This evening embodies so much of what we believe in at SPAC: the power of art to connect us, to expand our understanding of the world, and to remind us of the extraordinary miracle of being alive.”

The evening will feature live appearances across a constellation of friends, among them Krista Tippett, Marie Howe, Diane Ackerman, James Gleick, Debbie Millman, Sophie Blackall, Stephon Alexander, Natalie Batalha, Willow Defebaugh, Wendy MacNaughton, Zoë Keating, Joan as Police Woman, and The Young People’s Chorus of New York, alongside special contributions by Nick Cave, Natascha McElhone, and Paola Prestini.

Honoring the spirit by which The Marginalian has endured over the years, offered freely and supported by donations, tickets will be available on a pay-what-you-please basis, ranging from the event’s basic operating costs to higher levels of support. Complimentary tickets will also be available by request for those who need them.

For tickets, livestream access information, and additional details, visit spac.org. To view The Marginalian, visit themarginalian.org.