George R. R. Martin speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con International. Photo by Gage Skidmore.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” the latest TV installment of the ever-growing “Game of Thrones” cinematic universe, premiered on Sunday to largely positive reviews. Author George R.R. Martin, who penned the novellas that served as the show’s source material, seemed delighted with the finished product.
But Martin, for well over a decade, has been constantly pulled in different directions, tasked with overseeing multiple film and TV projects while also chipping away at several long-overdue books. His busy schedule has been a source of frustration for the acclaimed fantasy author, who lamented in 2015 that he would be unable to return to Saratoga Springs.
In 2007, Martin was in the Spa City for the World Fantasy Convention (WFC), held at the City Center on Nov. 1-4. According to a pair of blog posts he wrote, Saratoga seemed to make a lasting impression on him.
In one March 2015 post, Martin announced that his packed calendar would prevent him from attending that year’s WFC in Saratoga. But he said that at the 2007 convention, he “had a great time. A terrific town, a wonderful con.”
A few months later, Martin again expressed regret over missing the 2015 event. “The last WFC in Saratoga was great fun, and I loved the city, and the train ride up the Hudson from NYC,” he wrote.
It would seem Martin made some lasting memories while here in Saratoga. In a 2022 conversation with fellow novelist David Anthony Durham, Martin reminisced about the first time they met, at the 2007 WFC.
“He displayed his courage because we were doing a mass autographing where all the authors sit all around the ballroom, and people line up to do them, and he was told by all his friends not to sit beside me,” Martin recalled. “But he did sit beside me anyway. A fearless fellow, and then we got to talking.”
The WFC hasn’t been held in the Spa City since 2015. Last year it was in England. In 2014, it took place in Niagara Falls.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — January tends to be a sleepy month in Saratoga.
The steady stream of eaters, drinkers, and shoppers who usually fill Broadway instead hibernate in their homes, perhaps weary from the holidays or wary of winter winds.
The Saratoga Film Showcase, which returns for its second year this weekend, is an invitation for 518-ers to hit the town, without having to spend too much time in the snow.
The festival, spearheaded by Spencer Sherry of Saratoga Arts and the 518 Film Network, includes in its 2026 lineup four blocks of short films (with each block running around 60 to 90 minutes), a special effects panel and demonstration featuring Oscar-winning makeup artist Annemarie Bradley, an opening night party with live music (Caity & the Gallaghers), a cocktail reception, and some secret off-the-books screenings.
“There will be a couple opportunities that pop up throughout the weekend, word-of-mouth only, to see some stuff that nobody’s ever seen before,” Sherry tantalizingly told Saratoga TODAY.
As a filmmaker himself, Sherry has attended countless festivals. Perhaps mentally taking notes to file away for a future opportunity, his experiences taught him what to do and what not to do. Some festivals demand that filmmakers pay hefty submission fees. Other fests are unable to house visiting filmmakers, making directors, writers, and actors less likely to appear in-person at screenings. And passes to film festivals can get pricey, presenting a barrier for cash-strapped artists who might’ve maxed out a credit card or two to finance their latest endeavor.
The Saratoga Film Showcase does things differently. The Holiday Inn in Saratoga donates rooms so that visitors have a place to warm up and snooze after a busy day of screenings and networking. There are no submission fees for those hoping to enter their work into the festival. Festival passes (good for the entire weekend) are sold at a sliding scale of anywhere from $10 to $100, making them affordable for nearly everyone. And free meals are dished out to filmmakers, who have access to their own lounge stocked with drinks and snacks.
“We try as much as possible to highlight [filmmakers] and showcase them and make it, structurally on our end of things, inherently worthwhile for them to be a part of this,” Sherry said. “We can bring filmmakers in from out of town that are hosted by our community, connect them with the local, independent filmmakers that are living and working here, and then all of that goodwill and energy goes directly towards inspiring the next generation of artists.”
It also doesn’t hurt that Spa City’s downtown is an ideal place to host a film festival, with multiple venues, restaurants, bars, and hotels all within short walking distances. This weekend, the showcase will be spread across Saratoga Arts, Putnam Place, and Harvey’s. If a festival attendee were to walk to all three locations in one go, it would take a grand total of about five minutes.
This year, the festivities begin at Putnam Place with “Shorts After Dark” on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. The films include “La Diablesse,” written and directed by Grace Perez; “Kombucha!” directed by Jake Myers; “Bloodercream,” written and directed by Elise Valderrama; “Baby Fat,” a film by Elliot Frances Flynn (who played Zora in James Gunn’s hit series “Peacemaker”); “Affirmation,” directed by Emily Bennett (winner of a 2023 Fangoria Chainsaw Award); “Vanilla,” directed by the duo Nora Kaye and Nadia Nadim; and “The Man & the Scarecrow,” written and directed by Justin Knoepfel.
Sherry calls this block of films “weirder, more adult, or boundary-pushing.” Last year’s “Shorts After Dark” was apparently a hit, with headlining filmmaker Brit McAdams (director of the Saratoga-shot movie “Paint,” starring Owen Wilson) declaring it to be one of the best blocks of short films he’d ever seen at a festival.
Following “Shorts After Dark” is the showcase’s opening night party, which starts at 9 p.m. at Putnam Place.
Day two begins at noon at Saratoga Arts, with the “Coming to Terms” block. This lineup features “Golden Afternoon,” directed by Mathilde Suissa (whose film “Hidden” premiered at Cannes); “Unsaid,” directed by Monique Moses (the co-head writer and co-executive producer of season four of the HBO series “A Black Lady Sketch Show”); “Unidentified Caller,” directed by Alexander Cope; “The Resonance,” helmed by the husband-wife team of Paul Robinson and Sashia Dumont; “Seedless,” directed by Keenan Gray; and “So Long,” written and directed by Brendan Mascherino and Joey LaFrance.
“A lot of the themes of the movies are somebody facing either an unexpected moment, or a fear, or catharsis, or whatever it might be,” Sherry said. “It’s mostly drama, but there is a really fun comedy in there as well, and a couple spooky ones.”
Following “Coming to Terms” is the special effects panel discussion and demonstration, which begins at 2:45 p.m. at Saratoga Arts.
“[SFX makeup artist RJ Young] is going to come and actually apply a prosthetic to a model that has blood gags and bulge gags and air pockets and things in it,” Sherry said.
Next up after the demo is the “Art About Art” block, which starts at 4:30 p.m. One highlight of this lineup is “Portrait of God,” directed by Dylan Clark. This remarkable film went viral a couple years ago, accumulating millions of views on YouTube. It’s now being adapted into a feature helmed by Clark and produced by Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi. “I got to see it on a big screen with an audience—holy s**t, this thing is sick,” Sherry said.
Also featured in “Art About Art” is “Crying on Command,” directed by Nick Craven; “Cheat” directed by Jackie Mahoney; “You Don’t Say,” a musical short directed by Jeffrey D. Simon (who has worked in the art department of big-budget projects such as “Edge of Tomorrow” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming”); and “Apricot,” helmed by Frank Fascella, who has worked as a writers assistant on the TV shows “Tulsa King” and “Mayor of Kingstown.”
The showcase’s busy second day concludes with a 7 p.m. cocktail reception at Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar.
Last but certainly not least is the “Home-Grown” lineup of shorts on Jan. 25 at Saratoga Arts (the action begins at noon). These projects feature local filmmakers, familiar filming locations, and 518 cast and crew members. On the docket is “Pizza Cutter: A Bite Sized Slasher,” directed by Noah Manglapus; “2 Soldiers,” directed by Perrin Mercer (who lived in the Capital Region for more than a decade); “Dennis,” helmed by the Caldwell brothers; “Servants,” directed by Taylor Jarvis; “Hot Boy Summer,” a film by Albany High School senior Ian Roach; “Casualty,” by Juliette Monarch; “Born a Secret,” written by Miriam Russell; “The Family Coin,” by Jermaine Wells; and “Stakeout,” starring Seth Gillam (of “The Wire” and “Walking Dead” fame) and directed by Micah Khan, a prominent local filmmaker whose work was screened at last year’s showcase.
Perhaps the best thing about this mighty lineup is that, as of Jan. 19, the Saratoga Film Showcase broke even, meaning that all proceeds after that date will be sent straight to Camp Stomping Ground.
“The Saratoga Film Showcase aims to inspire the creation of more art in our community, and is proud to donate all profits to Camp Stomping Ground to continue making art more accessible to our youth,” the showcase states on its website.
A good cause, scary scenes, a jammin’ band, locals networking, and cinephiles tossing back a few—the Saratoga Film Showcase will have it all.
Kathy Butterly, “Wave ‘Em Like You Just Don’t Care,” 2001, porcelain, earthenware, and glaze, 7 3/4 x 4 x 3 1/4 inches, Tang Museum collection, gift of Elizabeth Harvey Levine.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College presents “Kathy Butterly: Assume Yes,” a major exhibition of approximately fifty works by one of the most influential sculptors working in ceramics today. On view from Feb. 14 through July 26, the exhibition spans more than thirty years of Butterly’s practice, from early sculptures dating to the mid-1990s to recent works.
For nearly four decades, Kathy Butterly has created sculptures with individuality, using clay and glaze to paint in three dimensions. Known for their small scale and extraordinary detail, her works combine technical virtuosity with humor, sensuality, and formal daring. Butterly pushes porcelain and earthenware to their limits, producing objects that oscillate between abstraction and the body, spontaneity and precision, seriality and difference.
“Kathy Butterly: Assume Yes” is organized by Ian Berry, Dayton Director of the Tang Teaching Museum, and is presented as part of the museum’s 25th anniversary year. The exhibition builds on a long relationship between Butterly and the Tang: Berry organized a focused solo show of her work at the museum in 2006, and her work anchored The Jewel Thief exhibition in 2010. Four works by the artist held in the Tang’s permanent collection are included in the exhibition.
“I started a conversation with Kathy Butterly about her work more than twenty years ago,” Berry said. “Her sculpture continues to surprise and expand, and it is an honor to bring these masterpieces together in one room. They reward close looking and sustained attention, revealing how free creativity and experimentation can continually reinvent a medium.”
The exhibition will be accompanied by the publication of a major monograph on Butterly’s work later in the spring. The catalogue features contributions by Glenn Adamson, Ian Berry, Forrest Gander, Theodora Bocanegra Lang, Nancy Princenthal, and Elena Sisto.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
The Tang is presenting a series of events in conjunction with the exhibition. All are free and open to the public.
Saturday, Feb. 14, 5 p.m.: Opening Reception and Conversation with the Artist
Join Dayton Director Ian Berry in conversation with Kathy Butterly to celebrate the opening of the exhibition.
Thursday, March 26, Noon: Curator’s Tour of “Kathy Butterly: Assume Yes”
Ian Berry leads an exhibition tour.
Thursday, April 9, 6 p.m.: Dunkerley Dialogue with Kathy Butterly
A public conversation between the artist and a Skidmore College faculty member (to be announced).
The exhibition is free and open to the public. The Tang Teaching Museum, located on the Skidmore College campus at 815 N. Broadway in Saratoga Springs, New York, is open Tuesday–Sunday, noon–5 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.
Photo of The Sweet Remains via the band’s website.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Sweet Remains—a folk-pop trio that has amassed more than 65 million streams on Spotify—will play a sold-out show at Caffe Lena on Jan. 22. The last time they played there, on July 11, 2025, they also sold out the famed folk venue. In other words, they’re kind of a big deal.
The group’s history is rich, with each band member having his own compelling origin story. One of those band members, Greg Naughton, spoke with Saratoga TODAY ahead of Sweet Remains’ stop in the Spa City.
Naughton seems to have been surrounded by artists and performers from the moment he entered the world. His father James Naughton starred in the “Planet of the Apes” TV series, won two Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, and played Meryl Streep’s soon-to-be-ex-husband in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Greg’s wife Kelli O’Hara is a Broadway superstar and eight-time Tony Award nominee.
Greg himself has worn many hats, including filmmaker, actor, and musician. But as his directorial debut, “The Independents,” a 2018 film about The Sweet Remains, seems to indicate, music may be his greatest calling.
Saratoga TODAY’s interview with Greg Naughton is presented below in Q&A format, edited for length and clarity.
Saratoga TODAY: I guess now you’re coming up, maybe in the next year or two, on two decades with Sweet Remains. What keeps all of you coming back together? Is there some kind of secret to keeping a group intact this long?
Greg Naughton: The reason I started to write [“The Independents”] is because I was fascinated by this relationship I have with these two guys, which is more like brothers/spouses than other relationships I have with any other men. You have to have all the same things. You got to negotiate. There’s plenty of times, when you spend a lot of time with each other in small spaces and in each other’s creative space, you’re going to have hurt feelings. You’re going to have conflicts… We have a very similar sense of humor. I think that’s the main thing. Anytime things get difficult or uncomfortable for us, we just have a way of breaking through that with humor. It keeps it fun. If it wasn’t fun, we certainly wouldn’t be doing it. There’s enough to getting on the road with a band and trying to get into clubs in the snow and the whatever, and all of the details of that wouldn’t add up unless you were having fun.
ST: When you go into a studio, do you go into it trying to achieve something specific? Are you looking for a certain sound or hoping to accomplish a certain objective? What’s that process like of creating a new studio album?
GN: It has varied, and I think quite often, as with even writing a song, we go in with one objective, and it finds its ways around the preconceptions that we had and becomes something else. Most of the albums didn’t stick to a strong sense of, ‘We’re gonna make this kind of album this time.’ We have a couple of ideas for the future where we might try and stick more strictly to a certain thing. Like, what if we did a rock and roll album? These are pretty folk-rock, more roots, acoustic-oriented [albums]. That’s been our main genre and main output. But what if we did a rock album where it’s really rock and roll, and did it as a collaboration with another group that we like that does that sort of thing? Or, what if we did a kids album? We all have kids. Well, [Brian Chartrand] doesn’t have kids, but we have between us seven kids in the pan at this point. So, those are concepts that, we haven’t quite done them yet, but [they’re] things I would personally be excited to do at some point.
ST: Your upcoming show at Caffe Lena is sold out already. And I see you sold out the last time you performed here in July. What is it about playing these folk houses that kind of jives with your group?
GN: [Caffe Lena] is a special room. That room has defied the march of time… Since the pandemic, for sure, a lot of clubs like that one have not made it through. There’s a lot of reasons why a club like Caffe Lena shouldn’t make it. It’s kind of too small to make good money, I would imagine. But, I find that there’s a real enthusiasm with the audience there for being in that room and being that intimate with the music, which is infectious, I assume, as much for the audience as it is for us. That, and probably somebody who runs and owns the place cares and has managed to keep that alive.
ALSO COMING SOON TO CAFFE LENA:
The Dust Bowl Faeries will return for their second appearance at Caffe Lena on Jan. 25, playing with their new drummer and debuting new songs. Infused with dark humor, theatrical costumes, and mystical lyrics, Dust Bowl Faeries perform songs spun from the very fabric of faerie culture and lore. Hailing from the Hudson Valley, Dust Bowl Faeries present original songs nuanced by tango, flamenco, Klezmer, Balkan, and Romani swing music. Singing saw, accordion, bass, acoustic guitar, and drums combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries’ unique sound.
The Wolff Sisters—a sibling-fronted Americana outfit from Boston—will perform at Caffe Lena on Feb. 5. Their gig in Saratoga is the first in a string of shows they’re playing around New England this winter. The group recently released their latest single, “Where Am I (To Call My Home)?” on all platforms, and just released a live music video to accompany it.
Two local events this weekend will pay tribute to the music of Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead. At Putnam Place on Jan. 17, the tribute band Bearly Dead will perform. At Yoga Mandali on Jan. 18, a celebration/memorial yoga class will be held in Weir’s memory. Images via Putnam Place and Natalli Amato, respectively.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir faded away on Saturday, though, as any true Deadhead knows, his music will never stop.
Weir launched one of the most beloved bands in American history, one that inspired countless people to pile into vehicles and explore their country, trailing the Grateful Dead on tour. With the group’s improvisation, experimentation, and innovation also came new ways of performing and thinking about music. Their influence on American art and culture is vast and impossible to measure.
One could not truly experience the Dead without hearing them play live, in an environment that, more often than not, inspired warm feelings of community and, at times, even spirituality. The Grateful Dead’s very name seemed to suggest that although life is brief, it’s still an experience to appreciate (“Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there,” sang Phil Lesh on “Box of Rain”).
The group made its mark almost everywhere, from its origins in San Francisco to the Giza pyramids in Egypt, the site of two 1978 Dead shows. It’s unsurprising then that the Dead’s influence can still be felt here in Saratoga Springs.
The band holds (and may forever hold) the record for the largest crowd to ever gather at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). In 1985, 40,231 Deadheads convened in the Spa State Park, surpassing the previously held attendance record (also set by the Grateful Dead) of 37,801.
Since then, both SPAC and Saratoga at large have become jam band hotspots. Phish and the Dave Matthews Band have played here dozens of times, stopping by almost every summer. Rising acts such as Goose, Dogs in a Pile, and Eggy have all performed in the Spa City multiple times. Grateful Dead tribute bands play here so frequently that one might think they’ve somehow stumbled into Haight-Ashbury circa 1967.
Weir brought Dead & Company (a successor group to the Grateful Dead that featured John Mayer on lead guitar) to Saratoga for the final time in the summer of 2023. He’d been here many times with several different bands. His sound—which could sometimes be joyful, haunting, tender, and invigorating all at once—seemed to fill the air of the park, swaying the leaves of towering trees and hovering above the ancient mineral springs. For those who enjoy this sound (Jerry Garcia famously compared the Dead to licorice, quipping, “Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice”), witnessing Weir play in a bucolic setting was practically nirvana.
Though few can faithfully replicate Weir’s singular playing style, the songs he wrote and sung will be played long after his departure, which is exactly what he wanted.
On Jan. 17, Bearly Dead will take the stage at Putnam Place for an 8:30 p.m. show. The group describes itself as “not just another Grateful Dead cover band,” but rather, “a cosmic exploration of the Grateful Dead catalog.”
“I truly believe that Bob Weir is the most important rhythm guitar player in rock history,” wrote Bearly Dead guitarist Nick Swift in a social media tribute to Weir. “It’s amazing to me how he kept playing music and touring this long into his life. I keep reading tribute posts from musicians who knew him who cite his ‘need’ to play music – that it wasn’t just something fun to do, that it was something that filled a deep void in his soul and he couldn’t stop. He basically lived his life on stage, but not in some need to be an inauthentic celebrity. He just wanted to make music with people for people. And there’s something very magical about that… I look forward to finally getting to play again this Saturday in Saratoga. I’ll give it all I’ve got. We’ll miss you Bobby. We will do what we can to carry your spirit forward into the future.”
Another local tribute to Weir will come in the form of a special, celebratory memorial yoga class at Yoga Mandali on Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. The event, organized by yoga teacher and writer Natalli Amato, will send proceeds to the Rex Foundation, which was created by the Grateful Dead in 1983 to provide philanthropic grassroots support.
“I was born in the post-Jerry era,” Amato told Saratoga TODAY. “For me, the person at the spiritual center of the Dead has been Bob Weir. Over the past ten years, Dead and Company gave me some of the best memories and adventures of my adult life. But more important than that, loving this music has brought me into deeper connection with friends, family, and even strangers. Our yoga class Sunday is a place to celebrate that!”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Emmy Award-winning author Deborah Roberts will stop by the Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga on Feb. 7 with her husband, famous weather anchor Al Roker, to discuss “Sisters Loved and Treasured.”
In her new book, Roberts, an ABC News journalist and New York Times bestselling author, curates a collection of conversations, meditations, and anecdotes from her own sisters, celebrity friends, and everyday people who share deeply personal accounts of how their relationships as sisters shaped their lives.
Roberts previously authored the bestselling “Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life.” She also co-wrote “Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times” with her husband.
Also visiting Northshire (on Feb. 20) is Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Sayles, whose latest book “Crucible,” is described as a “complex and sweeping historical novel about Henry Ford and his attempt to rule not only an automotive empire but the rambunctious city of Detroit.”
Sayles (a Schenectady native) has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and once for the National Book Award. He has written eight novels. His most popular film, “Lone Star,” was released in 1996 and starred Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Frances McDormand, and Matthew McConaughey.
Tickets for both author events are available at www.northshire.com/upcoming-events.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) recently announced an eclectic lineup of upcoming performances that include a Grammy-winning rock band, classic Broadway tunes, and even naked magicians.
UPH will present Sing Along Broadway on Feb. 5, inviting audiences to take part in an interactive concert celebrating popular songs from the Broadway stage. The performance encourages audience participation as singers and hosts lead numbers from classic and contemporary musicals.
JJ Grey & Mofro will bring their signature blend of Southern soul, blues, funk, rock, and roots music to the UPH stage on Feb. 13.
On Feb. 20, the Naked Magicians will bring their Las Vegas act to the Spa City with an adults-only show that combines comedy, audience interaction, and illusions. Fresh off sold-out performances around the globe, the duo presents a humorous take on magic.
On April 9, Croce Plays Croce will celebrate the catalog of Jim Croce while his son A.J. Croce showcases his own musicianship. The performance features classics alongside original material, offering audiences an evening of storytelling, piano-driven music, and legacy.
Soul Asylum’s acoustic show will bring their alternative rock sound and decades-spanning catalog to UPH on April 26. The group is perhaps best known for its 1993 hit “Runaway Train,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, as well as its musical contributions to three classic Kevin Smith films: “Clerks,” “Clerks II,” and “Chasing Amy.”
Tickets for these shows are currently on sale through the Box Office at Proctors in person, via phone at (518) 346-6204, or online by visiting atuph.org.
“Another Day, Another Diner” host Pat Fleming outside Compadres Diner in Gansevoort. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In a world increasingly filled with AI slop, there may be something refreshing about social media content that feels authentic.
Pat Fleming, a self-described “Troy boy” and newly-minted Saratogian, has been to more than 100 diners, filming his experiences at 73 of them.
His lifelong love of a good greasy spoon led to “Another Day, Another Diner,” an ongoing video series that features Fleming stopping by small-town diners to enjoy whatever the establishment recommends, plus his signature “big black coffee.” Sometimes he devours the meal accompanied only by a cameraperson, other times he’ll be joined by mayors, local politicos, or even a UFC fighter. His videos have earned him tens of thousands of followers, and, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of viewers.
“I just loved going to diners, and then one day, I looked around and noticed that almost all the diners I was in were either empty or had an older crowd, and I realized that they were kind of dying out,” Fleming told Saratoga TODAY. “I had this idea to try to attempt to connect the next generation to these family-owned restaurants, these diners, which are unique to American culture.”
Despite having little experience in the content creation world (Fleming said he had only been on social media for a few months before launching his video series), “Another Day, Another Diner” quickly took off. Fleming attributes this to the series’ authenticity.
“It’s nothing fancy, but it’s sure not fake either,” he said. “I’m not going to record the best videos or have the best editing…the food might not always look the best, or whatever it is, but I think that’s what people are drawn to nowadays. It’s getting back to the authentic greasy spoon-style restaurants. I think social media is full of AI and fancy stuff. I just think people want the real thing.”
Part of capturing that authentic experience entails Fleming typically arriving at a diner anonymous and unannounced, although he said that since his video series has become popular, he’s often recognized at Capital Region eateries.
As a connoisseur of local restaurants, Fleming has eaten just about everywhere in the Saratoga area. Compadres Diner is not just an under-the-radar gem, but “one of my favorite diners of all time,” Fleming said. He also named Manory’s and Duncan’s Dairy Bar, both in Troy, as two of his top picks.
With a GOAT diner located near Saratoga, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Fleming now lives in the Spa City. “You have the racetrack, you have awesome food, excellent nightlife culture, the cafe scene is really cool…I mean, Saratoga is awesome,” he said.
But Fleming isn’t limiting himself to just the Saratoga area. He’s been to greasy spoons all over the country, and has trips planned to New York City, Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Vermont, where he’ll likely shoot more videos.
Of course, there is one, sometimes hotly debated issue Fleming must contend with: What exactly is a diner? In a series of man-on-the-street-style interviews filmed in downtown Saratoga during the annual SantaCon event, Fleming quizzed locals on their favorite diners. Many named Compton’s or Triangle, but a few may have stretched the definition of “diner” by naming Sweet Mimi’s, The Merc, and the Charlton Tavern.
“Typically, booths and countertop seating are very big metrics,” Fleming said. “That’s how I try to weigh it out. Does it have a booth or countertop seating, and is it cheap food?”
As his diner-going adventures continue to generate buzz, Fleming’s “Another Day, Another Diner” brand has branched out. On his website, Fleming now sells merch that includes sweatshirts, t-shirts, and his very own ground coffee.
To follow along with Fleming’s diner tour, visit anotherdayanotherdiner.com, or you can find him on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is seeking “passionate, curious, and creative” students and emerging professionals to work alongside its team this June-August in its programming, development, education, communications, and marketing departments.
Applications for the SPAC summer internship program will be accepted through Feb. 13.
To learn more or to apply, visit spac.org/internships.
The Allman Betts Bandheadlined Saratoga’s New Year’s Eve music lineup, taking the main stage at the City Center at 8 p.m. Introducing the group, which includes the sons of three founding members of the Allman Brothers Band, was outgoing Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran. “The Allman Brothers, for me, pierced me like no other band,” Moran said. “I think you’re all sitting here for a reason. I actually was, I would guess, the youngest person that was at the famous 1971 concert up at Skidmore. As a 10-month-old, I was taken to that concert by my dad. Apparently, I was drinking Mateus wine all day and eating cigarette butts. Nothing’s changed since, but it brings me extreme pleasure to introduce the progeny of the band that makes me love music, The Allman Betts Band.” Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
Ally the Piper, a Capital Region native who plays the bagpipes, rose to fame thanks to millions of social media followers. She played in the second-floor room at the City Center around the same time as Allman Betts. Her proud mother was in the audience, issuing the occasional “whoop!” of encouragement. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
Glass Pony, an Albany-based group that bills themselves as a “psychedelic groove circus,” opened for Allman Betts on the main stage. The jam band featured Greg Pittz on lead guitar, who impressed the cheering audience by shredding some solos. Glass Pony’s drummer, Chanda Dewey, states on the group’s website that she “was born in an oyster shell off the coast of New Zealand.” Saratoga TODAY is still working on fact-checking that biographical claim. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
Heard— a world jazz band that incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean—played in the City Center’s second-floor room prior to Ally the Piper. The group led audience members in several dance sessions, one of which included a modified “Macarena.” Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
