SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s “Reimagined” series continues with a virtual Beethoven 2020 festival, which will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. 

Highlighting the virtual festival are special events including an exclusive Beethoven recital with pianist Jonathan Biss on Aug. 21, the World Premiere of Testament on Aug. 22, a theatrical production in collaboration with Saratoga Shakespeare Company, and a Caffè Lena “Stay Home Sessions” concert with Philadelphia Orchestra musicians on Aug. 15. 

“SPAC’s planned presentation of the complete Beethoven symphony cycle with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin was slated to be some of our most important programming of the season. Instead, we are honoring the great composer with a season long virtual festival and a completely new online platform with all nine symphonies, an exclusive concert with Jonathan Biss, a special lecture series, our gorgeous SPAC REIMAGINED ballet shorts set to his music and much more. It is our hope that this curated collection will still provide a profound and deeply moving musical experience — just in a new format,” said Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC President & CEO, in a statement. 

The reimagined 2020 season also includes previously announced community events such as SPAC’s partnership with COESA to present the healing arts with Tai Chi and guided Meditation classes, the SPAC Reimagined ballet shorts featuring New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the virtual Freihofer’s Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions and the on-going SPAC Learning Library. In addition, the Center has opened up its campus to various arts-related activities for children and young people. 

All Beethoven festival events are free and will be accessible virtually on SPACBeethoven.org. Select events will also be screened on SPAC’s grounds to members only (limited to 50 people). Visit spac.org for additional details. 

For a full schedule and more information visit spac.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College invites the public to an online celebration of the new publication Opener 31: Tim Davis – When We Are Dancing (I Get Ideas) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11 on the Tang Instagram account. 

The event will feature a
conversation between artist, writer, and musician Tim Davis and Rachel Seligman, the book’s editor and the Assistant Director for Curatorial Affairs and Malloy Curator at the Tang. Davis, who will be on the front porch of his upstate New York home, will also perform some original songs.

The catalogue, Opener 31: Tim Davis – When We Are Dancing (I Get Ideas), presents recent work by Davis whose sprawling oeuvre includes photography, video, drawing, installation, and sound works. Davis makes artwork that explores the intersection of humor and longing, where the ridiculous meets the sublime, and the abject aligns with the beautiful in unexpected ways. The exhibition catalogue includes a new interview with Tim Davis by Seligman, and essays by Luc Sante and Tim Davis. 

The book launch event, which is free and open to the public, will be streamed live at www.instagram.com/tangteachingmuseum. For more information, visit tang.skidmore.edu or email tang@skidmore.edu. 

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Laffer Gallery will open a new exhibit, “8th Annual Upstate Invitational” featuring artwork by regional artists T. Klacsmann, Cheryl Horning and Doretta Miller. These distinguished
artists were honored with last year’s “8th Annual Upstate Artists” Best in Show Award, juried by Jon Christopher Gernon.

 “Our annual Upstate Artists exhibition is a great way to showcase, side-by-side, works by some of Upstate New York’s emerging and accomplished artists. Each year, we have a new juror, and the Annual Upstate Invitation is the showcase of the talented artists who are selected Best in Show during a given year,” said Erik Laffer, owner, The Laffer Gallery. 

The 8th Annual Upstate Invitational exhibit will be open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., from Aug. 8 – Sept. 6. Showings are also available by appointment.   

SCHUYLERVILLE – The Fantastic Food Truck Corral is continuing into August every Friday night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Each week community members can find a selection of fair food favorites like funnel cake, sausage and peppers, blooming onions and ribbon fries along with favorite food trucks hosting lobster rolls, tacos, and Italian shaved ice all in one place.

Guests can enjoy their food at one of the socially distanced picnic tables or bring their own chair or blanket to enjoy local music by some of our favorite local acts while you eat.

Coming up the first part of the month musical guests will feature The North & South Dakotas supported by Bound by Fate Brewing Company on Aug.7 and on Aug. 14 SwampFoot will be performing. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Beatles and The Stones. Elvis to Metallica. Kiss to Dolly Parton, Guns ‘n’ Roses and Alice Cooper to The Who. There’s something for most everyone to see and interactively experience at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibition, which opened this week at Universal Preservation Hall. The show runs through late September. 

Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball beginning Sunday, July 26 for a two-month run. The interactive exhibit showcases rock-themed, playable pinball machines and combines them with merchandise and artifacts to explore the artistic portrayal of artists and bands. 

On display are 16 playable rock ‘n’ roll themed pinball machines in all, in addition to an assortment of music artifacts on display hailing from the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll. 

A “Tommy” pinball machine – owing a nod to the Who and the group’s opus Tommy is here, as is group guitarist Pete Townshend’s acoustic guitar – which he used to compose “Pinball Wizard” and several other songs for the ’Tommy,’ album, and which fortunately he did not smash. 

Making its debut as part of the exhibit is Alice Cooper’s new pinball machine –  “Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle,” a horror adventure game narrated by Cooper himself and featuring songs spanning Cooper’s career. The pinball machine is joined by the exhibit of the Alice Cooper group’s original electric chair show prop, upon which the band’s singer sat and performed on stages across the world in 1971. 

Additional items on display include Peter Criss of KISS’ drum set, Dolly Parton’s dress, memorabilia connected to the early days of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley, as well as a metallic ode tracing their legend to Metallica and Judas Priest.    

As for the pinball machines, which are playable, they deliver the bings, bongs, and dual flipper action polyrhythms associated with the likes of Elton John, KISS, AC/DC and others. 

UPH, a partner in the Proctors Collaborative, will sell tickets for 90-minute blocks throughout the run. Tickets will be available for admittance at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day and hours will be extended to include 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. admittance on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The event concludes on Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available now at universalpreservationhall.org.    

“Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball,” is presented at UPH by Adirondack Trust Company. 

UPH will follow Center for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State safety guidelines in establishing safety protocol for exhibit visitors. Each visitor, staff person and volunteer will be required to bring and wear a face mask and to wear provided gloves while playing the pinball machines. All individuals will also be required to maintaining proper social distancing. UPH staff will also take and record each individual’s temperature and procure proper tracing information, and sanitize all surfaces including handrails, light switches, elevators, exhibit pieces, restrooms and common surfaces before new groups are admitted. Capacity will be initially limited to 20 guests per time slot and will re-evaluated regularly. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – On Aug. 1, the public will be able to visit The Arts Center Gallery at Saratoga Arts, which has been closed since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The first show presented to the public in its physical form after such a lengthy hiatus was selected in support of Black Lives Matter and racial equity in the arts. 

“We want to provide a platform in this crucial moment in history to celebrate the artistic achievements and lift the voices of Artists of Color in New York’s Capital Region,” reads a statement issued by the organization.

Covid-19 social distancing protocols will be in place. Guests will be required to wear a mask to enter our space. Guests will also be required to sign in and sanitize their hands upon arrival. No public restrooms will be available. 

Note that besides Saturday, Aug. 1 for the first day of the Black + Indigenous ARTISTS of Color Matter! pop up exhibition – which runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – the gallery will be open 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.  Monday-Friday.  The gallery at Saratoga Arts is located at 320 Broadway.

BALLSTON SPA –  In accordance with New York State safety protocols, the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association will present a series of free summer events this month. 

The Concerts in the Park Series will present concerts on Aug. 6 (Union Fire Company Band), Aug. 13 (The Lustre Kings), Aug. 20 (The Bluebillies) and Aug. 27 (Ballston Spa Community Band). Concerts will be held from 6-8 p.m. outside in Lions Music Park at the historic Iron Spring Park on Front Street. 

The free outdoor Movies in the Park will screen the animated films “Abominable” on Aug. 7 and “Toy Story 4” on Sept. 4. Movies are shown in Wiswall Park on Front Street at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.). Rain dates are the following Saturday evening. 

These events are contingent on public gathering restrictions currently in place.  Social distancing measures, face masks and limited capacity in the parks for concert and movie spectators are required and will be followed. Event safety plans are posted on the concert and movie webpages on the BSBPA’s website, Ballston.org. 

The Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market continues to be held Thursdays from 3-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Wiswall Park through the end of September. Vendors are properly spaced; masks are required for vendors and customers and social distancing is implemented. 

Hand sanitizer will be available to the public at all events.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Haute Messes in Dresses, launched last year by personal shoppers and stylists Nicole Nicholas and Randi Poillon, is hosting Make Chic Happen. The outdoor fashion show will showcase a collection of wardrobe staples to dress up or dress down any outfit for work or social event. Saratoga boutiques featured include: Lola, Yellow Boutique, Violet’s and Piper. 

Space is limited due to COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at www.hautemessesindresses.com. Price includes admission, a custom designed graphic tee and signature cocktail provided by The Palette Café. Haute Messes in Dresses offers custom graphic pieces for purchase and will be available at its pop-up shop on location. 

The event takes place 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at 493 Broadway – The Palette Café – outdoors.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Indie Folk and soul singer-songwriter Leah Woods recognized by NPR as one of  the Top Entries to the 2020 Tiny Desk Contest. 

Woods, who is from Saratoga Springs, was selected by Tarik Moody, Director of Digital Strategy and on-air music host, for feature on NPR’s “Top  Shelf” a  unique  online  concert  series  dedicated  to  presenting  hand -picked  artists  through  a  lens  that  most  viewers  have  never experienced  before.  Over 900 performances have been streamed on their page, gathering millions of views from all around the world. 

“I felt honored to be selected for the top shelf series,” said Woods.  “I went into the contest thinking ‘well why not, it can only help’ but I never thought my submission would truly stand out like this.  When I found out I was selected, I couldn’t stop smiling.  At the same time there is so much happening in the world that it’s hard to fully appreciate something like this. I keep listening to those around me and striving for change, hoping that more
listeners will help me spread ideas of love and equality, to heal the world and make it a safer place for all.” 

Leah Woods’ music is found on Spotify,  Youtube,  &  Apple  Music, and her performance may be viewed at: youtube.com/watch?v=H-Xo9ZyZyiA

LAKE GEORGE – Accomplished world soloists, graduates of Juilliard, Curtis, Yale, Rice University, Carnegie Mellon, and members of major orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, and the Buffalo Philharmonic will perform at the Lake George Music Festival “Drive-In” Series Sept. 19-20. 

Attendees are encouraged to watch the performance from their car/truck, or bring a chair to place within arm’s length of their vehicle. Performances will be visually enhanced with large screen video and audiences will have the option of listening to the amplified performance, or tuning into a high quality and synced audio feed (FM radio) to play through their car’s sound system.

The program will feature Beethoven Quintet for Piano and Winds, Schubert “Trout” Quintet, Rubinstein Octet Op.9, and more. 

The event takes place at the Charles R. Wood Park – Lake George Festival Commons, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20.

From organizers: We will begin parking cars at 6 p.m. Cars will be parked every other car and in single rows to comply with physical distancing recommendations.  We encourage guests to arrive with members of your household.  Early entry will not be permitted. We encourage attendees to use the restroom prior to arrival; however, we will have sanitized restrooms on site. The entire process will be “touchless.” Those who order their passes online will have no contact with festival staff or musicians. We will simply check you in and direct you where to park. Cars will be directed to vacate the premises immediately after curtain and will not be allowed to linger.

Passes for each concert sold at $25 per vehicle. Vehicles may contain the legal limit of individuals. Passes will be sold online in advance (recommended) or at the gate. Concert programs will be distributed digitally on the large screen or available to view on your Smartphone or Tablet.

For more information and to purchase passes, go to: lakegeorgemusicfestival.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will host a re-imagined “TRF BBQ at the Barn” summer fundraiser 4 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. at The Saratoga Winery.  This year’s BBQ will be carry-out with a twist. 

Guests will drive thru the grounds to enjoy a TRF “Experience” with miniature ponies, racing celebrities, goodies for the kids, and a special appearance by Joey, the TRF Herd Ambassador, who will be returning to Saratoga from the TRF Second Chances Program at Wallkill.  The event will feature BBQ from Barnsider BBQ in Lake George; a TRF Specialty cocktail created by the Winery; and locally made pies from Mourningkill Bake Shop.  Items will be individually ordered online for carryout (only). Proceeds from the event will benefit the hundreds of TRF horses in the organization’s national herd.

The Saratoga Winery is located at 462 NY-29 in Saratoga Springs. Tickets and donation options available by visiting the TRF website at www.trfinc.org/event/bbq-at-the-barn-2020/ .

Founded in 1983, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a national organization devoted to saving Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete at the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse and slaughter. As the
oldest Thoroughbred rescue in the country, the TRF provides sanctuary to retired Thoroughbreds throughout their lifetime.

For more information visit: www.trfinc.org.