The Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival is hosting a virtual panel discussion of the film “Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust,” a 2004 documentary on Sunday, August 7 at 7 pm. The film is directed by Daniel Anker and narrated by Gene Hackman.
The film examines the treatment of the Holocaust in Hollywood films over a period of 60 years and the impact of the films on public perception and thinking and vice versa.
The panel discussion on Zoom is sponsored by Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs and supported by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and will be held on August 9 at 7 pm. Watch the film on YouTube before the panel discussion.
Pre-registration is required at, https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/VnUZBi4/HollywoodandtheHolocaust
Registration is currently open for iTheater Saratoga’s summer youth theater camp at Saratoga Arts. The camp welcomes children aged 10 and up and sets out to explore a variety of social issues, push the boundaries of theatre, and incorporate the insights of iTheatre’s young collaborators.
Camp rehearsals run Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from August 17-21 & 24-28. The camp culminates in a student showcase including a concert reading of the musical “Every Other Thursday.”
The musical is based on Helmi Seppala, a Finnish maid working for the Mawson family on New York’s Upper West Side in 1927. She has one day off, every other Thursday. When the Mawsons ask Helmi to change her plans, she refuses, leading to conflict and confusion in the household, and an exploration of the importance of cultural heritage to an immigrant population.
Students are encouraged to wear loose fitting clothing or athletic wear and should pack plenty of water and a lunch. Reach out to itheatresaratoga@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
To register for the camp, go to https://www.itheatresaratoga.org/youth-workshop
Equine Eyes Interactive Exhibit (Courtesy of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame)
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will debut the one-of-a-kind interactive experience, Equine Eyes during an open house at the Museum on Thursday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Equine Eyes is a hands-on, research-driven interactive, playful experience designed to simulate how horses perceive the world.
Equine Eyes is rooted in extensive research by Dr. Alan Hook of Ulster University and aims to foster empathy, care, safety awareness, and interspecies connection. The Equine Eyes experience was made possible through essential funding by the Thoroughbred Education Research Foundation.
Utilizing a specially developed headset with mounted cameras, Equine Eyes provides visitors with an immersive visual and sensory perspective of equine vision. This technology highlights key differences in field of view and color spectrum compared to human vision, offering a deeper understanding of how horses navigate their environment.
“We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Alan Hook to implement Equine Eyes as an innovative educational experience at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame,” said Cate Masterson, the Museum’s director. “This immersive technology will allow visitors to see the world from a horse’s perspective, fostering a deeper understanding of equine vision, behavior, and interspecies relationships. This interactive exhibit will be integrated into our education and outreach programs, contributing to our mission of engaging audiences with the history, science, and culture of horse racing.”
Dr. Hook and Dr. Jennie Carlsten will lead a demonstration of the Equine Eyes technology at the Museum during the open house at the Museum on July 23 at 10 a.m.
Dr. Hook is a researcher, designer, and educator from the North Coast of Northern Ireland, and a Senior Lecturer in Interactive Media at Ulster University. His research explores how people can use playful, immersive, and participatory experiences to rethink our relationship to the world and connect in new ways with plants, animals, and each other. Dr. Hook has exhibited his media and design work across Europe, the United States, and China. He created Equine Eyes as an experimental design to explore how people connect with and understand horses in new ways, leading to building new types of kinship with them.
Dr. Carlsten is a researcher and lecturer at Ulster University. Her research explores metamodern screen aesthetics, analogue practice, polycrisis, and emotional affect. Her previous audience engagement projects include community cinema research for the British Film Institute Film Audience Network and community workshop delivery for the Heritage Lottery-funded Prisons Memory Archive.
Jennifer Claeson has spent the last four summers hiding 300 used horseshoes around Saratoga Springs as a scavenger hunt. Claeson is an outdoor enthusiast; she founded Saratoga Hidden Horseshoe in 2023 to give people an excuse to get off their phones and around different areas of the town.
Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes is modeled after the Glass Float Project in Block Island, Rhode Island. Eben Horton is a local glass blower in Block Island, since 2011 he has been hiding glass bulbs resembling Japanese fish net floats around Block Island.
Claeson was visiting a friend on Block Island in 2021 where she discovered the project and was inspired to start a similar project in Saratoga Springs.
Claeson’s husband, Andy Claeson, is a racing syndicate which gives Claeson access to the back stretch to acquire the horseshoes.
Claeson hides the horseshoes around Congress Park, Waterfront Park, Beekman Avenue, Spring Run Trail, and Railroad Run. She hides the horseshoes from May through September, but not all the horseshoes are found every summer. There are still horseshoes scattered across the spa city from their first year in 2023.
“What I love about the project is it’s getting people out in nature. It’s getting people off their phones; walking, exploring parts of the city that they have never seen,’ said Claeson.
The scavenger hunt has an air of competitiveness within the community.
“It’s the thrill of the hunt, and you may never find one, and you may just go for your first hunt and find one,” Claeson said.
One local wrote on Facebook, “I was so excited to find one tonight! Since moving to Saratoga finding a hidden horseshoe has been a dream of mine. I have been searching a lot lately as I’m moving away in just a few days and thought I’d never get a chance again! – Olivia”
Each horseshoe has a QR code that allows the person who found it to send in a picture and a comment about their adventure. Follow Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest finds.
Each year, 30 of the 300 horseshoes are decorated by local artists. For two out of the four years so far, the artists have been paid through a grant provided by Saratoga Arts. Claeson hopes that the grant will continue to support local artists.
Claeson is looking for help from the community to aid in cleaning the horseshoes, the most time-consuming part about the project. The National Honor’s Society of Saratoga Springs High School previously helped her with cleaning the horseshoes, but since that partnership fell through last year, Claeson has been cleaning all 300 horseshoes by herself.
Claeson is also perpetually looking for sponsorship opportunities with local Saratoga Brands. Previously Roohan Realty, Crossford Chase, and Pannell’s Resturant have previously sponsored the project, which helps Claeson pay for expensed required to keep the project going.
Anyone interested helping Claeson clean the horseshoes or for sponsorship opportunities, email saratogahiddenhorseshoes@gmail.com.
Northshire Bookstore is celebrating 50 years of independent bookselling in 2026 and will host a full day of family-friendly public festivities to mark the milestone on August 8th at both their Manchester Center in Vermont and Saratoga Springs locations. Limited edition merchandise commemorating the 50th is available now in both stores.
At Northsire’s Saratoga location, on August 8th, activities will include a free photo booth, scavenger hunt, magician Alan Edstrom, story time, a prize wheel, and face painting.
“Northshire is more than a bookstore, it’s a destination for readers, gift-givers, vinyl lovers, and anyone seeking a welcoming place to gather, discover, and connect,” says Scott Austin, COO and Co-Owner.
Northshire Bookstore was founded by the Morrow family in Manchester Center, Vermont in 1976.
In 2021, ownership transitioned to the French family and in the fall of 2022, Cathleen Ihasz, Nicole Ihasz, Ashley Ihasz-Austin, and Scott Austin became stewards of the iconic bookstore, continuing its tradition as a family-owned business.
“Our primary mission is to honor the legacy of the business, while also creating new initiatives that create additional value for our loyal guests and encourage future generations to discover Northshire’s magic,” Scott says.
The Ihasz sisters grew up among the stacks in the Manchester store, and the family’s collective backgrounds in hospitality, finance, and entertainment legacy preservation made for a strong fit with the store’s operational needs.
“Northshire has always held a special place in our family’s heart, so when the opportunity came to carry it forward, we didn’t hesitate,” says Nicole. “We are so grateful for the team that makes this store the kind of place people return to for a lifetime.”
Customers can learn more about the 50th anniversary schedule of events by visiting northshire.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS— The New York City Ballet (NYCB) returns to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on July 8–11 for its landmark 60th anniversary season in Saratoga. The residency features six performances, artist conversations, workshops, family programming, special anniversary events and community activities honoring six decades of one of the nation’s most celebrated artistic partnerships.
The anniversary season includes the return of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the first ballet ever performed on the SPAC stage, on July 9, 1966. The “Innovators & Icons” program features Jerome Robbins’ “Opus 19/The Dreamer,” George Balanchine’s “Serenade,” and the SPAC premiere of Tiler Peck’s “Symphonie Espagnole.”
Joining the Ballet for the four performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are 26 children from the Capital Region, who have been rehearsing with the NYCB in preparation for the show.
Thursday, July 9 is SPAC’s Anniversary Night. At 5:30 p.m. celebrate SPAC’s 60th birthday before the performance with complimentary beer, wine and sparkling beverage tastings, sweet treats, commemorative photo opportunities, and “The I Love You Kiosk,” a 10-foot interactive multimedia installation exploring human connection through sound, video and community-created art. The first 400 guests through the gates will receive a complimentary 2005 NYCB “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” poster from the SPAC archives. Guests can also visit the 99.5 The River tent to enter to win a seat upgrade.
Friday, July 10 is SPAC’s Family Night. At 5:30 p.m. families are invited to arrive early for lawn games, arts and crafts, face painting, complimentary Stewart’s ice cream (including SPAC’s Fireworks on the Lawn flavor) and other family-friendly activities. Guests can also experience “The I Love You Kiosk” interactive installation.
All events before the show are free for all ticket holders. For more information on the NYCB’s performances go to www.spac.org for more information.
Elijah (Steer) running with Reggie (Horse) (Martha Raleigh Winsten)
Local author, illustrator, and art teacher, Martha Raleigh Winsten, is hosting a reading of her book Awesome Elijah along with an illustration demonstration at Greenwich Library on July 13, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Ballston Spa Library on July 29, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Awesome Elijah is a true story about Jackie Pierce, a teacher’s aide at Division Street who along with her daughter, Andrea, adopted a three-day-old calf who was set to be sold to slaughter. The story follows Elijah growing up alongside various farm animals and eventually becoming the only steer to ride at the Horse Expo at Saratoga Race Course.
The book was originally published in 2007, but through a grant provided by Saratoga Arts, Awesome Elijah was republished as a hardcover. Also included in the book is a QR code for three songs recorded by Winsten that go along with the story.
Winsten comes from a storied family in the illustration landscape; her grandfather was Henry Raleigh, who is in the Illustrators Hall of Fame. He was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite illustrator, and one of his WWI war posters can be seen at the Saratoga Military Museum on Lake Ave.
Her mother and father, Sheila Raleigh and movie critic, Archer Winsten, were part of the Harlem Renaissance. They would go with John Hammond to listen to singers Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald and others at the Savoy in Harlem.
Skidmore Students Testing the Frances Day Activities (Aidan Clark)
Saratoga Springs— On Saturday, June 18, the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery will host its annual Frances Day, open to the public from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Located on Skidmore’s campus, there will be family friendly activities, museum tours, and live music.
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. activities will include pinch pots with Saratoga Clay, mosaics, glass decorating, bandana stamping, felt vases and flowers, and a photo booth. Scheduled tours will be held at 2:15, 3:15, and 4:15 exploring exhibits “All These Growing Things” with Rachel Seligman, Assistant Director for Curatorial Affairs, and Malloy Curator; “Kathy Butterly: Assume Yes” with Dayton Director Ian Berry; and Collections Tour with Collections Registrar Nora Riccio and Exhibitions Registrar Katrina Dumas respectively.
At 5 p.m. there will be a community barbeque and a concert by Great Mutations, a local band based in Troy.
Frances Tang graduated from Skidmore College in 1961, after having immigrated from China. In 1992, the same year her daughter Kristen graduated from Skidmore College, Tang passed away from cancer. To honor his late wife, Oscar Tang made a substantial contribution to help the museum come to fruition in 2000. The inaugural Frances Day was in 2014 which honors her legacy of creativity and philanthropy with a day of free activities for the whole community.
Saratoga Springs— Boca Bistro will host its 10th Dreaming Tree Wine Dinner on Wednesday, July 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 384 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
The evening will feature a chef-curated five-course menu paired with wines from The Dreaming Tree, created by musician Dave Matthews and winemaker Sean McKenzie.
This year’s dinner will feature five courses; each paired with a Dreaming Tree wine. Menu highlights include heirloom tomatoes and burrata with sherry-chorizo gastrique, seared butterflied shrimp with lemon beurre blanc, grilled bistro steak with pomegranate-blackberry reduction, sesame crusted tuna with black garlic-soy sauce, and citrus curd cheesecake with Dreaming Tree Rosé.
“Hosting this dinner for the 10th time is something we’re really proud of,” said David Zecchini, owner of DZ Restaurants. “It has become one of those events our guests look forward to each summer, and it gives our team the chance to create a memorable evening around food, wine, and great hospitality.”
The cost is $115 per person, including tax and gratuity. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. For the full menu or to reserve seats, visit shop.dzrestaurants.com.
ROUND LAKE— Quick Response will host the First Responders Freedom Fest & Family Picnic, a family-friendly celebration for local police, firefighters, EMS personnel, veterans and their families as the community comes together to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. The event will take place on Saturday, July 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Quick Response’s headquarters in Round Lake. Quick Response is known for their community events like this, including their popular holiday drive-thru light display and their Easter Fun Fest.
The event will feature live music by Grand Central Station, a free BBQ lunch, a beer tent, carousel rides, face painting, balloon artists, cornhole and lawn games.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to the event here https://invite.social/tw9zvvn0ffvpmxex or by calling 518-899-7090 for more information.
