Michael VanWinkle, “We connect after dinner…” (acrylic on canvas, 2024), at the Schick Art Gallery.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Schick Art Gallery presents “BIG MIX,” an exhibition of work in printmaking, painting, ceramics, photography, drawing, graphic design, and video by members of the 2024 Skidmore art faculty.
The exhibition will run through Oct. 6 in Schick Art Gallery, on the second floor of Saisselin Art Building, at Skidmore College. The exhibition, free and open to the public, features art from 16 full- and part-time faculty.
Schick Art Gallery viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center announces its innovative CulinaryArts@SPAC initiative will continue with two special events this fall and winter at The Pines at SPAC. K
Kicking off the series on Oct. 25 is Bourbon Land with James Beard Award-winning Chef Edward Lee, featuring specialty bourbon pourings by First Fill Spirits, a bourbon cocktail, and dishes from Lee’s new cookbook Bourbon Land, alongside conversation led by WAMC’s Joe Donahue.
Following, on January 25 is Bayou Kitchen with James Beard Award-winning author Melissa Martin featuring cocktails and mocktails, South Louisiana tastings inspired by her upcoming cookbook, and conversation hosted by WAMC.
Bourbon Land with Chef Edward Lee will be held 6 – 9 p.m., Oct. 25. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy bourbon tastings by First Fill Spirits, a specialty cocktail and appetizers, followed by tastes of dishes from Lee’s cookbook Bourbon Land including Braised Beef Shanks in Bourbon Sauce and Roasted Sweet Potato with Bourbon Miso Butter, served family-style at communal tables. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic refreshments will also be served.
Tickets to attend are $130. Attendees can also purchase a copy of Bourbon Land and have it signed by the author. Seating is on a first come basis. Bayou Kitchen with Melissa Martin will take place 6 – 9.m. on Jan. 25, 2025 with tickets for this event to go on sale on Oct. 22. Visit spac.org for tickets and more details.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Dozens of authors, a literary marketplace and a Kid Zone will participate in this year’s Saratoga Book Festival Oct. 4-7 in venues throughout downtown Saratoga Springs.
“We try to appeal to many ages and interests,” festival founder and co-chair Ellen Beal said in a statement. “At this year’s multi-day event, we’ll present more than 30 sessions, 50 featured authors, and the popular Saturday KidZone and Literary Marketplace that showcases more than 90 local authors and organizations. Our goal is to encourage people of all ages to read more books.”
Among this year’s lineup are headliners Liz Moore (The God of the Woods), Brenda Wineapple (Keeping the Faith: God, Democracy, and the Trial That Riveted a Nation), Paul Tremblay (Horror Movie: A Novel), and Kelly Link (The Book of Love); acclaimed authors Roxana Robinson (Leaving), Garth Risk Hallberg (The Second Coming: A Novel), Corey Brettschneider (The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It), Amitava Kumar (My Beloved Life), and bestsellers Mai Corland (Five Broken Blades), Daniel Kraus (Pay the Piper), and Karen McManus (Such Charming Liars).
Saratoga Book Festival is a presentation of the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library,
New this year are three “Beyond the Book” special ticketed events that merge books with other forms of art and entertainment. They include:
-Comedy Night with Sally Chaffin Brooks and Beck Krefting. Come for a night of stand-up comedy with Sally Chaffin Brooks – author of the new memoir “Going to Maine: All the Ways to Fall on the Appalachian Trail,” and Beck Krefting, a Skidmore professor, humor expert, and comedian. Books can be purchased at the venue. A book chat and signing follows. Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 pm, at Putnam Place.
-Warren Zanes Celebrates Springsteen’s Nebraska in Song & Stories. Universal Preservation Hall partners with the Saratoga Book Festival to present Warren Zanes, one of the founding members of the American 1980s garage-style rock band The Del Fuegos, in a night of music and stories inspired by his latest book, “Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’.” Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall.
Gossip Girl Brunch, a meet-and-greet in and book chat with Cecily von Ziegesar, creator of the Gossip Girls books that launched two hit TV series with the Palette Community’s CEO Marcella Hammer. Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall.
The headline event with Liz Moore in conversation with Joe Donahue, will be held 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6 at Universal Preservation Hall.
For ticket information, and the entire list of authors and sessions, go to: SaratogaBookFestival.org.
Phish performs three nights in Albany to benefit the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program.
ALBANY— Phish will perform a special three-night stand at MVP Arena in Albany Oct. 25, 26, and 27, with all proceeds benefiting the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program and its newly opened facility in Ludlow, Vermont.
These will be Phish’s only shows this fall. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 through Ticketmaster.
A Divided Sky Foundation pre-show event hosted by The WaterWheel Foundation will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and purchases may be made with tickets during the general on sale.
100% of net proceeds from all concert and merchandise sales will be directed to the Divided Sky Foundation, a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to addiction recovery, and the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program. Conceived of and founded by Trey Anastasio and program director Melanie Gulde, The Divided Sky Residential Recovery program gives hope to those struggling with addiction by providing a safe, nurturing environment to begin their recovery journey. For more information about Divided Sky Foundation, please visit https://dividedsky.org/
Peter Anspach, the keyboard player for the jam band Goose, watches a Phish concert from the SPAC lawn in 2013. Ten years later, he appears on the SPAC stage with Goose. Photos via Anspach’s Instagram account.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The jam band Goose played two nights at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SAPC) last weekend, marking the high point of a journey that took the band from the SPAC lawn to the SPAC stage.
In 2013, Goose keyboardist Peter Anspach attended a Phish concert at SPAC, camping out on the lawn with thousands of fellow fans. In a three-night run from July 5 to 7, Phish debuted their original song “Yarmouth Road” and presented rousing renditions of their hits “Tweezer” and “Character Zero.”
A decade later, when Goose took the SPAC stage for the first time, Anspach couldn’t help but celebrate the occasion.
“We’re so excited to be here,” Anspach said. “This place means a lot to us.” Later, when performing an encore, he added, “some of us have seen a lot of shows on that lawn right there and I’ll tell you what, it feels great to be on the stage. So thank you so much for making it happen. Hopefully we come back for multiple nights some time.”
His hopes came true last weekend, when Goose’s two-night stay included a blissful version of “Hungersite” and the second-ever performance of “Big Modern!,” a new original song.
Prior to the shows, several members of the band stopped by the Saratoga Spa Golf Course for “Goose on the Green,” a sold-out charity event that raised funds for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. The event was another indication of how much Saratoga has meant to the group.
“The band has a different kind of energy when they’re playing a venue like SPAC, which means so much to them personally,” said Ryan Storm, host of the Goose-focused podcast “Almost Always There.”
In 2018, more than a year before their breakthrough set at the Peach Music Festival, Goose opened for the Ryan Montbleau Band at Putnam Place in downtown Saratoga. At that show, they played songs such as “Elizabeth” (which was the opener for their SPAC show on September 6) and “Arcadia” (which is now one of their most popular tunes).
Five years later, after playing SPAC for the first time, Anspach wrote in a social media post that the venue “definitely lived up to the hype. Such a surreal experience playing with my best friends in one of the most influential venues I’ve ever been to.”
Goose has become one of many jam bands to make SPAC a regular stop on their summer and fall tours. The Dave Matthews Band has played SPAC 49 times. Phish has played there 24 times, most recently in August of last year. In 1985, the Grateful Dead famously drew the largest-ever SPAC crowd of more than 40,000 Deadheads.
In 2023, Goose’s first SPAC show was, at the time, the band’s largest-ever headlining performance. Hopefully, they’ll have many more opportunities to break the record.
A special show with proceeds to benefit the Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children program.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Five local bands play with no amplification whatsoever in Lena’s intimate listening room. The extraordinary show, which will take place 7-11 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, was organized by local artist Lawrence White and will create a new experience at Caffe Lena.
The line-up of talent includes: Annie & The Hedonists, Rick Bolton & Friends, Garland Nelson, Jeff Brisbin, and White’s own band, The Beat Generation.
The artists will perform in the center of the room, and the tables and seats will surround them on all sides, with seating even available on stage.
This event is a night of unity and artistry during Saratoga Peace Week, with neighbors taking care of neighbors here at home.
All proceeds will benefit SNACPack, the Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children program, which fills backpacks with nutritious food for local kids who need food support at home on weekends.
For tickets and more information, go to: caffelena.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Zydeco legend Nathan Williams, Haitian vodou priestess Moonlight Benjamin, and “The Hendrix of the Sahara” Vieux Farka Touré will be coming to Universal Preservation Hall as part of the Passport Series at Proctors Collaborative in early 2025.
The series is designed to transport audiences beyond borders, bringing diverse cultural experiences to the heart of the regional community.
2023 Grammy nominee Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas will be in the Great Hall at UPH 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. His music blends zydeco, jazz, blues, and R&B, with most of the band’s original songs penned by Williams.
As a longtime favorite of Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) and Iggy Pop, the Haitian vodou priestess Moonlight Benjamin explores the roots of blues and rock in this new opus in the Great Hall at UPH 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29.
Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Vieux Farka Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré. Touré will be in the Great Hall at UPH, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
In Schenectady: Kicking off this Passport Series season is Breabach 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 at the GE Theatre at Proctors. With multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, Plena Libre will be in the GE Theatre at Proctors 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, and Damir Imamovic – who was immersed in the world of Balkan traditional music at a very young age – will be at the GE Theatre at Proctors 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11.
Tickets are on sale through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online by visiting atuph.org or atproctors.org. Groups of 10 or more can get tickets by calling 518-382-3884 x 139. With the Passport Series pass, you get to travel the world and see all six shows for the price of four.
LAKE GEORGE — Set against the backdrop of Lake George, Jazz at the Lake (Lake George Jazz Weekend) celebrates the vibrant and diverse genre of jazz with its free, 40th anniversary shows Friday Sept. 13 – Sunday, Sept. 15.
Shows kick off 6 p.m. Friday at Shepard Park.
This year’s Jazz at the Lake lineup includes rising star Jahari Stampley, GRAMMY-winning artists Ulysses Owens Jr., Linda May Han Oh, Nicole Zuraitis, Danilo Pérez, and many more.
For details and full lineup, go to: https://lakegeorgearts.org/lake-george-jazz-weekend/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center will welcome the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center back to Spa Little Theater for its 2024-2025 fall and spring seasons from Oct. 26, 2024- April 26, 2025.
As part of its year-round presence in Saratoga Springs, the three-concert series kicks off with “Beethoven with the Calidore Quartet,” (Oct. 26) featuring the composer’s legendary string quartets. The dynamic young Calidore Quartet is CMS’s featured quartet this season, performing the entire cycle at Lincoln Center.
In the spring, CMS Artistic Director, pianist Wu Han, will lead “Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet” (March 29) in the iconic and charismatic work that has become a fixture of the chamber repertoire.
Closing the season is “Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence” (April 26) featuring cellist and CMS Artistic Director David Finckel in a program that showcases six of CMS’s finest musicians.
“Featuring some of the most beloved chamber works of Beethoven, Schubert and Tchaikovsky, the concerts will anchor our robust year-round programming in Spa Little Theater,” said Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel will highlight the season alongside guest artists including Calidore String Quartet; violinists Julian Rhee, Arnaud Sussmann, Paul Huang and Danbi Um; violists Paul Neubauer, Matthew Lipman, and Timothy Ridout; cellists Sterling Elliott and Sihao He; and double bassist Anthony Manzo.
All CMS events will take place at the Spa Little Theater (19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs). There is one performance of each program at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2 and the house opens at 2:30. Visit spac.org for more information
Jane Mastaitis, CEO (center right), poses with husband Steve and Steve Rowland with wife Christine. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Bridges, a chapter of the Arc New York, raised over $42,000 at their Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course.
The event, held at the Easy Goer Dining Area in the Clubhouse, featured premium seating, a delicious buffet, a complimentary Post Parade program and a special, horse-themed gift from Saratoga Bridges. Sponsors for the event included the Family Dentistry Group of New York at the “For the Win” Sponsorship level and UKG at the “Auction” Sponsor level.
Saratoga Bridges serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Saratoga County. Money raised from these fundraising events goes towards traditionally underfunded programs, including their Family Support Services.
Saratoga Bridges’ event season will wrap up with the family-friendly Great Pumpkin Challenge 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run. For more information on the Great Pumpkin challenge or to register, visit www.saratogabridges.org or contact Saratoga Bridges at 518-587-0723 or via email at info@saratogabridges.org.
