Dave Matthews Band and Blues Traveler images provided by Live Nation.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A heap of additions were made to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s (SPAC) calendar recently, including returning favorites the Dave Matthews Band and Blues Traveler, plus a free culinary arts program on March 7.
The Dave Matthews Band will play at SPAC on July 17 and 18, marking the group’s 50th headlining performance at the venue. According to Setlist.fm, DMB has held more concerts at SPAC than any other musical act, with Phish, Chicago, and the Allman Brothers Band each compiling more than 20 shows apiece.
Blues Traveler, headliners of the 2024 Belmont on Broadway event in downtown Saratoga Springs, will return to the Spa City on July 30 with two more familiar faces in tow: Gin Blossoms (Belmont on Broadway 2025 headliners) and Spin Doctors (headliners of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s 2025 Charity Benefit).
Country artist Luke Bryan—with special guests Drew Baldridge, Lanie Gardner, Lauren Watkins, and DJ Rock—w-ill hit the SPAC stage on Aug. 29. Bryan is considered one of the world’s top-selling artists, dishing out more than 75 million records. He’s also a judge on the hit TV show “American Idol.”
On June 12, Les Claypool will present “Claypool Gold” at SPAC. The performance will bring together three of his bands: Primus, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. Each night, all three bands will share the stage at once for a show featuring “wildly different setlists and surprises,” Live Nation said in a press release.
Violinist Lindsey Stirling will bring her “Duality Untamed” tour to Saratoga on July 13. Stirling entered the national consciousness in 2010, when she was featured on season five of “America’s Got Talent.” Since then, she’s released a handful of albums and accumulated more than 14 million subscribers and billions of views on her YouTube channel. Stirling is known for her unique blend of classical, pop, and dance music.
SPAC also announced this week that it will host a special, free community program featuring culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris, who is a James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame winner and the star of the Netflix docuseries “High on the Hog.” Presented as part of the CulinaryArts@SPAC initiative, “Braided Heritage: Tracing the Roots of American Cuisine” will take place on Saturday, March 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Pines at SPAC. The event is free to attend; however, space is limited. Visit spac.org for details or to register.
A truck from The Regional Food Bank delivered 12 pallets of food to Saratoga County (Aidan Cahill)
On Thursday, Jan. 22 a truck delivered 12 pallets of food — about 18,000 pounds — to Saratoga County food banks.
The food was distributed as part of the Regional Food Bank’s “Restock Our Pantries” program to help local food pantries restock after a busy holiday season. This is the first year The Regional Food Bank has implemented the program.
The food was distributed to local food pantries operating in Saratoga County in an effort to help them restock after the holidays (Aidan Cahill)
“The Regional Food Bank facilitated New York State’s largest Thanksgiving meal distribution and had a hugely successful Holiday Hunger Appeal thanks to generous community support,” Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank said. “The holidays have notoriously left our shelves and partner’s shelves bare during January and February, this much-needed distribution program will directly support agencies by delivering food to where it is needed and in turn benefit communities.”
Ryan Hughes from Life Works Community Action in Ballston Spa said that more people than normal are relying on food pantries due to the recent government shut down which temporarily left people without SNAP benefits as well as greater food insecurity.
“Our local community members rely on us to provide food for their families and during this time when shelves are emptier than usual, we are so thankful for this Restock Our Pantries Program,” Hughes said. “We are grateful for the support of the Regional Food Bank and to state leaders for funding this gap and providing assistance to feed our communities.”
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the planned Metro North train between Albany and New York City has been shelved.
An announced MTA train running from Albany to New York has been canceled as Amtrak resumes full service between the Empire State Capital and its largest city.
The announcement was made in a statement released by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on January 27. In it, she said that because of the full restoration, Amtrak would no longer sanction the MTA trains to run between Poughkeepsie and Albany.
Hochul didn’t close the door to an MTA line to Albany, however, especially given the excitement surrounding the initial announcement.
“I remain fully committed to short and long-term proposals to bring better transit – including expanded Metro-North service if the demand exists – beyond Poughkeepsie and into the rest of the Hudson Valley and Capital Region,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers rely on high quality rail transit like no other state, and I will always fight to save commuters time and to make service better.”
The limited service didn’t stop ridership on Amtrak in 2025. While New York City makes up 84% of all Amtrak travel in the state with 13,037,414 people getting on and off at Penn Station in 2025, the Capital region dominates the rest of the state.
The five stations in the Capital Region — Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, Amsterdam and Glenns Falls — account for a combined 1,142,152 people transiting through on Amtrak. Albany makes up the majority of this total with 920,779 people transiting through.
In addition to ridership, Amtrak spent $16,074,743 on station improvements in the Capital Region in 2025 with $9,131,070 being spent on Saratoga Springs alone — the most of any station in the state.
Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby today announced the creation of a new Narcotics and Special Investigations Bureau, a specialized unit dedicated to aggressively combating narcotics trafficking, illegal firearms, sex trafficking, and human trafficking throughout Saratoga County.
The Bureau will be led by Chief Meghan A. Horton, an experienced prosecutor with a proven record of success in complex investigations and high-stakes felony trials.
The Narcotics and Special Investigations Bureau will focus on dismantling criminal enterprises that profit from the sale of controlled substances, the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms, and the exploitation of victims through sex and human trafficking. The Bureau will work closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to conduct long-term investigations, utilize advanced investigative techniques, and ensure the most dangerous offenders are held fully accountable.
“This Bureau reflects our commitment to taking an aggressive, intelligence-driven approach to some of the most serious crimes facing our communities,” said District Attorney Eby. “Drug trafficking, illegal guns, and human trafficking threaten public safety and devastate families. This Bureau is designed to confront those threats head-on.”
Chief Horton brings extensive experience in narcotics, firearms, violent felony, and sexually motivated offense prosecutions. She serves on the Tri-County Narcotics Task Force. Chief Horton has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict. Horton also has extensive experience drafting search warrants, devising operation strategy, obtaining trace orders and leading investigations. She is also cross designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. “Chief Horton’s exceptional courtroom abilities, sharp investigative skills, relentless work ethic, and aggressive prosecutorial style will lead this Bureau to success,” said District Attorney Eby. “She is one of the most talented prosecutors in Upstate New York, and I have complete confidence in her leadership.” Chief Horton’s courtroom successes include:
• People v. Shahid Smith — Secured guilty verdicts on multiple counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, resulting in a 31½-year state prison sentence.
• People v. Ryan Jewett — Obtained a conviction for Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child and a 29-year sentence of incarceration.
• People v. Michael Zakrzewski — Achieved guilty verdicts for Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Strangulation in the Second Degree, and Criminal Contempt, resulting in a 34-year state prison sentence.
• People v. Sean Cherven — Won a jury trial resulting in a conviction for Rape in the First Degree and a sentence of 18 years in state prison.
“I am honored to be chosen to lead the Narcotics and Special Investigations Bureau,” said Chief Horton. “I am ready to take on this responsibility and to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners to protect the public, pursue justice for victims, and hold dangerous offenders accountable.”
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.
MALTA — The Eddie Fyvie Jiu-Jitsu Academy held its final class on Jan. 3, closing its doors after 13 years in business (Fyvie has joined the Spa City Jiu Jitsu Academy as a full-time teacher). But a new academy is already set to take its place, providing a home for local grapplers.
Kirby Ives is the head instructor of Malta Jiu Jitsu Academy, which is located next door to the old Eddie Fyvie location at 100 Saratoga Village Blvd. Ives is a black belt who trained under Fyvie, and his academy officially opens on Feb. 1 but is already accepting new students. Ives has been active in the local jiu jitsu scene for decades.
“I wanted to be a ninja when I was a little kid,” Ives told Saratoga TODAY. “I saw ‘Enter the Dragon’ when I was four years old and I was like, ‘That’s who I want to be.’”
With visions of Bruce Lee dancing in his head, Ives started wrestling in school and then took up boxing as a teenager before getting into jiu jitsu. One of his early mentors was Saratoga TODAY publisher Chad Beatty.
“Chad brought high-level jiu jitsu to Upstate New York,” Ives said. “After a few months of training in his basement, I was being exposed to unbelievable technique. I was meeting unbelievable guys that fought in Pride and UFC and Pancrase.”
At one point in his life, Ives was forced to navigate a challenging personal situation that left him feeling lost. But rather than turn towards unhealthy ways of dealing with his emotions, he instead found jiu jitsu.
“Jiu jitsu is something that absolutely empowers people and allows for a paradigm shift and gives people a sense of what is possible when you’re firing on all cylinders,” he said. “Your problem-solving skills are better, your sense of confidence is better. You move through space differently, in a physical way. You start to exude a certain vibe that people can recognize.”
For those interested in signing up with the Malta Jiu Jitsu Academy, a founder’s rate discount is available if they join prior to the Feb. 1 official opening.
There are a few ways to get in touch with the new academy: by phone (518-937-4899), email (maltajiujitsu@gmail.com), and Facebook (at the Malta Jiu Jitsu Academy page).
Discover Saratoga is proud to announce the return of its signature winter event, the 27th Annual Chowderfest, taking place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Saratoga County.
Presented by DeCrescente Distributing Company, Coors Banquet, Saranac, and Surfside, this beloved community event invites locals and visitors alike to sample 4 oz. servings of chowder for $2 each from roughly 80 Saratoga County restaurants and businesses.
“For nearly three decades, Chowderfest has been one of those events that truly defines winter in Saratoga,” said Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri. “It brings people together during the quieter season, supports our local businesses, and reminds visitors that Saratoga County is vibrant year-round. We’re excited to welcome everyone back for another unforgettable day.”
“Chowderfest is one of the best days of the year to go out with friends and enjoy some great tasting chowder and beverages,” said Vice President of DeCrescente Distributing Company Carmine DeCrescente. “Saranac Brewery will be kicking off its seasonal Blueberry Blonde Ale at this year’s event, and you can find it, along with Surfside and Coors Banquet, at bars and restaurants throughout Saratoga County. Cheers to drinking responsibly and may the best chowder win!”
In addition to chowder tastings, attendees can enjoy live entertainment and family-friendly activities throughout Saratoga. To enhance the experience and ensure pedestrian safety, Broadway will be closed to vehicular traffic from Lake Avenue to Washington Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Free shuttle service will once again be provided, with four shuttles running continuously between Saratoga Casino Hotel and downtown from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Official Chowderfest merchandise—including long-sleeve t-shirts, knit beanies, and the Chowderfest spoon—will be available for purchase at the Saratoga Hilton Lower Lobby and the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.
Voting will take place through the Discover Saratoga mobile app, with one vote permitted per device. Voting closes at 4:30 p.m., and winners will be announced at 6:00 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.
Participants who vote in the app will be entered to win $1,000 in Saratoga-area gift cards, redeemable at local businesses and restaurants.
“We encourage visitors to turn Chowderfest into a full weekend experience,” Leggieri added. “With special hotel rates, dining, shopping, and winter activities, there’s so much to enjoy beyond the event itself.”
For event details, participating vendors, hotel specials, and shuttle information, visit DiscoverSaratoga.org/Chowderfest or call (518) 584-1531.
Special thanks to our sponsors, including DeCrescente Distributing Company, Coors Banquet, Saranac, Surfside, Westminster Bakers Co., Saratoga Springs City Center, T-Shirt Graphics, Saratoga Hilton, The Daily Gazette, Graves Brothers Home Improvement, Market 32 by Price Chopper in partnership with Old Bay, iHeartMedia, Yankee Home, Nemer CJDR of Saratoga, Upstate Transit of Saratoga, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Saratoga Bridges, Renewal by Andersen, Romeo Ford & Subaru, Saratoga.com, DePaula Auto Group, Townsquare Media, Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor, Saratoga Today, Albany Broadcasting, Another Day Another Diner, Reliable Onsite Services, Saratoga Automobile Museum, Julie & Co. Realty, LLC, Saratoga Escape Rooms, Mostly Modern Festival, Adirondack Trust & Amsure, and Impressions of Saratoga.
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!”
Photos via the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Saratoga Arts opened its doors to the public last weekend, revealing the results of a $2 million, year-long renovation project. The center, located at 320 Broadway, has a wide variety of events on its 2026 schedule, including yoga classes, candle making, the Saratoga Film Showcase, screen printing, collage felting, artist lectures, and the Feb. 6 launch of the “Dream Logic” exhibition. The center features, among other things, multiple studio-style classroom spaces, a dedicated printshop, rehearsal and music studios, a gallery and exhibition space, and a black box theater for film, music, theater, and special events.
