Speakeasy-Style Cabaret to Honor Saratoga’s Black History

SARATOGA SPRINGS — “Pull Up!”—an event featuring light bites, cocktails, live performances, and an art auction—will take place on Feb. 27 at the Embassy Suites.

The speakeasy-style cabaret will aim to raise awareness and mobilize resources to support Black artists in the Capital Region as they interpret and preserve their local history. Attendees can celebrate the cultural legacy of Saratoga’s West Side while raising funds to support Black creators.

The neighborhood around Congress Street was once considered the “Little Harlem of Upstate New York.” Legendary performers such as Duke Ellington’s Band, Cab Calloway, and Billie Holiday once graced the stage at Jack’s Harlem Club at 76 Congress Street. Today, the Embassy Suites hotel stands near where Jack’s Harlem Club once welcomed audiences. “Pull Up!” seeks to re-embody the artistry and communal spirit of that lost neighborhood.

Featured filmmaker Careina Yard will screen portions of her documentary film about this slice of Saratoga’s history. Additional artists such as Garland Nelson, Donald Hyman, and Tops of Trees will also perform, along with dancers and spoken-word artists from the Capital Region.

For more information about the event, visit www.createcommunitystudios.org/projects/erasing-spaces—faces.