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Where To Get All The Best Black Friday, Small Business Saturday And Cyber Monday Deals In Saratoga

Jeff Dingler
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Where To Get All The Best Black Friday, Small Business Saturday And Cyber Monday Deals In Saratoga

Thanksgiving is this Thursday, November 28, so that means a few things: You’re going to eat your weight in turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes; watch football games with your pants’ button undone; and realize, like you do every year, that none of your holiday shopping is done and you have to get a move on it. As luck would have it, the very next day is Black Friday, the day after that is Small Business Saturday and after taking a breather on Sunday, Cyber Monday rolls right in. And there are numerous deals to be had for all shopping days in Saratoga Springs and the greater Capital Region.

Shoppers in Saratoga won’t have to travel far for great bargains on Friday, November 29 because of Black Friday Saratoga, an annual bonanza of big sales at all the shops along Broadway. Nearly 20 stores in Downtown Saratoga will be offering all-day deals, including Dark Horse Mercantile, iRun LOCAL and Impressions of Saratoga (a full list of 2019 vendors will be released on Wednesday, November 27). Some shops will even be opening at 6am with savings as high as 50 percent off. Plus, those first to make a purchase in participating businesses on Friday morning will receive a complimentary Black Friday Saratoga shopping bag. There’s even a special Black Friday promotion at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which is offering for a limited time Classical Season Lawn Passes for $185 apiece.

But the deals don’t end there. Small Business Saturday will take over on November 30, with a bevy of small business-themed events scattered across the Capital Region. Saratoga residents can head over to Beekman Street for a Small Business Saturday Holiday Open House. Ten stores in the Beekman Street Arts District will be open from 10am-8pm, with bargains and holiday refreshments available, and a number of special activities to take part in. Also, over at the Saratoga Springs City Center will be the 44th Annual Holiday Craft Marketplace from 10am-4:30pm. Admission’s only $5 to the marketplace, which will feature more than 145 local and regional crafters, artisans and artists, as well as live music and a grand raffle.

For those living outside of Saratoga, there will be Small Business Saturday “gift backs,” or ways to give back to local nonprofits by buying virtual gifts, in Glens Falls at SPoT Coffee and in Hudson Falls at the Strand Theatre. Also, there’ll be a Small Business Saturday Craft & Vendor Fair at the Mechanicville District Public Library.

And remember to get online on Monday, December 2 for some Cyber Monday deals at Saratoga Coffee Traders, Complexions Spa, Saratoga Saddlery, Tushita Heaven, Saratoga Botanicals as well as free shipping for online orders at Saratoga Tea and Honey, Saratoga Olive Oil Company. Also starting on Cyber Monday, Grandstand and Clubhouse season passes for the 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will become available for a limited time online. Grandstand season passes are $50 with Clubhouse passes running $75.

Those searching for something other than crazy good sales, look no further than saratoga living‘s hand-curated list of events for this upcoming week and weekend.

Monday

A Magical Cirque Christmas, a holiday spectacle with Christmas classics, is coming to Albany’s Palace Theatre (November 25)

Tuesday

Motivational speaker Linda McKenney will lead Caffè Lena’s last Storytelling Open Mic of 2019 (November 26)

Wednesday

Enjoy a Thanksgiving EVE Party with live music by the North & South Dakotas at Saratoga Winery (November 27)

Get ready to dance during the Thanksgiving Eve House Party at The City Beer Hall in Albany (November 27)

Thursday (Thanksgiving)

Sign up for the Chris Dailey Turkey Trot 2019 through Downtown Saratoga (November 28)

Leave the cooking behind and savor a Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet at Lake Georges’ Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center (November 28)

The Village of Ballston Spa will throw its 26th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Union Fire Company (November 28)

Stuff your face during a Thanksgiving Day Buffet at Lake George’s Dunham’s Bay Resort (November 28)

Tickets go on sale for the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan (November 28 through January 5)

Friday

*Subscription to saratoga living magazine are 20 percent off from 12:01am Friday to 11:59pm Monday! Use the discount code “Slblackfriday19” to save big!*

*Get discounted tickets to saratoga living‘s Saratoga Gives Back party! Take 20 percent off your ticket price from 12:01am Friday to 11:59pm Monday here, using the discount code “BlackFriCyberMon“*

Come to the Ballard Road Art Studio for an Art Opening Reception with light fare and conversations with the artist Michelle Vara (November 29)

Take in some colorful Christmas lights during the 23rd Annual Price Chopper/Market 32 Capital Holiday Lights in the Park at Albany’s Washington Park (November 29)

Don’t miss HUNG With Care, a queer holiday burlesque show coming to The Linda in Albany for two performances (November 29)

Get a jump on the holiday shopping with the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Gift Shop’s Holiday Open House (November 29)

Enjoy a holiday luncheon or breakfast with Santa during The 28th Annual North Country Festival of Trees at The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls (November 29-December 1)

Saturday

Prepare to laugh with headliner Chloé Hilliard during Comedy After Dark at the Park Theater in Glens Falls (November 30)

Get into the holiday spirit with Lite Up the Village, a free Christmas-themed event in Lake George’s Shepard Park (November 30)

Grammy-winning a cappella supergroup Pentatonix will be bringing their Christmas Tour to the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan (November 30)

Lost Speedways, a retrospective on old speedways, racetracks and racing heroes, will be held at the Saratoga Automobile Museum (November 30)

Get some more laughs in this weekend during the Thanksgiving Comedy Fest at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn (November 30)

Relive high school with the 5th Annual Troy Adult Prom at Troy’s Takk House (November 30)

The Albany Capital Center is hosting a Military Comedy Night to benefit Patriot Hills of New York (November 30)

Vegans, vegetarians and healthy eaters won’t want to miss Manhattan’s Vegan Christmas Market (November 30)

The Ten Tenors will bring their Home for the Holidays tour to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (November 30)

Find a Christmas tree and more during the 3rd Annual Shop Small Holiday Artisan Fair at Brookside Nursery in Ballston Spa (November 30 and December 1)

Sunday

Don’t miss Sons of Serendip, an extraordinary, genre-defying quartet, which is performing two shows at Caffè Lena in Saratoga (December 1)

Model train enthusiasts won’t want to miss the annual Great Train Extravaganza at Albany’s Empire State Plaza Convention Center (December 1)

Renowned jazz pianist David Benoit plays the Peanuts music from A Charlie Brown Christmas, along with original other holiday tunes (December 1)

Catch a Holiday Pops Concert with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady (December 1)

Conductor David Alan Miller And The Albany Symphony Nominated For A Pair Of Grammys

Jeff Dingler
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Conductor David Alan Miller And The Albany Symphony Nominated For A Pair Of Grammys

Hold the gramophone! The 2020 Grammy Award nominees have been announced, and the Capital Region’s own Albany Symphony and Conductor David Alan Miller have been nominated for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and Best Contemporary Classical Composition. Though this isn’t Miller or the Albany Symphony’s first Grammy rodeo—both won in 2014 for John Corigliano’s virtuosic percussion concerto, Conjurer—this does mark the first time that both have received two nominations in a single year.

“It feels great to be nominated,” Miller tells saratoga living. “All the discs we’ve been nominated for feature never-before-recorded works of contemporary music, which is our specialty.” The two pieces that garnered the symphony and its conductor the golden gramophone nominations are Derek Bermel’s Migration Series for Jazz Ensemble (for Best Contemporary Classical Composition) and a bluegrass-infused violin concerto by Michael Torke, entitled Sky (for Best Classical Instrumental Solo). The Albany Symphony had a close hand in creating that latter piece, co-commissioning Sky, as well as premiering and recording it at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. “I’m convinced we’ve been nominated so many times, specifically, because we champion the most compelling music of our time,” says Miller.

Miller, who joined the Albany Symphony in 1992, has garnered a reputation for making bold programming choices, which blend contemporary and experimental compositions with classical music staples, and they’ve helped the orchestra gain the attention of the national classical music scene along the way. In addition to nominations in 2016 and this year, the 2020 Grammys announcement marks Miller’s fourth and fifth nominations and the third and fourth for the orchestra. “What struck me most at my first visit to the [Grammy] awards and continues to impress me is just how big and beautiful the community of music creators in all genres is in our country,” says Miller. “It’s a great honor and source of encouragement to be recognized as a worthy member of that community.”

Miller and the Albany Symphony share their nominations with composers Bermel and Torke and violinist Tessa Lark, who was the soloist featured in Sky.

Santa Claus, 40-Plus Local Performers To Descend On Saratoga For The Annual Victorian Streetwalk

Olivia Mendlinger
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Santa Claus, 40-Plus Local Performers To Descend On Saratoga For The Annual Victorian Streetwalk

Yes, Saratoga, it is the most wonderful time of the year again. How do we know? The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association will once again be hosting its über-popular Victorian Streetwalk from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday, December 5. The fun-filled stroll, which puts Downtown Saratoga in all of its tricked-out holiday goodness on display, begins at the Route 50 arterial and ends at the Broadway/Springs Street intersection (commuters take note: Broadway will be closed to traffic at 5pm that day).

Just what’s in store for this year’s streetwalk? At 5:45pm, The Racing City Chorus will kick things off outside of Putnam Market, serenading strollers as they await Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival by horse and carriage, at the site of the holiday trees and Santa’s Broadway “mansion.” Fifteen minutes later, Saratoga Mayor Meg Kelly will press the magic button, lighting the trees, which will put into motion the annual Santa Parade, featuring the Avant Garde Alumni DrumLine and Color Guard, performing all the way from the Saratoga Springs City Center down Broadway; and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at their temporary home (they’ll be taking “reservations” from list-clutching local children throughout the night, and will be open for business for the remainder of the month).

As much as we love a jolly, potbellied guy, wearing red, white and black duds, predicting what’s going to be under our trees this year, the Victorian Streetwalk is more than just all Santa, all the time. Look out for more than 40 performances from local ensembles at some 45 local venues, including the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Select High School Choir, Shenendehowa MS Select Choir and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Choir, all stationed throughout the city at designated spots. Also included on the night’s packed lineup: The Salvation Army Brass Band, which will be out in all its glory; the violin-cello one-two punch of the Spa City Duo; a cappella and brass groups from Skidmore College; the saxophone-blowing, Santa-costume-wearing Sax O Claus; and countless others. And there are some newcomers, per Fran Dingeman, festival coordinator for the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association: “We have a 15-year-old new talent named Justin Charles, who will be performing in the Downtowner Lot; a hula hoop artist, Acadia Rae, who will be performing outside Spoken Boutique; a toy soldier; and other special touches throughout downtown Saratoga.” (A map of where each artist will be performing will be posted here on Friday, November 22.) Additionally, look out for face-painting stations, balloon artists and a “warming station” (it’s likely going to be cold that evening). And be sure to look out for George Bailey and friends, as cast members from Home Made Theater’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life will be out and about in character.

And, hey, look, if you’re 21 or older and you have a little extra something somewhere to keep warm, the CDTA will act as your intra-Saratoga designated driver, running free shuttle buses every 20 minutes from the Empire State College parking lot at 111 West Avenue; NYRA’s Oklahoma track just off Exit 14 of I-87; Saratoga Race Course’s Gate 21 on the corner of East Ave and Union Ave; the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame on South Broadway; and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center parking lot on Rt. 50. (Shuttles will run to and from Downtown Saratoga from 4:30pm to 9pm; obviously, if you don’t live within safe walking distance of these locations, take an Uber or Lyft the rest of the way home.)

Last but not least, as much as your fur babies deserve Santa’s attention, unfortunately, they’re not allowed to join in on the merriment of the Victorian Streetwalk, due to a large-event ordinance by the City of Saratoga. So unless you want a ticket, leave Spot home. And it’ll be a good idea to leave him home anyway, because Downtown Saratoga will be bumping long after the last walk is walked at the Streetwalk.

—additional reporting by Will Levith

25-Year-Old Saratoga County Native Set To Pull Off Rare Feat Of Visiting All Seven Continents

Jeff Dingler
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25-Year-Old Saratoga County Native Set To Pull Off Rare Feat Of Visiting All Seven Continents

Many people dream of traveling to exotic locations around the globe. But making it to all seven continents—before your 26th birthday? Fugetaboutit. But that’s exactly what one Saratoga County native is set to accomplish next year. Originally from Charlton, NY about 30 minutes southwest of Saratoga Springs, 25-year-old Meagan Roecker is a genuine globetrotter, who’s already visited six out of the seven continents—and she just purchased a ticket to go to Antarctica, completing the rare continental feat.

“I like to travel as much as I can and see as much as I can,” says Roecker, who calls Boston home these days. “I find you learn a lot more traveling than by reading a book or sitting in a classroom.” Thanks to a college internship in Australia, Roecker was able to check a difficult-to-reach continent off of her list early, and it helped give her the travel bug. “When I did Australia and New Zealand in 2015, I got this idea that I wanted to do all the continents one day,” says Roecker. “It really intrigued me meeting a bunch of people from all areas of the world.” So Roecker began saving her money and soon enough she was ticking locations off her bucket list: from hiking through Argentina’s scenic Patagonia region with her father to visiting Johannesburg in South Africa with another travel buddy and last summer, making it to Japan.

Roecker had originally planned on visiting all seven continents before her 25th birthday, but because the window to visit Antarctica is so narrow—from November to February each season—the trip had to be postponed a year. “They’re trying to restrict the number of tourists that go there since it’s the only preserved land left in our world,” says Roecker, who seems unfazed by the change in her plans. Roecker’s 11-day cruise will depart on November 8, 2020 from the southern tip of Argentina and take two days to reach Antarctica. Once on the continent, the Capital Region native will be able to hike, mountaineer, kayak, see penguins, whale watch and potentially, camp. Roecker will also be bringing a friend she made during her journeys. “She originally asked me if I had any interest in doing Antarctica,” says Roecker. “And I was like, ‘Yes, absolutely!’ No one else on the planet is going to ask me to do Antarctica ever.'”

Even after all of those excursions, Roecker says that she’s still fond of her old home. “Since I started traveling, I’ve developed a special appreciation for the Capital Region,” she says. “Where I grew up, it’s really remote. I like the quiet [of Charlton] and being close to the mountains. There’s something nice about being in nature.”

Shelters Of Saratoga Kicks Off Inaugural Hunger And Homelessness Week

Jeff Dingler
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Shelters Of Saratoga Kicks Off Inaugural Hunger And Homelessness Week

Just before the holiday rush, Saratoga Springs area organizations and businesses are taking aim at homelessness with a brand-new initiative. Shelters of Saratoga (SOS), a nonprofit that provides care and assistance to the Spa City’s growing homeless population, has kicked off its inaugural Hunger and Homelessness Week, a weeklong campaign to raise awareness and funds for organizations dealing with homelessness and food scarcity in Saratoga County. The “week” began on Saturday, November 16, with the second annual “Take One, Leave One” coat exchange; and will run through Sunday, November 24.

SOS has a pair of special events planned for the big week. A new GoPurple fundraising/awareness campaign, which begins on Wednesday, November 20, asks Saratogians and local businesses to #GoPurple (i.e. show their support by donning the color purple and making at least a $5 donation to the cause for every purple-clad participant). “That color is symbolic of homelessness and hunger,” says Royce. “So we’re asking the whole community to wear purple.” And then, on Sunday, November 24, the organization will be hosting a Faith-Based Offering initiative, during which local members of churches, synagogues and mosques can donate funds in support of Code Blue Saratoga, SOS’s winter shelter.

“We just really want to bring awareness to the services available to homeless people in the Saratoga region,” says Rosemary Royce, director of development at SOS. “We’d like to reach an audience in Saratoga that may not be aware of the actual statistics that we’re faced with.” Regarding those data, last January, 268 people, including 35 families, experienced homelessness in Saratoga County.

Even though Homelessness and Hunger Week is just a handful of days old, Royce says that SOS is already planning on bringing it back next year. “Anyone who wants to be involved, we really welcome that from a volunteer perspective,” she says.

How To Just Say No To Hidden Fees With Schwab Saratoga Springs’ Independent Branch (Advertisement)

Maureen Parker
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How To Just Say No To Hidden Fees With Schwab Saratoga Springs’ Independent Branch (Advertisement)

Even after 20 years as a financial professional, I’m still surprised at how many otherwise skilled investors never ask certain straightforward questions. “How do I know which fees pay for what?” “If a fee is waived for one area of financial planning, is a different one tacked somewhere else?” “And how would I know?” Here at the Charles Schwab Independent Branch in Saratoga Springs, we navigate the tricky web of making sure that fees or no fees, you know without a doubt which fees you’re paying for.

As a financial professional, I’m encouraging people to get gutsy and ask themselves and their financial professional a question they probably haven’t asked before: How much am I paying in fees?

It’s a question that you might expect would have a simple answer, but if you dig into it, you might find yourself doing a bit of head scratching. In the world of financial services, there are different kinds of fees—trade commissions, fund fees, and advisory or management fees to name a few. While cost is only one factor when it comes to dissecting the value of an investment or your relationship with a financial professional, it’s important for investors to understand what they’re paying, why and how these costs impact their returns.

According to a 2013 Schwab study, 83 percent of investors do research before making a major purchase. Yet, just half of investors say they know how much they pay for their investments and only 16 percent who work with an investment professional have asked how fees and commissions impact their portfolio’s returns. But the fact is a seemingly small difference in fees can make a potentially big difference in your return, especially over time.

For example, I have had many conversations with clients who have bond portfolios managed outside of Schwab who are unaware of mark-ups that brokers can build into the price of a bond but aren’t legally required to disclose.

It’s important to understand, however, that not all investing fees are bad. It’s really a matter of understanding the value you are getting from what you pay. You might be willing to pay a slightly higher fee for different kinds of services that add value, such as more personalized financial planning or a higher-touch relationship. Maybe you’re a small business owner with a specialized set of financial needs that require more help and attention from a financial professional.

A couple ways to be more aware of the fees you’re paying are to regularly review your statement and ask your financial advisor directly about the different fees you are paying, why you’re paying them and how they are impacting your financial goals.
Starting with these questions will help you become more knowledgeable and confident about your finances and the value you’re receiving. But don’t stop there! Keep asking questions and stay engaged, because these can be your most valuable assets when it comes to achieving long-term financial success.

Since my number one goal as a Schwab Independent Branch Leader is to help you achieve your dreams, it’s of great importance to me to help you understand how to maximize your earnings. You could be paying unnecessary fees that are hindering that goal. Call or come by the branch – we look forward to meeting you and helping you navigate the right financial management structure for you.

MAUREEN PARKER is an Independent Branch Leader and Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab with over 20 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. Some content provided here has been compiled from previously published articles authored by various parties at Schwab. 1119-95UX

Vienna Boys Choir To Make Its Saratoga Debut At SPAC-Hosted ‘Christmas In Vienna’ Concert

Jeff Dingler
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Vienna Boys Choir To Make Its Saratoga Debut At SPAC-Hosted ‘Christmas In Vienna’ Concert

Saratogians have apparently been nice this year, because Santa (a.k.a. the Saratoga Performing Arts Center a.k.a. SPAC) has put a standout gift under their tree this holiday season. The historic Vienna Boys Choir will be making its Saratoga Springs debut with a SPAC-hosted Christmas in Vienna concert at Bethesda Episcopal Church on Wednesday, December 4. (Sorry, folks; the show’s been sold out for weeks.)

Founded in 1498, the Vienna Boys Choir, which officially began performing under that name in 1924, is one of the world’s longest continually running choirs not connected to a church or university. It started as the choir of the Austrian Court, a kind of personal music ensemble serving the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, which was an imperial amalgam of kingdoms that at one point stretched from the Baltic Sea in Germany to Rome. “It was like the emperor’s rather large iPod,” says Tina Breckwoldt, the choir’s official historian. “[He] would travel to visit the various kingdoms in his empire, and the choir would travel with him because it was part of his identity.” Breckwoldt says that there are even letters from the late 15th and early 16th century from Emperor Maximillion I, who originally established the choir, lamenting when he had to travel without his court musicians. “He would say that he was ‘needful of the sound of his musicians,'” says Breckwoldt.

The modern-day choir, which actually comprises four separate touring groups, featuring boys aged 10 to 14, gives around 300 performances a year across the globe and is renowned for the choristers angelic singing of some phenomenally diverse concert programming. The Christmas in Vienna concert will take listeners at SPAC on a musical-historical journey through Western Europe and the Americas. “We strongly believe that music is a language, and it’s best if you can speak it in as many different facets as possible,” says Breckwoldt. “We try to teach the boys as many styles and genres of music as possible. It has to be something that grabs them, that captures the beautiful spirit of any kind of piece, because with music, you’re conveying emotion.” To that point, the choir will showcase its multi-genre chops, with Gregorian chants, songs from the Baroque era and a piece by legendary opera composer Giuseppe Verdi. It’ll also include contemporary compositions, such as “Bought Me A Cat,” arranged by Aaron Copland; “Somewhere” from Leonard Bernstein‘s West Side Story; and even a couple of choice cuts from famous film soundtracks, including “I Wan’na Be Like You” from Disney’s The Jungle Book. And that’s just the first half of the show! The second half of the concert will consist of a colorful array of classic Christmas carols, hymns and tunes from Europe and the Americas. “We love diversity,” says Breckwoldt. “We try to put together a journey through the history of the choir and Western music, because the two are closely linked.”

Because singers have to audition for a coveted spot in the Vienna Boys Choir, it has the reputation of being a quasi-musical talent agency. Over the centuries, some of classical music’s most gifted and influential composers have written specifically for the choir, including Mozart and Austrian organist Anton Brucker. On the other side of the coin, famed Austrian composers Franz Schubert and the Haydn brothers, Michael and Josef, served at different times as chorus members. Schubert, who is most famous for his Romantic song cycles, began composing during his time in the choir; as for Josef Haydn, who was an important mentor to Beethoven, he had a reputation for being a prankster during his time as a choir boy, allegedly cutting off the ponytail of another chorister’s wig. “[Haydn] claims to have gotten kicked out for that,” says Breckwoldt, though she notes that Hadyn was no stranger to hyperbole in his storytelling.

In addition to its rich past and present, the Vienna Boys Choir has a bright future, one that it’s always looking towards with its young members in mind. “We love the tradition, but we love to move with the times,” says Breckwoldt. “We think the most important thing that we’re doing is educating the boys, [and] the touring is very much part of their education, because there’s nothing like traveling if you want to learn about another culture.” In addition to giving the boys an opportunity to tour across six continents and perform in some of the world’s preeminent venues, the choir even has its own primary school for the choristers and a senior high school program where the boys can matriculate once they finish with the choir.

As for the choir’s sold-out Saratoga debut, Breckwoldt says she expects it to be nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all in attendance. “When they perform a concert they’re sharing that space and time with the audience,” she says. “So it’s basically a kind of two-hour break from everyday life, and it’s a gift to both the choir and the people who come to hear the boys.”

SPAC’s Sold-Out Nutcracker Tea Rings In The Holiday Season At The Hall Of Springs

Will Levith
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SPAC’s Sold-Out Nutcracker Tea Rings In The Holiday Season At The Hall Of Springs

Nothing says the beginning of the holidays in Saratoga Springs like the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s (SPAC’s) staging of its annual Nutcracker Tea. With a sellout crowd on hand, The Northeast Ballet Company performed excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suite, while the audience—many of whom were from the knee-high-to-a-caterpillar set—enjoyed expert ballet dancing and traditional English tea service (there were performances at both 11am and 3pm).

Thankfully, saratoga living‘s Francesco D’Amico secured access long before the ticket feeding frenzy set in, so he was able to snap some of the results. (It’s unclear whether he was able to partake in the tea service—but his photos are no less a joy to look at.) Were you and your little one there? Click on the top image to flip through the photo gallery.

Get A Jump On The Holiday Season With A Host Of Events In And Around The Capital Region

Jeff Dingler
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Get A Jump On The Holiday Season With A Host Of Events In And Around The Capital Region

Thanksgiving is closing in—and that means so are Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Yes, the holiday (shopping!) season is off to the races, and here in the Capital Region, we’ve got a slew of events to help fill our week/weekend with holiday spirit.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday, November 22 will be the opening of the Great Escape’s Holiday in the Lodge. The Queensbury theme park will convert its lodge space into a North Pole-inspired wonderland complete with dazzling lights, decorated Christmas trees and a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus (as well as access to the indoor waterpark where it’s always a balmy 82 degrees).

For those seeking an epicurean holiday experience, the Albany Police Athletic League is hosting its annual multi-day A Taste of the Holidays. This two-day holiday “feastival” takes place in Albany’s Washington Park and kicks off on Saturday, November 23, with the 4th Annual Craft Beer, Wine and Spirits Festival, followed by the opportunity to chow down on chilis and soups during the 6th Annual Chili, Chowder and Soup Festival on Sunday, November 24.

Also on Sunday will be the 2019 Holiday Vendor and Craft Fair at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom in Troy. Holiday bargain hunters will be able to browse from more than 50 regional crafters and vendors, and the first 100 shoppers are automatically entered into a drawing for a special door prize. Also, expect a number of fun raffles, a bake sale and lots of food.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be the holidays without parades. There are three big ones this weekend: the 2019 Schenectady Holiday Parade through Downtown Schenectady (November 23); the 7th Annual Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade in Greenwich (November 23); and the South Glens Falls Fire Company Holiday Parade, beginning at Feeder Dam Road and State Route 9 (November 24).

Looking to avoid the holiday rush? saratoga living‘s got you covered with our list of hand-picked happenings below.

Monday

The Zero Abuse Project, along with the Saratoga Center for the Family, will host a town hall called Courageous Conversations, Critical Choices at SUNY Empire State College in Saratoga (November 18)

Catch a screening at Albany’s Palace Theatre of Joe Cocker: Mad Dog & Englishmen, a 1977 concert film featuring famed blues/rock singer Joe Cocker (November 18)

Tuesday

Pint Size Saratoga is throwing its 2nd Annual Saratoga Friendsgiving Potluck: Lil Ma’s Feast! (November 19)

Take part in the New York League of Women Voters 100th Birthday Celebration at R.S. Taylor & Sons Taproom in Saratoga (November 19)

Wednesday

Want to enjoy Thanksgiving early? Head over to the 2019 Annual Holiday Thanksgiving Celebration at the Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs (November 20)

Get ready to make some magic at Wizardfest, a popup, cosplay, wizard-themed event at Crossgates Mall in Albany (November 20)

Thursday

Support Gateway House of Peace during the 6th Annual Thanks-For-Giving GALA at Longfellows Restaurant in Saratoga (November 21)

Yaddo President Elaina Richardson talks with James Beard Award-winning food critic Adam Platt about his work, The Book of Eating: Adventures in Professional Gluttony, at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga (November 21)

Friday

For those heading down to Hudson this weekend, get in some gift shopping at the Basilica Farm and Flea Holiday Market 2019 (November 22)

Skidmore’s Beatles tribute concert, Beatlemore Skidmania 2019, will present three performances this weekend at the college’s Arthur Zankel Music Center (November 22)

Enjoy a folk song fundraiser with Alan Chartock & The Berkshire Ramblers at Caffè Lena in Saratoga (November 22)

Savor an evening of classic blues presented by veteran musicians John Primer and James Armstrong at The Linda in Albany (November 22)

Join members of the Olde Saratoga Paranormal Group for a Public Ghost Hunt of the Canfield Casino in Saratoga (November 22)

Catch Given To Fly, a Pearl Jam tribute band, plus The Otherside at Putnam Place in Saratoga (November 22)

Don’t miss Groovin’…Rock Legends of the Vietnam War, a veteran’s benefit concert, at The Egg in Albany (November 22)

Enjoy live music, food and drinks and pop-up performances all weekend long during The Vibe of the Village Festival at the Museum of the City of New York (November 22-24)

Saturday

Country group Tompkins Drive Band will be performing at Vapor Nightclub in Saratoga (November 23)

The Albany Center Gallery presents its annual Art Deco Gala at the Renaissance Albany Hotel (November 23)

The Kicker Arenacross & Freestyle MotoCross Show is returning to Albany’s Times Union Center (November 23)

Enjoy the pretty lights during the NYC Winter Lantern Festival 2019 at Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (November 23)

Manticore presents a tribute to the music of Emerson, Lake & Palmer at the Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls (November 23)

Taking place the weekend before the Emmy Awards is the International Emmy World Television Festival at the Sofitel Hotel in New York City (November 23-24)

Legendary folk singer and Nobel laureate Bob Dylan returns to Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre for a ten-night engagement (November 23 through December 6))

A traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian about the Earth’s water supply called Water/Ways opens at the Chapman Historical Museum in Glens Falls (November 23 through January 5)

Sunday

Some early holiday shopping can also be done in Rhinebeck during the Sinterklaas Artisan Craft Fair at the Rhinebeck Town Hall (November 24)

Grammy-winning, folk legend Loudon Wainwright III will perform a set a the Park Theater in Glens Falls (November 24)

Saratoga Gives Back: Learn All About The Charities You Can Support At The Next ‘saratoga living’ Party

Will Levith
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Saratoga Gives Back: Learn All About The Charities You Can Support At The Next ‘saratoga living’ Party

By now, you’ve heard the news: saratoga living has another can’t-miss party on the books. On December 12, we’ll be hosting an event from 6-9pm at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, where we’ll be honoring ten amazing local charitable organizations and nonprofits and the generous people behind them. And there’s a twist: 50 percent of each ticket sold will go to 1 of 10 charitable organizations of your choice. The invitation process is also largely out of our hands; that job’s been given to the representatives from the ten charities/nonprofits, which include: Wellspring, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Pitney Meadows Community Farm, the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, New Vocations, the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC), 4th Family, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the SEFCU Holiday Sharing Program. At the end of the party, we’ll announce the “winning” charity—though they’re all winners in our eyes.

Now, it’s entirely possible that you’ve already purchased a ticket to our event and know which one of these great organizations you’re going to be donating half of your ticket price to. But for those of you who need a little CliffsNotes study guide on these wonderful charities/nonprofits, we’ve compiled a short primer for you below.

Wellspring – Founded in the 1970s, the Saratoga Springs-based Wellspring has the mission of supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse—and through community engagement, someday, putting an end to both. The organization provides victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse crucial services in Saratoga County, and just makes the world a better place. So get donating!

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) – If you’re one of the Saratoga newbies that thinks SPAC is behind nabbing the reunited Black Crowes next summer, you haven’t been reading saratoga living enough. That would be summer concert booker Live Nation. The good people at the nonprofit arm of SPAC are the ones that bring in all the amazing programming from the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet to SPAC on Stage and educational programming throughout the Capital Region. Your dollars could help make more of that goodness happen for years to come.

Pitney Meadows Community Farm – Ever stumbled, sweaty out of the Saratoga YMCA and wondered what that wide open field across the street is? It’s Pitney Meadows Community Farms, that’s what. Secured in 2016, Pitney Meadows is 166 acres of untouched land within Saratoga’s city limits, which have been set aside for the purposes of farming, education and recreation. And as a nonprofit organization, it’s looking for generous donations from the community and beyond. Now’s your chance to hoe that row for Pitney Meadows.

Saratoga Hospital Foundation – As the philanthropic arm of Saratoga Hospital, the foundation secures, manages and distributes gifts to support the mission of Saratoga Hospital and all of our facilities. In other words, your donation could actually save lives. Says Meredith Woolford, the foundation’s executive director: “In this role, I’m fortunate to witness and be the recipient of countless acts of generosity. Saratoga Hospital and our patients are so fortunate to have the tremendous level of support we receive from our community to ensure we have access to the highest possible level of healthcare.” Talk about a reason to give.

New Vocations – Just like its name implies, New Vocations is an organization that helps place retiring Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds with adoptive “parents” or organizations that then help retrain them in different walks (trots?) of life. At this past summer’s “The Races!” issue party, saratoga living donated a percentage of our ticket sales to the amazing organization. Now’s your chance to chip in.

Alzheimer’s Association (Northeastern New York Chapter) – The Alzheimer’s Association is working wonders across the US, as the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care—and their Northeastern New York Chapter will be represented at our upcoming party. Through support and research, the nonprofit’s mission is to rid the world of Alzheimer’s disease for good. And your dollars could help them fight that worthy fight.

Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) – As a native Saratogian, you just sort of knew what the EOC was. My folks used to refer to it as the “soup kitchen,” and there’d be canned food drives supporting it at our school and synagogue throughout the year. But the organization’s much more than just a place to feed the needy: It’s an umbrella organization that includes a number of programs such as Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Head Start and the Latino Community Advocacy Program (LCAP). And you could be helping them all with your donation.

4th Family – This Albany-based nonprofit organization, founded in 2011, hosts everything from community events to mentorship programs and annual sports tournaments, all with the endgame of empowering at-risk youth and adults in Albany and the Capital Region. With its important mission in play, we’ll all benefit. As far as I’m concerned, giving to 4th Family is a layup.

American Cancer Society of the Capital Region (ACS) – The Capital Region’s “Real Men Wear Pink” fundraising campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month was recently ranked highest in the country in terms of donations, with the local team racking up more than $370,000 for the cause. That’s just one ACS-run campaign, by the way. If they can raise that much over a single month, just imagine how much they’re going to rake in at saratoga living‘s party.

SEFCU’s Holiday Sharing Program – SEFCU’s Holiday Sharing Program provides support to more than 50 local organizations, who are at the forefront of holiday season programs, such as Adopt-A-Family, which provide essential personal care items and warm winter clothing and blankets to families in need. Donations to the nonprofit wing of this community credit union will help spread the true spirit of the holiday season to thousands of individuals and families in our community.

Ready to donate? Purchase tickets to saratoga living‘s Saratoga Gives Back party here.

 

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