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Perennial SPAC Favorites The Dave Matthews Band Receive Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nomination

Will Levith
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Perennial SPAC Favorites The Dave Matthews Band Receive Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nomination

Attention, Saratogians: Now’s your chance to put one or more of your favorite rock-and-roll acts in music’s most hallowed institution. Through January 10, you can now (legally) overstuff the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot box with the names of 16 artists, including annual Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) summer draw the Dave Matthews Band; the Doobie Brothers, who supported Santana at the venue back in August (and have played SPAC countless other times); the late Whitney Houston, who performed a number of shows at SPAC throughout her career, including one performance, which was recorded for and became the official MTV music video for her No.1 hit “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”; and Nine Inch Nails, who played the venue early on in their career, as part of the Lollapalooza festival, then later headlined there. Dave Matthews Band, the Doobie Brothers and Whitney Houston are all appearing on the ballot for the first time.

Twenty-twenty Rock Hall nominees who have performed at SPAC also include Pat Benatar, who played there in 1981, 1991 and 1998; Soundgarden, who was on the 1992 Lollapalooza festival lineup; and Depeche Mode (1990), Judas Priest (1988), Motörhead (1992, 2012), Chaka Kahn (2017 – she’s been nominated as part of Chicago funk band Rufus), Todd Rundgren (1972, 1980) and Thin Lizzy (2004). Benatar, Motörhead, Soundgarden and Thin Lizzy are all first-time nominees, too.

The nominees who haven’t played SPAC—and will, sadly, never get the chance to—are late hip-hop star the Notorious B.I.G. (a fan favorite and likely inductee), seminal German electronic band Kraftwerk, Detroit proto-punksters the MC5 and glam rockers T. Rex.

Fans of any of the 16 acts can vote once a day through January 10, 2020 and can choose up to five nominees per ballot. The top five artists will comprise a special “fans’ ballot.”

The 2020 induction ceremony will take place at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, OH, on May 2, 2020.

If you’re interested in voting, click here.

 

Adirondack Film Festival Celebrates Its Biggest Year Yet With More Than 130 Films In One Weekend

Jeff Dingler
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Adirondack Film Festival Celebrates Its Biggest Year Yet With More Than 130 Films In One Weekend

The next hip scene for cinephiles, indie actors and filmmakers might just be the Capital Region. Now in its fourth year, the acclaimed Adirondack Film Festival will take over Downtown Glens Falls from Thursday, October 17 through Sunday, October 20, and it’s no exaggeration to say that this year’s festival is the biggest one yet. While last year’s festival saw 90 films screened, the 2019 festival will feature more than 130 movies—including shorts, feature-length pieces and more than one 3D film—at 6 different venues across Downtown Glens Falls, and all within walking distance of each other.

“Nearly 200 filmmakers and guest artists will be joining us this year to watch their films,” says Festival Director Chad Rabinovitz. “We also have a bunch of films from Saratoga Springs, partially because of a new partnership with the MDOCS program at Skidmore.” One of the Skidmore productions that’s been generating a lot of buzz, and which will make its North American debut at the festival, is How To Tell A True Immigrant Story, a completely immersive cinematic experience using 360˚ VR technology that puts viewers in the shoes of seasonal migrants working in Saratoga Springs. The film had its world premiere at the prestigious 2019 Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland in August and has been receiving high praise from critics.

In addition to the multitude of movies to watch over the four-day event, the film festival will also feature loads of special events, including a special kickoff with actor James Franco’s new movie, Pretenders (filmed entirely within the Capital Region); an Indian Food tasting and discussion surrounding the new Bollywood film Badhaai Ho; and even a panel discussion with professional stunt performers (for VIP ticket holders only). There’ll also be film parties at a different location each night of the festival as well as bottomless popcorn bars at Charles R. Wood Theater and The Queensbury Hotel (yum!). “There are so many things to do that there’s not just something for everyone, there’s 25 things for everyone,” says Rabinovitz.

Of course, that’s true of the Capital Region and Saratoga in general. Don’t believe us? Check out saratoga living‘s list of expertly curated events below.

Tuesday

Get ready for some fast bidding at the Saratoga Fall Sale of Thoroughbreds at Fasig-Tipton (October 15)

Classic rocker Steely Dan returns to the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan for six shows (October 15-22)

Fans of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton will surely enjoy Spamilton: An American Parody at Proctors in Schenectady (October 15-November 2)

Wednesday

American Idol finalist and Grammy nominee Daughtry is bringing his rocking acoustic trio to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (October 16)

Grammy-winning alternative rock band Switchfoot will take their new tour, Switchfoot & Their Fantastic Traveling Music Show to The Egg in Albany (October 16)

Thursday

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s 15th Annual Fall Lecture Luncheon will feature author and editor of The New York Times Book Review Pamela Paul (October 17)

Celebrity chef (and former saratoga living cover star) Rachael Ray will be offering a Meet & Greet (plus photo opportunity) for her new book Rachael Ray 50 at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga (October 17)

DeMaranville Farm and Gardens, a new wedding and events venue on Lake Avenue in Saratoga, is hosting its first Meet the Farmer Farm-to-Table Dinner (October 17)

Friday

Singer and saxophonist Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, along with The Big Takeover, will take over Putnam Place in Saratoga with a night of jazzy/funky original music (October 18)

The Basel Chamber Orchestra will be playing a piano-heavy program including Mozart and Schubert at the Troy Savings Bank Musical Hall (October 18)

Enjoy delicious food cooked by Albany’s best chefs during the 8th Annual FUSION Anti-Gala at the Albany Barn (October 18)

Catch an evening of musical fusion—flamenco, classical, roots and bluegrass—with Sten & Maria Z at The Linda in Albany (October 18)

Catch the Metropolitan Opera‘s unforgettable performances of Madame Butterfly, Turandot and more this weekend at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan (October 18-20)

Saturday

In addition to the Adirondack Film Festival, Albany’s The Linda will be hosting the 38th Annual Asbury Short Film Concert (October 19)

Celebrate the centennial of the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs during a special Autumn Festival at Pitney Meadows Community Farm in Saratoga (October 19)

Don’t miss the Albany Symphony’s opening season concert, Pictures at an Exhibition, a celebration of phenomenal female composers at the Palace Theatre (October 19)

Taste ciders from more than 20 different vendors at the 4th Annual Hard Cider Fest at the Wine & Liquor Warehouse in Clifton Park (October 19)

The 50+ Living Home & Lifestyle Expo will feature celebrity guest speaker Genevieve Gorder from Netflix, TLC and Bravo at the Saratoga Springs City Center (October 19)

Dress up your dog for the Dog Day Halloween Costume Party and Parade in Washington Square Park in Manhattan (October 19)

Catch some automotive carnage during Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live at the Times Union Center in Albany (October 19)

Raise your stein at the 14th Annual Adirondack Brewery Oktoberfest at Lake George’s Adirondack Brewery (October 19)

Take a spooky (albeit family-friendly) walk through the woods with the 13th annual Pumpkin Walk at the Federation of Polish Sportsmen’s Club in Hudson (October 19)

Get crafty (and artsy) at the 8th Annual Handcrafted CRAFT Fair at St. Luke’s On the Hill in Mechanicville (October 19)

Bring your knitting needles to the NY State Sheep And Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck (October 19-20)

Now in its 5th year, BRIC JazzFest is Brooklyn’s preeminent jazz celebration with a week of live music, film, poetry and more on Fulton Street in Brooklyn (October 19-26)

Sunday

The Iberi Choir from the Republic of Georgia will perform stunning traditional Georgian music as part of Caffè Lena’s Nordlys Global Voices series (October 20)

Celebrate 28 different countries and their cultures with the 48th Annual Festival of Nations at Albany’s Empire State Plaza (October 20)

Classical music fans will love the Seventh New York International Artists Showcase for piano, violin and cello competition winners at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan (October 20)

Admission is free to the 3rd Annual Craft and Vendor Fair at the Jewish Community Center of Saratoga Springs (October 20)

Enjoy the fruits of fall at the 4th Annual Schuylerville Fall Festival on Broad and Ferry Streets (October 20)

Cantina Owners To Open The 408 Event & Occasion Above Restaurant On Broadway (Exclusive)

Jeff Dingler
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Cantina Owners To Open The 408 Event & Occasion Above Restaurant On Broadway (Exclusive)

Downtown Saratoga Springs is about to get a new private events venue, right above one of its most popular food establishments. Located at 408 Broadway on the second floor of Cantina, The 408 Event & Occasion will officially open its doors to privately booked events and parties starting on Friday, November 1. Although it is the brainchild of Cantina owners Heath and Jeff Ames, don’t confuse The 408 with Saratoga’s signature purveyor of Mexican-inspired fare just below it.

“We’re excited to do something that’s unique and different from Cantina—it’s not an upstairs Cantina venue,” says Heath Ames, who co-owns both businesses with her husband, Jeff. “It’s its own independent, private events space, with its own kitchen and bar and style.” To that point, The 408 won’t have a Mexican flair at all, but rather a contemporary and luxurious chic decor. The private hall will also boast a modern, fully stocked bar and some diverse kitchen offerings curated by Culinary Director Frank Otte (who’s also the culinary director at Cantina and Mercantile Kitchen & Bar). Specialties will include buffets with themes such as “Wine Country,” “Not So Little Italy” and “Far East.” “We’re hoping that clients will be adventurous and want to explore new foods at their events,” says Ames. “However, you can still have three-course dinners and your Cantina favorites upstairs, if that’s what you want.”

The 408
The interior of The 408 features chic, contemporary decor and furnishings. (Shawn Lachapelle)

The new hall in the heart of the Spa City (where private event space is already at a premium and difficult to find) will be able to hold up to 100 people for sit-down meals and closer to 150 for standing, cocktail-style occasions. And even though The 408’s website isn’t even up and running yet (Ames said it should be ready to take reservations by October 18), the space already has bookings through November, December and beyond. “It’s filling up much faster than we anticipated,” says Ames.

The 408 will grow a little bit more by next summer, which is when Heath and Jeff Ames plan to open up a rooftop bar that adjoins the hall. “The rooftop bar has been talked about for a while,” says Ames. “It’s going to be a nice addition to anybody who might rent the space.” When not being used for events, the new bar will also be open to the public.

As for tackling a project so different from Cantina, Ames says it’s been exciting. “We always love a new challenge, and we had fun creating a distinctive, new space,” she says. “I think people will be surprised by what they see upstairs!”

American Cancer Society Scores With Basket “Ball”

Natalie Moore
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American Cancer Society Scores With Basket “Ball”

From the elegant Gala of Hope to the sparkling Red, White & Blue Party, it’s clear that the American Cancer Society (ACS) knows how to put on a great event. That was once again proven Monday, October 7, when the organization threw its annual Coaches Vs. Cancer Basket “Ball” at the Albany Capital Center in true ACS fashion. Fully committing to the Basket “Ball” theme, guests were welcomed by Siena College and University at Albany cheerleaders, entertained by the college’s pep bands and treated to a classic sports game hot dog stand (there were other dinner options as well).

The Ball, which has been held every year since 2006, is a chance for the Siena and UAlbany basketball teams and their coaches to leave their rivalry on the court and come together in the fight against cancer. This year’s honorees were Patrick McCaffery, who won the Mary Ann Raymond Donnelly Fighting Spirit Award; Joseph Girard III of Old Dominion University, who won the Inspiration Award; and Jeff Jones, who won the Champion Of Hope Award. All three honorees’ lives have been touched by cancer in some way, but haven’t let the disease stop them from succeeding in basketball and helping others.

Saratoga Auto Museum Presents First-Ever Bubbles & Brunch On Broadway

Natalie Moore
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Saratoga Auto Museum Presents First-Ever Bubbles & Brunch On Broadway

If you love Saratoga’s social scene, but weren’t at saratoga living‘s Best Of Everything event with Dorinda Medley on Sunday, October 6, chances are you were being treated to champagne and brunch to support the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Bubbles & Brunch on Broadway was held at The Adelphi Hotel, and featured—you guessed it—champagne and brunch with novelist, blogger, food stylist, photographer and cookbook author Gigi Wilson.

“This was our first Bubbles & Brunch on Broadway fundraiser for the museum,” says Saratoga Auto Museum Executive Director Carly Connors. “We had an elegant event with wonderful food and champagne at the fabulous Adelphi Hotel. We look forward to Bubbles & Brunch on Broadway becoming an annual tradition for the Saratoga Automobile Museum to help further our educational and exhibit programs.”

In addition to the elegant brunch, the afternoon included a silent auction, wine tasting reception, and, of course, plenty of Veuve Clicquot. All guests received a copy of Wilson’s cookbook, Fun & Simple Gourmet.

Former Cuban Champion Swimmer Teresa Burke Brings Training To Clifton Park

Jeff Dingler
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Former Cuban Champion Swimmer Teresa Burke Brings Training To Clifton Park

Though she’s been an Upstate New York resident and trainer for almost two decades now, Teresa Burke still has fond memories of her years swimming and training in the warm Caribbean waters around her native Cuba. “We grew up in the ocean, right across from the Marina Hemingway in Havana, and I did a lot gymnastics and other sports when I was little,” says Burke, a Cuban national champion swimmer who won a bronze medal during the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis. “There are many athletes in my family, and I even went to school for synchronized swimming and had a trainer that really had an impact on me.”

All these years later, Burke still uses a lot of her early training, just in New York’s Capital Region at her own specialized fitness center, HealthPlex Fitness in Clifton Park. Burke co-owns the local training complex with her husband, Steve Burke (who founded the gym in 1989), and also serves as its fitness director, working with a nationally certified team of personal trainers and functional movement specialists. More than just a gym, HealthPlex offers an array of specialized fitness programs, from weight loss and rehabilitation to injury prevention and sports performance, all with an emphasis on healthy movement (not to mention some sweet on-site amenities such as massage therapists and a full-service protein shake bar). “The business is mostly personal training—taking clients through assessments of functional movements, evaluating their movement patterns, balances and imbalances, and correcting them,” says Burke.

When she first moved to the Capital Region in 2003, Burke says she was surprised that many professional trainers prioritized using the same repetitive exercise patterns and sets over training people based on their bodies’ needs and predispositions. “I said we have to fix this now,” recalls Burke, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology from the Manuel Fajardo University of Sciences of Physical Culture and Sport in Havana. “So we started educating the trainers and preparing them to work with each individual person and to correct their movement mechanics.”

Burke knows her stuff too—she comes from a long line of decorated athletes. “My family has always been competing in big tournaments,” she says. Burke’s grandparents were also deeply moored to the Caribbean Sea, which surrounds Cuba. Before the Cuban Revolution, they were sailing champions and were active in many marlin fishing competitions. Burke’s father also played as a second baseman for the Havana Sugar Kings—a short-lived but firecracker Cuban minor league baseball team that won the 1959 Junior World Series—until Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution swept over the entire island nation, also in 1959. Due to the deteriorating relationship between the United States and Cuba, Burke’s dad never realized his dream of one day making it to the major leagues. “My father was forced to stay within Cuba, and he trained to be a certified public accountant instead,” says Burke.

Burke, however, did get to live the dream of being a star athlete. From 1983-1992, she was a synchronized swimming national champion on the Cuban Swimming Federation (Cuba’s national swim team), competing in major contests across the globe (from South and Central America to Canada and even the then-Soviet Union), and winning a bronze medal in synchronized swimming at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis (in addition to gold and silver medals in the Central American Games). Burke calls that moment at the Pan American Games a “personal highlight.” However, even while finding success as a top national athlete, Burke began to question her future in her home country. “I never thought about leaving Cuba when I was younger, belonging as I did to a family of champions,” she says. “But, as life went on, I realized that when I retired from my sport in Cuba, there’d be no future for me in that field.”

So, starting in 1985, Burke began taking classes at Manuel Fajardo University, which specializes in exercise science and sports medicine, with the plan of one day moving to the United States. After earning her degree in 1990, it took another dozen years before she was able to relocate to Florida in 2002. Not long after that big leap across the gulf, Burke met her future husband, Steve, who was on vacation in Florida at the time. The pair hit it off with their shared love of fitness, and, just a year later, married. Teresa relocated to Clifton Park to help Steve run his business, HealthPlex Fitness. “I pulled all my knowledge together from my years as an athlete to offer this training,” she says. “I feel like it’s much better being here in the US because I can use all my knowledge and skills in fitness training to help people, and that’s my passion.”

The couple must be doing something right: HealthPlex Fitness is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and Burke says that the fitness center’s marketing team is currently developing an appreciation campaign for its members, which will kick off in December. What can HealthPlex members expect? “We’re planning lots of awards, prizes, t-shirts and other fun stuff,” says Burke. Sign me up!

SPAC Presents Reinvented Saratoga Wine & Food Festival

Natalie Moore
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SPAC Presents Reinvented Saratoga Wine & Food Festival

On October 4-5, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) hosted its annual Saratoga Wine & Food Festival, which this year got a complete redesign. “We really needed to redefine the event to truly reflect what SPAC is and what our mission is,” SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol told saratoga living earlier this year. “I’ve always had my eye on moving in this direction, where we’re really celebrating the culinary and cultural bounty of the region. We took away all the elements that didn’t match up with our vision, presence and community, and went forward to really celebrating the arts.”

Besides being held a month later than usual, the main difference between this year’s event and past events was the brand-new farm-to-table Harvest Dinner on Friday night. The dinner, which had a “forest magic” theme, featured renowned regional chefs working alongside chefs from New York City and the UK; a sculpture garden curated by The Hyde Collection; music provided by Caffè Lena; and a photography exhibit by saratoga living contributing photographer Terri-Lynn Pellegri exploring food waste in Saratoga. This year, SPAC also introduced the Cultivate Series, which, through partnerships with Pitney Meadows and Skidmore College, presented free public events exploring sustainable agriculture, health and environmental justice in the week leading up to the festival.

Be sure to click through the above photo gallery by Francesco D’Amico for photos of Friday evening’s Harvest Dinner and Saturday’s always-popular Grand Tasting event. Bon Appétit!

Dorinda Medley Day 2019: More Scenes From The Best Of Everything Brunch Party

Staff Report
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Dorinda Medley Day 2019: More Scenes From The Best Of Everything Brunch Party

Days after saratoga living‘s Best Of Everything event with special guest Dorinda Medley, we can’t stop thinking about all the fun we had! So, we’re reliving the day with this beautiful photo gallery by The Harris Company, featuring scenes from the red carpet, the exclusive VIP pre-party, the party tent and of Dorinda being honored with a proclamation declaring October 6 “Dorinda Medley Day in Saratoga Springs.” For more information about the event and for even more photos by saratoga living photographer Katie Dobies, click here.

saratoga living would like to thank our presenting sponsor, Falcon Club, and co-sponsors, Ianniello Anderson, Gnome Serum and Julie & Co. Realty.

‘Picasso, Braque & Léger’ Debuts At Glens Falls’ Hyde Collection

Jeff Dingler
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‘Picasso, Braque & Léger’ Debuts At Glens Falls’ Hyde Collection

Famed Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is in Glens Falls. OK, it’s actually some prints by Picasso, but they’re currently on display in Warren County, along with the works of a couple of Picasso’s contemporaries. Picasso, Braque & Léger: Twentieth Century Modern Masters is a new exhibition making its East Coast debut at Glens Falls’ Hyde Collection that highlights the founding fathers of Cubism and three of Europe’s most influential artists: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Fernand Léger. Open since October 6 and running until January 5, the show displays highly prized original prints made by the trio of early Modern artists, and delves into their relationships not only with each other, but also with the printed word.

“All three [artists] were interested in writing,” says Jonathan Canning, the Hyde’s director of curatorial affairs and programming. “They hung out with contemporary writers in Paris in the period between the two World Wars, and they also worked with a lot of publishers.” Although many art shows these days tend to zero in on a particular time period in an artist’s oeuvre, the Twentieth Century Modern Masters exhibit will show off a much wider time span, encompassing evolving styles and tastes across the three artists’ long careers. “I think what’s sort of amazing for people who see the exhibit is the breadth in the artists’ work,” says Canning. “This isn’t just a Cubism show—you get to see a whole range of the artists’ styles.”

Leger’s ‘Portrait of Arthur Rimbaud’ from his lithograph series ‘Les Illuminations.’

Some of the highlights from the show will include images from Picasso’s first-ever print series, Suite des Saltimbanques (1904-1905), as well as his last, Le Cocu Magnifique (1968). Also on display will be Braque’s beautiful “L’Ordre des Oiseaux” (The Order of Birds) with text by French poet Saint-John Perse as well as color lithographs from Leger’s series Les Illuminations, based on the prose poem collection of the same name by French author Arthur Rimbaud. Canning also points to a series of prints (illustrations, really) that Picasso was commissioned to do by Swiss publisher Albert Skira for an edition of Ovid’s famous epic poem Metamorphoses. About that series of simple albeit striking images, Canning says: “When he got into that commission, it really changed his style being inspired by the simple, plain outlines of Greek vase painters.”

The exhibit of international, early-20th century figures was a good fit at the Hyde, not only because it contrasted well with the museum’s upcoming annual Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region exhibit—a juried show of contemporary, Capital Region-based artists that opens Saturday, October 12—but also because the Hyde actually has works by Picasso, Braque and Leger in its regular collection. “Charlotte Hyde [the Hyde’s founder] collected Picasso, and even had a Braque at one point,” says Canning. “So we have this reputation, and we do everything we can to bring the best art to this region.”

Though some of Picasso’s works may call the Hyde their home, this Twentieth Century Modern Masters exhibit marks the first time in more than a decade that an outside show featuring works by Picasso has visited the prestigious local collection. It may also be the last chance to see this exact exhibit for a while. “All of the works belong to one anonymous collector from California,” says Canning about Twentieth Century Modern Masters. “After us, it returns to California and back to the home of the collector.”

True Crime Podcast ‘Upstate Unsolved’ Returns For Second Season (Exclusive)

Jeff Dingler
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True Crime Podcast ‘Upstate Unsolved’ Returns For Second Season (Exclusive)

A local podcast is trying to do more than just reach listeners—it’s trying to make a breakthrough in some long-forgotten cold cases. Upstate Unsolved, a true-crime podcast presented by iHeartMedia’s WGY in Albany, debuted last spring with a ten-episode season dedicated to the 1998 disappearance of SUNY Albany student and Ballston Spa native Suzanne Lyall. The podcast will return this Thursday, October 10 for its second season, which will focus on two mysterious murders—one in Albany and the other in Colonie—from more than half a century ago.

“One of the big differences this season is that we’re focusing on two different crime scenes that, though unrelated on the surface, have lots of physical evidence and police reports,” Phoebe LaFave tells saratoga living. LaFave is a WGY reporter who produces, writes and hosts Upstate Unsolved in collaboration with the Cold Case Analysis Center at The College of Saint Rose, LaFave’s alma mater. “We’ll also be concentrating on how the struggles of women have changed, and how homicide investigations, especially of women, have evolved over the last 50-60 years,” she says.

Season two will feature eight episodes revolving around the unsolved murders of Ruth Whitman in 1959 and Catherine ‘Kate’ Blackburn in 1964. Unlike the enigmatic disappearance of Lyall, which made national news and even inspired a number of bills in her name, including 1999’s “Suzanne’s Law” (or the Campus Safety Act), the Whitman and Blackburn cases aren’t nearly as well known. “The main focus of Upstate Unsolved is getting info out there for these cases,” says LaFave. “That was our goal with Suzie’s case, and with these two, in particular, the clock is really ticking to get this information out there.”

LaFave credits her longtime “fascination” with true crime to her father, a retired senior investigator with the New York State Police. When it came to deciding which cold cases to highlight for the second season, however, the local reporter didn’t have to do too much digging. “When the Cold Case Analysis Center was announced [last year], the family of Blackburn reached out to the center, and then the director of the center reached out to Albany PD,” says LaFave. All three soon got on board to bring Blackburn’s story to Upstate Unsolved. For Whitman’s case, LaFave was contacted directly by an investigator at the Colonie Police Department who was familiar with the unsolved murder. “He had heard the first season of the podcast, and he was really adamant that Ruth’s case be on this season,” says LaFave, who is currently working with both the Albany and Colonie Police Departments.

As for the future, LaFave already has plans for a third season to be released sometime next spring. “We’re trying to keep the ball in motion as much as we can, doing the legwork to make connections with different police agencies,” says LaFave. While she doesn’t want to reveal too much, she says that season three will likely focus on just one, more recent cold case. Also in the works is an update on the Lyall investigation from season one. “I’m still close with Suzie’s mother, and we’re still receiving tips that we’re passing along to the right channels,” says LaFave. “Hopefully, someone out there will listen, know something and help give answers to these families.”

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