To honor the winners of the 2019 Bestie Awards, Capital Region Living Magazine‘s annual people’s choice awards that celebrate the best of the Capital Region, the magazine hosted its 4th annual BestieFest on May 20 at The Century House in Latham. Bestie winners, in categories spanning food & drink, people and places, were invited to attend, and those who did received a plaque commemorating their win. BestieFest attendees were treated to food stations provided by Century House, Arias Wine provided by DeCrescente Distributing, a photo booth and swag bags.
Daily Racing Form: Chad Brown Agrees To Pay $1.6 Million For Violating Labor Laws
Chad Brown, the three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, has agreed to pay $1.6 million in back pay and fines after a federal investigation determined that he had failed to pay overtime wages to hotwalkers and grooms in his barn and found other “willful violations” of federal labor law, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The release states that Brown signed a consent judgment May 13 agreeing to the back pay and fines. Under the judgment and a separate agreement under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Brown has agreed to pay $1.2 million in back wages, with another $287,000 in liquidated damages and $120,000 in civil penalties, according to the release. The complaint covered the period from Dec. 13, 2014, to Aug. 31, 2017.
The investigation focused on workers employed by Brown under the H-2B visa program, which allows guest workers from foreign countries. The program carries restrictions that require employers to advertise for domestic workers prior to being granted visas for employees, along with wage regulations.
Backstretch workers like grooms and hotwalkers have notoriously erratic schedules and often work long hours at racetracks. Many trainers rely on the H-2B visa program to fill positions that they claim U.S. workers do not typically want.
According to the complaint, grooms and hotwalkers “regularly worked upwards of 51 hours per week, with some working as many as 60 or more hours a week.” Nevertheless, the employees “were regularly denied premium pay owed” to them under the federal regulations, the complaint states.
The complaint from the Department of Labor also claims that Brown and his limited-liability company had a long list of “willful violations” of the policies for H-2B laborers, including collecting payment from the employees to cover their visa costs and failing to pay employees “the wages they were offered.” Immigration attorneys have said visa costs usually run around $10,000 per employee under the H-2B program.
Under the agreement, Brown will “institute and maintain a comprehensive H-2B compliance program,” which will entail the appointment of a compliance officer to monitor Brown’s operation, and “conduct orientation sessions to inform employees of the timekeeping system and their H-2B rights.”
The consent order comes amid a national discussion over U.S. immigration and visa policies. The White House has pushed over the past two years for restrictions on U.S. immigration, but earlier this year, the Department of Labor agreed to issue 30,000 additional visas under the H-2B program to address concerns by U.S. employers.
Late last year, trainer Linda Rice, who, like Brown, is based in New York, said she agreed to pay $110,000 in back wages and fines from a similar a complaint.
– additional reporting by David Grening
This story originally appeared on DRF.com.
Daily Racing Form VIDEO: 2019 Preakness Stakes Recap
Daily Racing Form‘s Matt Bernier recaps the 2019 Preakness Stakes on The Matt Bernier Show.
This video originally appeared on DRF.com.
Daily Racing Form: Master Fencer Breezes For Belmont
LEXINGTON, Ky. – While Preakness Stakes winner War of Will had another relaxed morning on Wednesday at Keeneland, one of his expected foes in the Belmont Stakes hit the track to breeze.
Japanese import Master Fencer, pointing to the Belmont after finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby, was credited with a half-mile work in 52 seconds by the Keeneland clockers. The colt, as per his usual routine, turned in a fair bit of easy exercise before commencing the work, first jogging lightly on Keeneland’s synthetic training track before proceeding to the main oval. Once on the dirt track, he jogged and cantered a full lap going the right way, at times picking up a gallop for a few strides, before heading to the pole for what was designed as a six-furlong work. He galloped through the first quarter-mile of that at slower than a two-minute lick, resulting in the official clockers crediting him with only a half.
“At the training track, because he’s a pretty slow starter, we meant him to warm up and get ready to go to the main track,” exercise rider Yosuke Kono said via a translator. “Even at the main track, we actually wanted to see how he can move his body to take action. So the first [lap] he actually did a stop and go because we wanted to see how he can respond to the break. So he did that twice and he responded well. For the breezing, he did the Japanese way where we start slowly and then maybe the last two furlongs have a strong finish.”
Master Fencer rallied from 19th at the quarter pole to cross the line a creditable seventh in the Kentucky Derby – moved up to sixth via the disqualification of Maximum Security. After traveling from Japan, the colt trained at Keeneland for a few days prior to shipping to Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week . He returned to Keeneland following the race. He is scheduled to ship to New York on Friday.
Meanwhile, Preakness winner War of Will spent a leisurely morning grazing and walking the Mark Casse shed row, where his Preakness garland of flowers was displayed on the half-wall in front of his stall. The colt is expected to return to the track on Thursday.
“He’s fit as a fiddle,” assistant trainer David Carroll said. “We’ll train him nice and quietly. He’ll have an easy week, and we’ll take it from there. I’m going to be Mark’s eyes and ears. The horse will tell us what he needs to do.”
War of Will is expected to ship to New York about 10 days before the Belmont Stakes in order to have a breeze over the track prior to the June 8 Triple Crown finale.
“Have an easy work over the surface – just acclimate to the surroundings,” Carroll said.
EOC Crushes Hunger At May Day Event
The Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) hosted its 30th Anniversary May Day for Hunger event this past Thursday, May 16. The 1920s-themed bash took place at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, and event attendees enjoyed live music by the Piggly Wigglies and a live auction. Saratoga community members Yvonne Sinnamon and Steve Sullivan were honored for their decades of dedication and service to the EOC Soup Kitchen. This year’s event raised more than $82,000, which will be used to support the EOC’s many food programs.
The EOC of Saratoga aids the community through programs including the Food Pantry, the Soup Kitchen, the Mobile Food Pantry, the Rural Food Delivery, Summer Lunches and Thanksgiving Baskets. In 2018 alone, the EOC’s programs provided a total of 118,918 meals to community members in need.
National Baseball Hall Of Fame In Cooperstown Opening New Exhibit On Baseball Cards
Back in 1987, on the way back from one of my brother’s many violin lessons in Albany, my parents agreed to stop at a local VFW or Elks Club and take us to our first baseball card show. The reason I can place the year? The first pack I ever opened was from the 1987 Donruss set. It was waxy to the touch and had this ugly brown finish on it. The cards inside it, however, were wonderfully designed, with striking black borders and yellow-gold backs, and the set was littered with rookie cards of superstars from the day: the two-sport wonder, Bo Jackson, in a powder-blue Kansas City Royals jersey; future four-time Cy Young-winning hurler Greg Maddux, seen winding up for the Chicago Cubs; a skinny, five-tool Pittsburgh Pirates prospect, Barry Bonds; and the guy I was after, Mike Greenwell, a phenom outfielder for the Boston Red Sox. Later that year, my family moved to a small town in China (long story), and I was forced to leave my cards behind, 7000 miles away. I could only dream of them.
When I returned to the states, I had an insatiable urge to start collecting again. And that’s how I became a baseball card collector for life. (There’s a good chance that you’ll be able to find me at one of these shops in the Capital Region on any given weekend.) I’m always adding to my collection, and it’s awful convenient that Saratoga Springs’ OG collectors’ haven, The Vault, is right around the corner from my office.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, is banking on its museum-goers having similar experiences and nostalgia-fueled memories as me. Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend rush, the Hall of Fame will be unveiling a new exhibit, entitled Shoebox Treasures, on Saturday, May 25, which goes in-depth on the production and history of baseball cards. “This will be a deep-dive into the history of the industry and how it’s shaped the way we’ve related to the game and become fans,” says Jon Shestakofsky, vice president of communications and education at the Hall. The exhibit will begin all the way back in the mid-to-late 19th century, when cards were first distributed as advertisements for stores, tobacco and candy companies; then, get into the evolution of card designs and production; and delve into the big “boom” in the 1980s (the one that sucked me in) and how that turned the hobby into a multi-million-dollar, multifaceted enterprise (1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, anybody?).
The Hall itself has an extensive baseball card collection (200,000 strong) that will be partly on display in the exhibit. Patrons will be able to view about 2000 of its cards in pull-out drawers. For museum-goers of a certain age, there’ll also be an interactive bicycle wheel with a card in its spokes (boys in the ’50s and ’60s used to jam cards into their wheels, the ride around, making their bikes sound like motorcycles). And patrons will also be able to take part in a digital interactive component, where they’ll be able to create their own baseball cards based on historic designs from the Topps Company.
The exhibit will also feature a special “10 Holy Grail Cards” section, which will include cards such as the aforementioned ’52 Topps Mantle and the über-scarce 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner (the museum has one of the nicest copies in its collection). The exhibit was made possible by $800,000 worth of donations, including one from Arizona Diamondbacks Owner Earl G. “Ken” Kendrick, Jr., a collector who I’ve written about extensively in the past, who owns one of the most expensive baseball card collections in the world (he also loaned the Hall some rarities for the exhibit; he himself owns a copy of the Wagner, which he paid more than $3 million for). Given that these ten cards hold an incredible value on the secondary market, the Hall has put in place some never-before-used technology to make sure they stay safe. Says Shestakofsky: “To help protect them from light damage, we’re using a new technology called VariGuard SmartGlass, which is glass that darkens until someone walks up to it and presses a button.”
Besides the opening of the new baseball card exhibit, the Hall will also be hosting its annual Hall of Fame Classic ballgame on Saturday, too, featuring six Hall of Famers—Bert Blyleven, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Trevor Hoffman, Tim Raines and Alan Trammell—and a number of other recently retired players at the Hall’s Doubleday Field.
The Ultimate Saratoga Summer Entertainment Guide
May 27
Memorial Day BBQ
The Adelphi Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY
2-6pm
May 28
Film: Water Lilies of Monet
GE Theatre at Proctors, Schenectady, NY
2pm and 7pm
May 29
Hale Mountain Pickers
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward NY
7pm
(Through June 2)
Lake George Elvis Festival
Shepard Park, Lake George, NY
May 30
Dry Branch Fire Squad
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
9th Annual Music and Mingling
National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs, NY
7-10:30pm
May 31
The Benson’s Pet Centers Gala for Animals
National Museum of Dance, Saratoga Springs, NY
6-11pm
Lyman A. Beeman Jr. 30th Annual Golf Tournament
Hiland Park Country Club, Queensbury, NY
11am-6pm
(Through June 9)
Warrensburg Bike Rally 2019
Warren County Fairgrounds, Warrensburg, NY
9am-7:30pm
Annie & The Hedonists Album Release Show
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
(Through June 2)
36th Annual ESTRA Tow Show
Charles R. Wood Park, Lake George, NY
10am-2pm
June 1
American Music Festival Concert
Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center, Troy, NY
7:30pm
Albany Empire vs. Washington Valor
Times Union Center, Albany, NY
3:30pm
The Trophy Husbands
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
Spring Into Summer Malta Marketplace
The Malta Community Center, Malta, NY
9am-3pm
41st Annual Freihofer’s Run for Women 2019
State Capitol, Albany, NY
9am
www.freihofersrun.com
Charlton Heritage 5K
Red School House, Charlton NY
10am
8th Annual Tuff eNUFF Obstacle Course Challenge
BOCES Campus, Saratoga Springs, NY
8:30am
June 2
40th Annual Saratoga Antique Bottle Show and Sale
Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa, NY
9am-2:30pm
June 2
Cantina Kids Fun Run
Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am
Schenectady Pride Festival 2019
Jay Street Marketplace, Schenectady, NY
2-6pm
June 2
Glens Falls Symphony’s 13th Annual Springtime Gala
The Lake George Club, Diamond Point, NY
4:30-9pm
India.Arie with special guest, Javier Colon
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY
7:30pm
Gershwin at the Mansion Inn in Concert
The Mansion Inn, Rock City Falls, NY
2pm and 7pm
Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
The Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists 2019
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY
2pm
June 3
(Through June 8)
Americade Motorcycle Touring Rally
Fort William Henry—Big Top Tent, Lake George, NY
June 6
Kaia Kater
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
Simply Diamond – A Neil Diamond Tribute
Vapor Nightclub, Saratoga Springs, NY
4pm and 7pm
25th Annual An Aficionado Experience (Gala)
Shaker Heritage Village, Albany, NY
6-10pm
June 7
Red, White & Brew Festival
Proctors, Schenectady, NY
5pm
(Through June 9)
17th Annual PolishFest
Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Church, Latham, NY
(Through June 9)
Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival
Cambridge Central School, Village of Cambridge, NY
21st Annual Franklin Open Benefit Golf Tournament
Brookhaven Golf Course, Porter Corners, NY
8am
Cam’ron w/ DJ King Bully, DJ Dread & DJ Supreme
Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
Jaeger & Flynn 16th Annual Grip It ‘N Rip It Golf Tournament
Hiland Park Country Club, Queensbury, NY
9:30am-6pm
June 8
Saratoga Elks Annual Flag Day Parade
Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
Noon-2pm
Corvette Lawn Show
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am-2pm
Art on Lark
Lark Street, Albany, NY
11am-6pm
Glens Falls Hospital Aloha Family 5K and 1 Mile Fun Walk
Haviland’s Cove Park, Glens Falls, NY
9am-Noon
LifeSong Dash Annual 5K Run
Halfmoon Town Park, Clifton Park, NY
8:30-11am
AFL Albany Empire vs. Baltimore Brigade
Times Union Center, Albany, NY
7:30pm
Annual Capital Pride Rainbow 5K
Jennings Landing, Albany, NY
8am-Noon
Upstate Kids Expo
Glens Falls City Park, Glens Falls, NY
Noon-4pm
June 9
The 2019 Opera Gala: Opera on the Lake
The Inn at Erlowest, Lake George, NY
4:30pm
Betar Byway 5K and Moreau Mile
1st Street, South Glens Falls, NY
7:30am-Noon
Capital Pride 2019
Washington Park, Albany, NY
Noon-5pm
Susan Trump
Caffè Lena
7pm
2019 Tour de Cure: Capital Region
Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa, NY
6:15am
10th Annual Hudson Crossing Triathlon
Hudson Crossing Park, Schuylerville, NY
8am
15th Annual Young Performers Showcase
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
2pm
Beekman Street Art Fair
Beekman Street Arts District, Saratoga Springs, NY
10am-5pm
June 11
Scrantonicity “A Workplace Costume & Dance Party”
Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
(Through June 16)
Waitress
Mainstage at Proctors, Schenectady, NY
Various times
June 13
Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series – Bare Knuckles and Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey
Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saratoga Springs, NY
Noon
Heather Maloney
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
Jodi Weiner’s Ladies Let Loose!
The Park Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
June 14
Albert Cummings
The Egg, Albany, NY
8pm
(Through June 15)
27th Annual Whipple City Festival: Garden Party
1 Main St, Village of Greenwich, NY
Opening Reception: Art in the Foyer: On Being Still – Portraits by Joanne Savio
National Museum of Dance, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
(Through June 22)
Calling All Kates
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7pm
June 15
Red Molly
The Egg, Albany, NY
8pm
Jocelyn & Chris Arndt: The Stories Behind the Songs
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
Upper Union Street’s Annual Strawberry Festival
Upper Union Street, Schenectady, NY
10am-3pm
Opera Saratoga Season Preview
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
Dragon The Dads 5K
Warming Hut Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am-Noon
(Through June 16)
48th Annual LARAC June Arts Festival
Glens Falls City Park, Glens Falls, NY
10am
(Through June 16)
59th Annual Zonta Country Faire
Traveler’s Building Parking Lot, Glens Falls, NY
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 10am-4pm
Frances Day 2019: A Summer Celebration at the Tang
Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
1pm
June 16
Citroens in the Park
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, Ny
10-11am
Saratoga County’s Sundae on the Farm
Clear Echo Farm, Schuylerville, NY
Noon-4pm
Dad Fest
Washington Park, Albany, NY
1-6pm
Saratoga Chamber Players Celebrate Summer and Fathers
Hyde Collection Art Museum, Glens Falls, NY
3pm
(Through June 17)
Tri-City ValleyCats vs Staten Island Yankees: Opening Night and Father’s Day
Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, Troy, NY
Sunday 6pm
Monday 7pm
June 17
Wiawaka’s Ladies of the Lake Luncheon
The Lake George Club, Diamond Point, NY
11:30am-2pm
ARCC Spring Golf Tournament
Glens Falls Country Club, Queensbury, NY
8:30am-6pm
www.adirondackchamber.org
June 18
Organ Concert Series – Malcolm Kogut
MainsStage at Proctors, Schenectady, NY
Noon
Dead & Company
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
Steal Your Peach Band (Dead & Co. After-Party)
Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, NY
11pm
Rochmon Record Club: The Monkees “A Selected Retrospective”
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30pm
June 20
Jake Shimabukuro
The Egg, Albany, NY
7:30pm
Pride Night with Erin McKeown
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
Yaddo Summer Benefit
Yaddo Gardens, Saratoga Springs, NY
6pm
Albany’s Hidden City House & Garden Tour
Various locations, Albany, NY
5-8pm
www.centersquarealbany.com
June 21
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
The Egg, Albany, NY
8pm
(Through June 23)
Saratoga Balloon & BBQ Festival
Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa, NY
Shun Ng & Magic Dick
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
June 22
Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan
The Egg, Albany, NY
8pm
Double H Ranch – Happy Camper Gala 2019
Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom—Six Flags, Queensbury, NY
5-11:30pm
AFL Albany Empire vs. Atlantic City BlackJacks
Times Union Center, Albany, NY
3:30pm
Everclear
Rivers Casino and Resort, Schenectady, NY
8pm
Adirondack 15K Race to the Lakes
SUNY Adirondack, Queensbury, NY
8am
Mary Fahl: Formerly of October Project
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
June 23
Travis Tritt and The Charlie Daniels Band
Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls, NY
7pm
Porsche Club of America Car Show
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am-2pm
Performing Arts at the Common: Clifton Park Community Chorus
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
June 24
The Hyde Luncheon
The Lake George Club, Diamond Point, NY
11:30am
Inaugural Dr. Arthur J. Wallingford Memorial Golf Tournament
Colonie Golf & Country Club, Voorheesville, NY
7:30am-3pm
Camp Saratoga 5K Trail Run
Camp Saratoga, Wilton, NY
5:30pm
June 25
(Through June 28)
Adirondack Theatre Festival: Alice in Wonderland
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
Noon
June 26
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: Tommy Burke & The Hand Picked Band
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7-9pm
Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience
The Palace Theater, Albany, NY
7:30pm
June 27
Dish It Out: A Celebrity Chef Gourmet Challenge
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30pm
June 28
The American Cancer Society’s Red, White & Blue Party
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
7-11pm
An Evening with Fred Hersch
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
6pm and 8:30pm
(Through June 29)
Jonathan Burns Flexible Comedy
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
(Through July 27)
In the Heights
Park Playhouse, Washington Park, Albany, NY
Tuesday-Saturday 8pm
June 29
John Sebastian
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
(Through June 30)
Adirondack Wine and Food Festival
Festival Commons at Charles R. Wood Park, Lake George, NY
11am
(Through June 30)
Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
(Through July 13)
The Daughter of the Regiment
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY
June 30
Performing Arts at the Common: Neil Diamond Tribute Show
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
July 1
The Daughter of the Regiment: La Fille du Regiment
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY
2pm
July 2
(And July 3)
Phish
SPAC, Saratoga Springs. NY
7:30pm
July 3
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: Roxy and The Road Kings
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
(Through July 6)
Coca-Cola July 4th Fest
Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom—Six Flags, Queensbury, NY
10:30am-9:30pm
July 4
Firecracker 4 Road Race
Saratoga Springs City Center, NY
9am
Saratoga’s All-American Celebration
Downtown, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am
Bolton Landing’s Fourth of July Celebration
Rogers Memorial Park, Bolton Landing, NY
7-10pm
(Through August 31)
Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thursday Night Fireworks
Lake George Village, Lake George, NY
9:30pm
July 5
Jackson Browne
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7:30pm
7th Annual Lake George Land Conservancy Hike-A-Thon
Various locations throughout the Lake George Region
(And July 7)
Saratoga Polo Association Celebrate Saratoga Tournament
Whitney Field, Greenfield Center, NY
5:30pm
(Through September 1)
2019 Saratoga Polo Tournament Season
2 Bloomfield Rd, Greenfield Center, NY
Every Friday and Saturday 5:30pm
July 5
(Through July 13)
The Enlightenment of Percival von Schmootz
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
July 6
Reflections of the Caribbean: Pianist Milton Ruben Laufer and Soprano Marina de Ratmiroff
The Sembrich, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
Ellen West
(Through July 12)
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY
2pm
July 7
Performing Arts at the Common: Hair of the Dog
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Secret Gardens Tour
Various locations, Saratoga Springs, NY
11am-5pm
Paul Luther Memorial 5K
Park Place, Mechanicville, NY
10:30am
The Daughter of the Regiment: La Fille du Regiment
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY
2pm
(And July 8)
Adirondack Theater Festival’s Greatest Hits
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
July 8
(Through August 19)
Camp Saratoga 5K Trail Run
Camp Saratoga, Wilton, NY
July 10
26th Annual Newton Plaza Siro’s Cup
Siro’s Restaurant, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30-11pm
The Fretless Ensemble
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
1:30pm
July 11
Luke Bryan: Sunset Repeat Tour
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
Mozart and Salieri
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, Ny
7:30pm
Saratoga Race Course Opening Day
Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
11am
(Through July 13)
10th Adirondack Greek Festival
St. George Church, South Glens Falls, NY
4pm
(Through August 31)
Lake George Dinner Theatre: The Hound of Baskervilles
Holiday Inn Resort, Lake George, NY
6:30pm
July 12
Formula 5’s Rock the Dock Music Festival
Lake George Steamboat Company, Lake George, NY
4:30-11pm
July Day Long Mixer at the 1863 Club
Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
11:30am
Smash Mouth
Downtown State St., Albany, NY
5pm
(Through July 14)
Artisan Trails in Washington County on the Trail Map
Various locations throughout Washington County, NY
9am-6pm
(And July 13)
Dave Matthews Band
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
July 13
Saratoga Bridges, The White Party Gala
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
6-11pm
9th Annual BMW Vintage at Saratoga
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am-3pm
Craft and Antique Fair
Brookside Saratoga Co. Historical Society, Ballston Spa, NY
10am-4pm
Friends of Wilton Rec ParkFest Run/Walk
10 Lewis Dr., Saratoga Springs NY
8-11am
Parkfest 2019 at Gavin Park
Gavin Park, Wilton, NY
8am-9:30pm
22nd Annual Silks & Satins 5K
Fasig Tipton, 415 East Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY
8am
The Daughter of the Regiment: La Fille du Regiment
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY
7:30pm
July 14
Tedeschi Trucks Band
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
Performing Arts at the Common: Ten Most Wanted
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Little Steven and the Disciples of the Soul
Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
July 16
(Through July 20)
New York City Ballet
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
July 17
Performing Arts Family Series: Mr. Mike and the Big Red Box of Magic
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: On 3
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
July 18
(Through July 21)
Reveal Art Fair VIP
Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
July 19
John Mayer
Times Union Center, Albany, NY
7:30pm
(Through July 20)
Saratoga Shakespeare Company: The Tempest
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
(Through July 20)
Start Again
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
(Through July 28)
Performing Arts at the Common: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
8pm
July 20
The Lyric Consort: Music from the America’s
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
New York City Ballet Gala
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
Albany Empire vs. Philadelphia Soul
Times Union Center, Albany, NY
7pm
Taj Mahal Quartet – Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home 50th Anniversary Concert
The Egg, Albany, NY
8pm
July 21
Heart with special guest Sheryl Crow and Lucie Silvas
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
An Afternoon of Irish Music
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
2pm
Godsmack
Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls, NY
8pm
July 22
I Prevail—The Trauma Tour
Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY
7:25pm
July 23
SPAC On Stage Series: Tony Succar & Mixtura
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
40th Annual Palamountain Scholarship Benefit, Polo by Twilight
Saratoga Polo Fields, Saratoga Springs, NY
(Through August 3)
The Saratoga Shakespeare Company: King Lear
Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY
6pm
(Through July 27)
Sequence
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
(Through July 28)
178th Saratoga County Fair
Saratoga County Fairgrounds, Ballston Spa, NY
9am-12am
July 24
Rob Thomas
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7:30pm
Family Connections: Soprano Charlotte de Rothschild and Pianist Adrian Farmer
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
1:30pm
Performing Arts Family Series: Mr. Twisty Super Silly Magic Show
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: Vintage Country
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
The Bluebillies Present a Tribute to Johnny Cash with Special Guest Marty Wendell
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
July 25
Brad Paisley
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7:30pm
An Unbridled Affair: 11th Annual Gala
Saratoga Springs City Center, NY
6:30-10:30pm
July 26
Train/Goo Goo Dolls with Allen Stone
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
A Midsummer SLAY! With Queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race
Palace Theatre, Albany, NY
8pm
July 27
John Sebastian
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
Adirondack Triumph Association Lawn Show
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
9:30am-2:30pm
ADK Presents 14th Annual: ididaride! Adirondack Bike Tour 2019
North Creek Ski Bowl, North Creek, NY
8:30am
Lake Luzerne History Day
Pagenstecher Pulp Museum, Lake Luzerne, NY
10am-3pm
Just Us Gals
Little Theater on the Farm, Fore Edward, NY
7pm
Latin American Classics: Guitarist Humberto Flores with Pianist Olga Gurevich & the Silver Bay Quartet
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
Joe Bonamassa
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
July 28
Swishes for Wishes Night: The ValleyCats vs. the Connecticut Tigers
Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, Troy, NY
5pm
July 29
YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
July 30
Breaking Benjamin
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
5:30pm
(Through August 3)
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast Jr.
Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY
2pm and 7pm
(Through August 3)
The Saratoga Shakespeare Company: King Lear
Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY
6pm
July 31
Saratoga Hospital 37th Annual Gala
The Polo Meadow at Saratoga Casino Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY
6-9pm
Johanna Casteñada Ensemble
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
1:30pm
Performing Arts Family Series: Let’s Get Cookin’
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: Erin Powers
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
Cedar Ridge
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
(Through August 2)
The Philadelphia Orchestra: Festive Fireworks
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
August 1
Spiritual Rez + Roots of Creation
Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, NY
9pm
August 2
Land & Water Conservation Celebration
The Inn at Erlowest, Lake George, NY
5:30pm
(Through August 4)
Guardians of the Treasure
St Clement’s School, Saratoga Springs, NY
August 3
Marty Wendell and his Tour Band
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
(Through August 9)
Beau
Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY
7:30pm
August 4
Hootie and the Blowfish
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7:30pm
Performing Arts at the Common: Moriah Formica
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall
The Egg, Albany, NY
7:30pm
“After the Race” 10th Anniversary Cocktail Party
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30pm
(Through August 20)
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
SPAC Little Theater, Saratoga Springs, NY
3pm and 8pm
August 5
Fashionable Fillies Luncheon
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
11:30am-2:30pm
August 6
Croquet on the Green
Gavin Park, Saratoga Springs, NY
3pm
Why Don’t We
Palace Theater, Albany, NY
7pm
(Through August 24)
Disney’s Newsies
Park Playhouse in Washington Park, Albany, NY
7:30pm
August 7
11th Annual Country and Bluegrass Jamboree
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
Noon-10pm
Performing Arts Family Series: The Puppet People – Wizard of Oz
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: Foggy Mountain With Jim Davis
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
(Through August 9)
The Philadelphia Orchestra: Yannick Returns
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
August 8
Sizzling Hot Pink Saratoga Hat Luncheon
Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
10am-1pm
Tom Segura
Palace Theatre, Albany, NY
7pm
Bel Canto Institute Singers
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime
Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, NY
9 pm
August 10
Philadelphia Orchestra: Disney Pixar’s Up in Concert
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
Tuners in the Park
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
9am-3pm
August 11
Korn/Alice in Chains
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30pm
Performing Arts at the Common: Grit-N-Whiskey
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Just Us Guys
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
2pm
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor: Violinist Philip Kates and Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
(Through August 23)
Lake George Music Festival
Various locations, Lake George, NY
Noon-10pm
August 12
7th Annual Blue Spangled Gala
Hall of Springs, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30-9:30pm
Beck/Cage the Elephant
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
6pm
August 13
ReRun’s Evening Under the Stars
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30-10pm
(Through August 25)
Hamilton
Proctors, Schenectady, NY
August 14
Hawktail
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
NY Chaplaincy Brunch
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
10:30am-12:30pm
I am Carreno: The Extraordinary Life of Teresa Carreño
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
1:30pm
Performing Arts Family Series: The Mother Goose Jazz Band
Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park, NY
7pm
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: Whisky River
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
(Through August 17)
The Philadelphia Orchestra: Chaplin City Lights
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
August 15
(Through August 17)
Huge Summer Barn Sale
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
August 16
(Through August 17)
Meet the Music! Leave it to Ludwig
SPAC Little Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY
1pm
August 17
17th Annual Jail House Rock 5K
Brookside Museum, Ballston Spa, NY
8:15am
August 18
Janis Ian, Livingston Taylor
The Egg, Albany, NY
7:30pm
The Australian Pink Floyd Show
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
Full Lake Bicycle Cruise
Lake George Steamboat Company, Lake George, NY
10am-4pm
August 19
7th Annual Saratoga Casino Hotel Monday Night Mile
242 Jefferson St, Saratoga Springs, NY
6pm
(Through August 25)
Washington County Fair
Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY
August 20
(Through August 25)
Aurora Games
Times Union Center, Albany, NY
August 21
Knotfest Roadshow 2019
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
5:30pm
Bluegrass Jam
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
August 23
Santana With Special Guests The Doobie Brothers
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
21st Annual Travers Wine Tasting
Lodge at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY
6-10pm
August 24
Saratoga Travers Stakes
Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
11:30am
Jaguar Club Lawn Show
Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
10am-2:30pm
Old Friends Band
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
The Hyperion Quartet 20th Anniversary Concert
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
7:30pm
KISS
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
August 25
CDJW Help A Dog BBQ & Pet Fest
Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, NY
11am-3pm
What Would Trevor Do Run N’ Roll for Hope 5K
The Warming Hut, Saratoga Springs, NY
10am
August 26
SPAC On Stage Series: Red Baraat
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
8pm
August 27
One Fine Day
Prime at Saratoga National, Saratoga Springs, NY
Noon-3pm
August 28
Michael and Jennifer McLain & the Banjocats
The Sembrich Studio, Bolton Landing, NY
1:30pm
Warrensburg Summer Concert Series: South Street Saints
Warrensburg Bandstand, Warrensburg, NY
7pm
The Bluebillies Present a Tribute to The Carter Family with Special Guest Deena Chappell
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
August 29
7th Annual St. Jude Gala
Saratoga National Golf Club, Saratoga Springs, NY
6-11pm
August 30
Zac Brown Band
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7pm
An Evening with Marcia Ball
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
8:30pm
August 31
14th Annual Lake George Triathlon Festival
Battlefield Park, Lake George, NY
7am
Run for the Horses 5K
Orenda Pavilion, Saratoga Springs, NY
8am
38th Annual Iroquois Indian Festival
Iroquois Indian Museum, Howes Cave, NY
10am-5pm
Sembrich Gala: An American Songbook with Deborah Voigt
The Sembrich, Bolton Landing, NY
6:30pm
Matthew Boyce Elvis Tribute
Little Theater on the Farm, Fort Edward, NY
7pm
On the High Wire with Philippe Petit
Orpheum Film & Performing Arts Center, Tannersville, NY
7:30pm
Lynyrd Skynyrd
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
6:30pm
September 1
Peter Frampton
SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY
7:30pm
September 2
Saratoga Race Course Closing Day
Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
11am
Labor Day at Mountain Ridge Adventure
Mountain Ridge Adventure, Schenectady, NY
9am-6pm
Caffè Lena Preparing For A Star-Studded Summer Season With Judy Collins, Béla Fleck And More
Anyone who’s passed through Saratoga Springs surely knows about Caffè Lena. Founded in 1960, the intimate performance space and cafe is hallowed ground for many musicians. It’s one of the first venues where a young Bob Dylan played back in 1961 (before Dylan even had an album). Since then, Saratoga’s most famous small venue has helped launch the careers of other well-known acts including Boston-based folk quartet Darlingside and Sawyer Fredericks, who won Season 8 of The Voice. And Lena isn’t slowing down anytime soon. saratoga living got to chat with its Executive Director Sarah Craig about what to expect this summer.
What shows are you really excited about this summer?
I’m profoundly honored to have a few people coming who haven’t played in such an intimate room in many, many years, including Judy Collins, Doc Severinsen, Fred Hersch, Béla Fleck and others. With the history in the walls of this amazing little performance space, those will be memorable experiences for both the audience and the artists.
Who are some of the dream musicians you’d love to bring to the venue?
I’ll admit that I feel in my bones that Bob Dylan is supposed to come back here someday. Aside from Bob, I’ve had my eye on David Grisman, Steve Earle, Rhiannon Giddens and Gillian Welch. But I also have my eye on newcomers that nobody’s heard of, who I can’t wait to introduce to our amazing audience.
How long has Lena been partnering with SPAC, and how has that affected your ability to bring in new artists?
Our partnership with SPAC started a couple of years ago. I reached out to SPAC’s President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol to welcome her to town, and we ended up drinking coffee and spinning all sorts of dreams. We connect on many levels. We’ve presented SPAC’s world-class jazz and classical artists in the unparalleled intimacy of the Caffè, and we’ve presented Caffè Lena’s exciting roots and indie artists on the lawn at SPAC. We each have unique strengths.
What’s been your biggest success story at the Caffè?
My proudest moments are seeing unknown artists I supported become in-demand festival headliners and concert hall acts. But the most famous person I’ve ever booked is Judy Collins, and I’m grateful to our audience for buying all the tickets in less than two days. I can’t wait to experience an amazing evening with that beautiful lady.
‘saratoga living’ Editor In Chief Richard Pérez-Feria On Summer In Saratoga Springs
A couple of weeks into the fifth grade, my best friends (we all played tennis together every day) somehow got their hands on tickets for something called the Miami River Music Festival, an all-day, outdoor rock concert that would be coheadlined by The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and REO Speedwagon, and invited me to join them. I remember that sweltering, sticky September Sunday so vividly not only because it was such a “cool” thing to do without my parents anywhere in sight, but it also happened to be my very first concert. And, boy, was I hooked.
After that show—I can still hear the indescribable, earth-shattering voice of Kevin Cronin, REO Speedwagon’s lead singer, in my ears—summer meant only two things to me: around-the-clock tennis with my buddies and listening to Y100 radio for news about giveaways to area concerts. Back then I was into all kinds of music, but powerhouse divas ruled my world, particularly Donna Summer, who I still maintain is America’s greatest vocalist (the fact that we were both born at Mass General Hospital in Boston bonded us, I believe, for life). When Summer teamed up with Barbra Streisand on “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” a song that would go on to top the Billboard charts for weeks, I was glued to my sister’s hi-fi stereo so I could hear those two incredible belters sing about kicking that no-good man out of their lives forever.
But, curiously, I also loved Journey (Steve Perry’s “Open Arms” remains among the most beautiful ballads ever), Boston (“More Than A Feeling” is a joyride of a song), Styx (“Babe” and “Mr. Roboto” are everything) and Billy Joel (though my brother’s favorite, I do appreciate “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” and “Say Goodbye To Hollywood”). So a pattern emerged where I was loving divas and rockers, making me quite obviously the only person I knew with such divergent musical tastes. I embraced the contradiction as a sign of maturity and genuine music mastery.
Upon landing in Saratoga Springs after a decades-long circuitous career route that took me to some of this country’s best cities, one of the first places I checked out was the city’s fabled venue, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Not unlike a baseball fan who hears about and dreams of attending a game at Fenway Park (yet another Boston reference), I’d heard about SPAC for years as the summer home of the New York City Ballet (I was a longtime subscriber to NYCB’s fall season at Lincoln Center in Manhattan) and the venue of choice for the likes of The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band and other established rock titans.
What a thrill to sit in that amphitheater to witness ballet’s finest, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s majesty or Kendrick Lamar or Keith Urban or Janet Jackson light up the stage. In a word, SPAC is perfect—the atmosphere, the acoustics, the proximity to Downtown Saratoga, all of it.
So, as we head toward another intoxicating, scorching, endless Saratoga summer, you better believe I’ve checked out this year’s lineup of concerts I’ll be rocking out to, and Cardi B is first up. Funny thing is, all these years later, I’d still love to see REO Speedwagon, Journey or Billy Joel kill it on stage. But heaven knows, I’ll have to wait for that special celestial encore to hear my girl, Donna Summer, love to love me baby one more time.
The Mercantile Kitchen & Bar’s Warm-Weather Wonder
The Mayflower’s our twist on the classic summer Pimm’s Cup cocktail, which we happen to think is perfect for enjoying on a hot Saratoga summer afternoon or evening during track season. We got The Mayflower’s name from the old proverb “April showers bring May flowers,” and we’ll be glad to serve you one—rain or shine—this summer.” (Make sure to check out the other great “Next Great Saratoga Cocktail” entries, including The Brook Tavern‘s from our previous issue.)
The Mayflower
Ingredients
3-4 Mint leaves
2 Cucumber slices
¼ Orange
1 Drop ginger bitters
½ oz. Ginger syrup
½ oz. Lime juice
1 oz. Beefeater Pink Gin
1 oz. Pimm’s
Splash soda water
Ice
Instructions
Muddle mint, cucumber and orange. Add in drop of ginger bitters, ginger syrup, lime juice, Beefeater Pink Gin and Pimm’s. Shake with ice and pour contents into tall glass. Top with splash of soda water.