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Skidmore College’s Free Earth Day Festival Features Eclectic Live Music Lineup

Linnea Harris
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Skidmore College’s Free Earth Day Festival Features Eclectic Live Music Lineup

Prepare to be rocked on Earth Day at Skidmore College. From noon-6pm on April 20, Skidmore students will be sprawled across the library green, listening to music in the company of friends and various rescued farm animals. The college’s three main music clubs—SEC, WSPN Radio and Lively Lucy’s—get together to plan the Earth Day Festival every year in conjunction with the Environmental Action Club, gathering students together to appreciate the planet, eat a veggie burger or two and enjoy some free live music. The event is free and open to the entire Saratoga Springs community.

This year’s lineup will start with Skidmore’s own Nu-Note, an experimental R&B band new to the campus music scene this year, featuring four Skidmore students. They beat out several other Skidmore bands jostling for the opening act at the festival.

Nu-Note will be followed by Spirit of the Beehive. While the band’s earlier music can likely be described as shoegaze, their newest album touts more psychedelic dream-pop influences. The Philadelphia-based band has garnered a dedicated following in the past few years, including a large Skidmore contingent that will be present in full force for the show.

Also representing Philadelphia will be rapper Ivy Sole, a rising star in the Philadelphia hip-hop scene, charting new territory in the genre and drawing from her involvement in multiple collectives.

Next up is Anemone—a psychedelic pop trio, hailing from Montréal, which will be stopping in Saratoga before embarking on a European tour this May. Just before the headliner, Jean Deaux, whose music has roots in hip-hop, R&B and house music, will also take the stage.

The music-filled day will close with Chicago Afrobeat Project, the festival’s headlining act, which will start playing at 5pm. This world music ensemble, which is often anywhere from 7 to 14 players strong, has been making music since 2005, incorporating influences from afrobeat, hip-hop, funk, jazz, rock and jùjú music (a genre that originated in Southwestern Nigeria).

Through the efforts of Skidmore’s Environmental Action Club and Sustainability Office, the Earth Day Festival keeps environmental responsibility at the forefront of this climate-conscious event. Sustainability has also played a large role in the planning of the event, says Ruthann Richards, President of the Environmental Action Club. “All tables/vendors are low waste or zero waste,” she says. “There’ll be compost bins and recycling bins and instructions on how to use them. Crafts will be sustainable, and there will be many opportunities to learn to involve sustainability in your everyday life, along with giving people [a reason to] treasure the outdoors a bit more.” Sustainability-themed activities and information will be available for visitors, including Skidmore’s famous Smoothie Bike.

If you can’t make it out to the event, listen live on Skidmore College’s radio station, WSPN 91.1FM, or stream it online. For more ways to celebrate Earth Day, click here.

Capital Region Philanthropist And Businesswoman, Jane Golub, Dies At 80

Will Levith
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Capital Region Philanthropist And Businesswoman, Jane Golub, Dies At 80

The Capital Region has lost one of its philanthropic titans. Jane Golub, who split her career between teaching, business and community leadership—and was known for her immense generosity—died on Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles. She was 80.

Golub, along with her husband, Neil, who is Price Chopper’s current Chairman of the Board, gave to a staggering number of local and national causes throughout her lifetime. Just a small cross-section of the organizations the Golubs gave to include the Lake Luzerne-based Double H Ranch, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Neil was a coanchor for the local MDA Jerry Lewis telethon for more than 30 years), the Special Olympics, the Girl Scouts of America, St. Jude Children’s Hospital (Jane was the longtime face of the Capital Region’s branch of the charity) and the American Cancer Society. Jane, a breast cancer survivor, who also suffered from atrial fibrillation, and her husband also underwrote the Neil and Jane Golub Breast & Heart Health Center at Ellis Medicine’s Bellevue Woman’s Center in Niskayuna. She and her husband also contributed generously to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

In an interview with saratoga living last year, Neil noted that “most of the family charity comes from Jane and myself, much of what we give is personal as opposed to corporate, and when we do give corporately, we give as generous as we can be.”

Besides her incredible generosity, Golub spent 25 years as a third-grade teacher in the Niskayuna Central School District. (She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1959 with a BA in English, later earning a Master’s in education from the State University of New York, Oneonta.)

Additionally, Jane spent two decades working as part of her family-run business, Price Chopper Supermarkets, first as Manager of Samples and Sales in the ’80s and ’90s, and most recently, as Director of In-Store Marketing.

Golub also held the title of Co-President at the Schenectady Museum & Planetarium.

 

Ballston Spa Farm Offers A Unique, Rent-A-Llama Tour Experience

Hannah Kotler
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Ballston Spa Farm Offers A Unique, Rent-A-Llama Tour Experience

Who said you needed to travel to Machu Picchu to rent a llama? Starting this month and winding through June, Dakota Ridge Farm in Ballston Spa—just a 15-minute car ride from Saratoga Springs—will be offering its unique Llama Treks, during which small groups of visitors can lead one of the farm’s 55 llamas through 1.5 miles of woodland trails.

Nearly three decades ago, Gary Capasso and his wife, Katrina, founded Dakota Ridge Farm, when he gave her a llama named Dakota as a wedding gift. The Capassos now tend to more than 50 llamas on their 42-acre property, offering guests everything from farm tours and llama shearing demonstrations to pet therapy sessions, educational visits and llama rescue and rehoming practices—all in the name of educating the general public about the loving animals. But it’s the chance to actually take a llama out on the trail that gives guests the adventure of a lifetime. “We started doing the farm tours and llama treks while we were still working other jobs, mostly just on the weekends,” says Katrina. “The treks and tours became a big hit, as most of our visitors have never been around llamas.” Nowadays, the excursions have become so popular that the Capassos dedicate six months to the treks/tours in spring and fall. (Besides April-June, the farm also offers the treks from September to early November.)

Dakota Ridge Farm
Dakota Ridge Farm visitors and their llamas on a hike. (Dakota Ridge Farm)

According to Katrina, it’s the llamas’ gentle temperament and loving nature that keep visitors coming back for more. “They’re amazed at how friendly some of the llamas can be, coming up for back rubs or just to say hello and sniff you,” she says. “Even the most skeptical of visitors ends up hugging their llama and taking selfies [with them] by the time we get halfway through the walk.”

Interested in a little llama-leading? You can reserve a spot on one of the farm’s smallish private llama tours, which run $25 for adults and $15 for children 15 and under (group rates are also available). Feel free to bring your own snacks or lunch to eat at picnic tables along the trails. All said and done, the trek takes about one hour to complete, and is taken at a slow, easy pace, giving hikers plenty of time to bond with their llama. And if you leave the farm wanting more, it’s got you covered: You can buy a llama (or three) directly from Dakota Ridge.

Daily Racing Form: American Pharoah To Have First US Starter

David Grening, Daily Racing Form
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Daily Racing Form: American Pharoah To Have First US Starter

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There is always a sense of anticipation when the first juvenile race of the year is conducted on this circuit. That will be ratcheted up a bit Wednesday when the first progeny of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh to run in the U.S. debuts in a 4 1/2-furlong race that goes as the opener on a nine-race card at Aqueduct that begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

Trainer Wesley Ward entered two daughters of American Pharoah in Wednesday’s race, but said he would run only Tesorina while scratching Lady Delaware.

American Pharoah’s first runner, Monarch of Egypt, won his debut in Ireland on Sunday for owner Peter Brant and trainer Aidan O’Brien.

“I wanted to be the first one to win with one,” Ward said.

Tesorina, owned by Dave Reid and Frank Antonacci’s Ice Wine Stables and bred by Ward, is out of the mare Nonsuch Bay, a debut winner as a 3-year-old and winner of the Grade 1 Mother Goose in 2002. Tesorina shows seven works, beginning Feb. 26 at Turfway Park and including a half-mile move on Sunday in 50.01 seconds at Aqueduct. She worked in company with Maven, a son of American Pharoah whom Ward has entered to debut here Friday.

“She’s fast, very smart, and has got a breeze over the track,” Ward said. “The American Pharoahs, all of them can run. I’m not saying they’re all going to be stakes horses, but all of them have ability. Whether that translates to grass or dirt, I don’t know.”

Ward said he wasn’t pushing any of his progeny of American Pharoah to get to the races early.

“I let them tell me when they are ready to run,” he said. “I’m not forcing anything.”
Ward said Tesorina will debut with blinkers and be allowed to roll from the gate under Joe Bravo.

“That’s what we do,” Ward said.

Wednesday’s race carries a purse of $100,000. Over the past few years, NYRA has designated six juvenile races – three of them for fillies – to have such a lofty purse as a way to attract large fields and produce starters for its first juvenile stakes, the Astoria for fillies on June 6 and the Tremont on June 7.

Wednesday’s race drew a field of 10, though Dotdotdash was re-entered for Friday’s $100,000 maiden race, which drew only a field of six.

Wednesday, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole have the entry of Micromillion and Mo Mystery. Mo Mystery is a son of Uncle Mo and from the family that produced Grade 1 winners Paynter and Tiznow.

Mark Casse sends out Lady Fatima, a daughter of Bodemeister out of the Forestry mare Heavenly Vision, who was a 4 1/2-length debut winner at Saratoga in the summer of 2008. Lady Fatima shows a bullet gate work on April 11 over the Belmont training track.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

2019 Eddies: Saratoga’s Caffè Lena, Garland Nelson Take Home Multiple Awards; Troy’s Girl Blue Is The Night’s Top Winner

Will Levith
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2019 Eddies: Saratoga’s Caffè Lena, Garland Nelson Take Home Multiple Awards; Troy’s Girl Blue Is The Night’s Top Winner

Saratoga owned the Eddies. At the inaugural Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards (Eddies) at Proctors on April 14—basically, a local version of the Grammy Awards—Saratoga Springs had a bountiful evening, bringing away multiple awards in a range of categories.

Big Saratoga-based winners included Caffè Lena, which took home “Best Small Venue” and “Local Music Venue of the Year” honors (the latter was part of the People’s Choice Awards portion of the awards show; Sawyer Fredericks’ three sold-out shows at the venue last May also took home “Local Music Concert of the Year” honors). Also, Garland Nelson, leader of band Soul Session, garnered “R&B/Soul Artist of the Year” himself, and with his band, “Party Cover Band of the Year.”

Other notable winners included DJ Trumaster (“DJ of the Year”), a staple at Putnam Place (owned by saratoga living‘s Chair), who also spun at numerous saratoga living parties last year; Rich Ortiz (“Solo or Duo Performer of the Year [Covers Category]”), who rocked saratoga living‘s 2018 Design Issue party at the Adelphi Hotel; and Candy Ambulance (“Punk/Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year”), who appeared on our top female artists list earlier this year. (Troy-based The Sea The Sea, who also appeared on our list, won for “Alt/Indie Artist of the Year.”) Two bands tied for “Album of the Year” honors: Saratoga’s Wild Adriatic (Feel) and Albany’s Elrod + MotherJudge (Cold Warrior), whose Caroline “MotherJudge” Isachsen died back in March.

The Eddies also honored a few artists that have broken the glass ceiling of the local music scene, garnering international fan bases for their musical output. These included Saratoga duo Phantogram, which won the “Outward Bound Artist of the Year”; and The Gibson Brothers, which has been getting national press from Rolling Stone and whose Leigh Gibson used to work at Saratoga Guitar, took home “Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year.”

The biggest winner of the night was Troy-based solo artist Girl Blue (a.k.a. Arielle O’Keefe), who took home “Solo Artist of the Year,” “Record of the Year” (“Lolita“) and “Music Video of the Year” (a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams“). She was also featured on saratoga living‘s top female artists list, along with fellow Eddies winners The Sea The Sea and Candy Ambulance.

Below, find the full list of winners from last night’s awards show:

Solo Artist of the Year
Girl Blue

Solo or Duo Performer of the Year (Covers Category)
Rich Ortiz

Alt/Indie Artist of the Year
The Sea The Sea

Hip Hop/Rap Artist of the Year (tie)
Johnny 2 Phones
KATANI

Party Cover Band of the Year
Garland Nelson and Soul Session

Jazz Artist of the Year
Brian Patneaude Quartet

DJ of the Year
DJ Trumastr

Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year
The Gibson Brothers

Americana Artist of the Year
The North & South Dakotas

Rock/Pop Artist of the Year
Wild Adriatic

Punk/Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year
Candy Ambulance

Jam Band of the Year
Let’s Be Leonard

Blues Artist of the Year
Alana Wyld/Wyld Blu

R&B/Soul Artist of the Year
Garland Nelson

Electronica Artist of the Year
Sara Ayers

International/World Music Artist of the Year
Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra

Classical Artist/Ensemble of the Year
Albany Symphony Orchestra

Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year
The McKrells

Music Video of the Year
Girl Blue—Dreams

Album of the Year (tie)
Elrod + MotherJudge—Cold Warrior
Wild Adriatic—Feel

Record of the Year
Girl Blue—Lolita

Outward Bound Artist of the Year
Phantogram

Promoter or Presenter of the Year
Mona Golub (Music Haven Concert Series)

Radio DJ of the Year
Chris Wienk WEXT

Concert Series of the Year
Music Haven Concert Series

Live Production Crew of the Year
High Peaks Sound

Arts Publication of the Year
nippertown.com

Music Journalist of the Year
Michael Hochanadel

Best Venue Small (up to 350 people)
Caffé Lena

Best Venue Medium (350-999 people)
The Egg

Best Venue Large (1,000 people and up)
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

Best Live Festival Large Format
Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance

Best Live Festival Small Format
GottaGetGon Folk Festival

Photographer of the Year (tie)
Andre Pilarczyk
Kiki Vassilakis

—

People’s Choice Awards

Local Music Artist of the Year
PJ Duo

Local Music Venue of the Year
Caffè Lena

Local Music Concert of the Year
Sawyer Fredericks
Caffè Lena
May 25-27, 2018

—

Capital Region Music Hall of Fame Winners

Artist Lifetime Achievement
Kevin McKrell

Arts Educator or Contributions to the Area Music Scene
Ruth Pelham

 

Daily Racing Form: Arc Added To Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series

Matt Hegarty, Daily Racing Form
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Europe’s most prestigious race, the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has been added to the roster of races that guarantee the winner an all-expenses paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup, the organization announced on Thursday.

The Arc, held at Longchamp in Paris and scheduled for Oct. 6 this year, was one of eight races newly designated as Win and You’re In by the Breeders’ Cup in its announcement of the full roster of 86 races for this year’s event, scheduled for Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Southern California. The races for this year’s series will be held in 11 countries, and include 64 Grade 1 or Group 1 stakes.

The Arc winner will be guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Breeders’ Cup also designated the Juddmonte International on turf at York racecourse in England as its first European race guaranteeing the winner a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is run on dirt. The Juddmonte International had previously guaranteed the winner a spot in the Turf.

Winners of races in the series have their entry fees waived, as long as the winner is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup. At last year’s Breeders’ Cup, 35 winners of races in the series participated in the two-day event, and five of those won.

Also added to the roster this year were three races giving the winner a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, the Prix Morny at Deauville in France, and the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp in France on the Arc undercard.

The other additions to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge schedule are the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx racetrack outside Philadelphia, for a spot in the Distaff; the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Race Course in New York, for the Breeders’ Cup Mile; the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park in New York, for the Turf; and the Gran Premio International Carlos Pelligrini Stakes in Argentina, for the Turf. The Gran Premio spot for 2019 was earned by Il Mercato for his win in the Dec. 15 running.

Many of the races in the series will be broadcast live as part of NBC Sports Group’s coverage of racing this summer and fall. The series has 11 broadcasts scheduled from June to October.

This story originally appeared on DRF.com. 

Visit DRF.com for additional news, notes, wagering information, and more.

Saratoga Summer: Crossword Puzzle Answer Key

Staff Report
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Saratoga Summer: Crossword Puzzle Answer Key

On page 111 of saratoga living‘s new Saratoga Summer issue, there’s a crossword puzzle, entitled “All Summer Long, ‘Toga.” Below is the answer key—or for some of you, the world’s greatest cheat sheet.

ACROSS

1. TATA

5. ALT

8. DMS

11. ALAN

12. ROO

13. EAR

14. SEPTEMBERENDS

18. TRAIN

19. AMID

20. ETS

21. OOF

24. GMA

25. BOW

28. JUNEAUALASKA

31. BEGETS

32. MIAS

33. BETH

34. AKA

36. TIDY

37. URGE

38. ONSITE

40. FOURTHOFJULY

44. OWN

45. OUR

46. ANI

47. SAT

50. OGLE

51. NATTY

53. AUGUSTUSGLOOP

57. ASL

58. ASH

59. ANNE

60. ATE

61. BAY

62. SEED

DOWN

1. TASTE

2. ALERT

3. TAPAS

4. ANTI

5. ARM

6. LOB

7. TOE

8. DENIAL

9. MADD

10. SRS

15. ENOUGH

16. RAGU

17. EMMA

22. ONE

23. FETA

25. BSIDE

26. OKAY

27. WAS

28. JETER

29. ASKOF

30. AMITY

31. BEGUN

33. BROW

35. ANJA

36. TILING

37. UFO

39. SUN

41. TOGGLE

42. HULU

43. ORES

47. STONE

48. ATONE

49. TYPED

50. OUST

52. ALAS

53. AAA

54. TAB

55. USA

56. SHY

Spring Training At The Oklahoma Training Track To Kick Off On April 17

Will Levith
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Spring Training At The Oklahoma Training Track To Kick Off On April 17

Attention Saratoga drivers: prepare for more start-y, stop-y traffic on Union, Fifth and East Avenue, thanks to the presence of those mammoth Sallee trucks—and their precious equine cargo.

That’s because on April 17, the Oklahoma Training Track will once again be open for business, marking the beginning of Saratoga’s spring training season and the unofficial kickoff of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet. This year’s 40-day meet will begin a week earlier than usual on July 11, stretching to its usual conclusion on September 2 (Labor Day). As saratoga living previously reported, this was because of the construction-shortened season at Belmont Park.

This year’s summer meet marks the 150th anniversary of the Travers Stakes and will see the first-ever runnings of the new $100,000 Rick Violette on July 17; $100,000 Stillwater on July 18 and $100,000 Galway on August 11, all previously run at Belmont. The track itself will get a luxury upgrade as well, with the grand opening of the three-story 1863 Club.

Open since 1904, the Oklahoma Training Track is where many of the racetrack’s most famous Thoroughbreds have put in work before the summer season gets underway. It’s also a popular hub for some of Saratoga’s winningest trainers, including Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.

Interested in learning more about the Oklahoma Training Track? The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will begin leading its annual tours of the track’s grounds this June.

 

Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation To Host Annual Historic Homes Tour

Alex Cappelletti
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Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation To Host Annual Historic Homes Tour

Ever wonder what some of Saratoga Springs’ most gorgeous, historic private homes look like on the inside? Window-shop no more. On Saturday, May 11, you’ll have the chance to explore some of them, courtesy of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation‘s (SSPF’s), annual Historic Homes Tour, which gives Saratogians a chance to walk around the interiors of a number of private historic homes on the city’s east side. (Advance discounted tour tickets are $30 for SSPF members and $40 for nonmembers, or can be purchased for $35 and $45, respectively, on the day of the event at 112 Spring Street.) “The Preservation Society’s work is so important in maintaining the architectural integrity of our beautiful, vibrant city,” says Heather Straughter, who is co-chairing the event with her husband, Brian. “We appreciate all of their work to preserve the heritage as our city continues to grow and develop.”

Historic Homes Tour weekend will kick off with an exclusive porch party, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Circular Manor Bed and Breakfast Inn, on Thursday, May 9 from 5:30-7:30pm at the B&B. (Tickets cost $100, and space is limited.) Porch-goers will enjoy live music from the Swing Men and wine and light fare from Lily & The Rose Catering.

On Saturday the 11th, Saratoga Springs City Historian Mary Ann Fitzgerald will host the preservation foundation’s first “Breakfast & Buildings” event, which will explore the history of the Van Raalte Mill. Fitzgerald’s presentation, “Echoes from the Mill: Tales from Between the Lions,” will take place at the mill on High Rock Avenue at 9:30am, and breakfast will be provided by Spring Street Deli & Pizzeria. Later that afternoon, the foundation will also host a “Lunch & Learn” event with Charlie Kuenzel and Dave Patterson of Saratoga Tours, entitled “High Rock to High Stakes,” which will focus on the founding of the village of Saratoga at High Rock Spring, the rise of the Canfield Casino and how Saratoga’s waters and gambling scene attracted wealthy people from around the country. Boxed lunches will be provided by The Inn at Saratoga. Tickets for both Saturday events must be purchased in advance and are $20 for SSPF members and $25 for nonmembers.

Funds raised at the Historic Homes Tour will support SSPF’s ongoing educational programs and its mission of preserving Saratoga’s heritage. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here or call (518) 587-5030.

Daily Racing Form: In A Change, Fox Will Broadcast Travers

David Grening, Daily Racing Form
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The $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 24 will air on the national Fox network, it was announced Thursday.

The Travers will be broadcast from 5-6 p.m. Eastern. The Travers had been broadcast on NBC or NBCSN since 2011.

Since 2016, NYRA and Fox Sports have collaborated on broadcasts on Fox’s FS2 network. Last November, NYRA and Fox Sports announced a long-term television programming deal where FOX Sports will broadcast 500 hours of racing from NYRA tracks in 2019, including nearly daily coverage at Belmont and Saratoga.

◗ There will be two turf stakes Sunday at Aqueduct. Chad Brown will go for his fourth consecutive victory in the $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes for fillies and mares when he sends out Fifty Five – runner-up to Uni in last year’s Plenty of Grace – and Thais in a field of five for the one-mile race.

The $100,000 Mizdirection, for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, drew a field of nine, including the trio of Mae Never No, Moonlight Romance, and Chelsea Cloisters from the barn of Wesley Ward.

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