In partnership with

Hey, 518 readers! In its heyday, they called Lark Street “Albany’s West Village” without a hint of irony. Today, with a healthy dose of hopecore, we can believe again that the famed neighborhood has another golden era in it.

Helping to fuel that comeback: Lark Out Loud, returning next week for its second year!

🎟️ Also on Lark: We’ve already booked 33 seats for the next 518 Dinner Club. This month, we’re heading back to Lark Street and Center Square for another delicious IRL meetup. Save your seat now!

👂️ And finally, we’re all ears: How’s The 518 doing lately?

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Led Zep rockin' out at Lark Out Loud in 2025

Lark Street’s comeback gets louder with Lark Out Loud 🤘 

Something is happening on Lark Street.

After losing much of its gravitational pull over the years, Albany’s iconic nightlife corridor is mounting a comeback.

Herbie’s Burgers just moved into the old Bombers building, turning the upstairs into a hip barcade called Herbie’s Clubhouse. A block away, Aberration, a new “big city-style” cocktail bar from the team behind Allen Street Pub, is preparing to take over the former Larkin Hi-Fi.

Meanwhile, the Lark Street BID has fresh leadership and a renewed focus on cleaning up the neighborhood and giving people more reasons to actually come to Lark Street. In June, the BID brought back Art on Lark, last held in 2024.

Now there’s a fresh sign of revival—Lark Out Loud is back for its second year! 

The free outdoor music festival returns Sept. 19 with refreshed programming. New this year: the addition of 90s country music to its lineup of tribute bands and Golden Hour, a meetup and parade for golden retrievers. Woof!

Lark Street Tavern owner Chris Pratt, one of the festival’s main organizers, says the event’s return engagement is yet another sign of Lark Street’s rebound.

“I definitely feel a resurgence,” Chris says, recalling last Halloween night when hordes of people descended on Lark Street. “There were tons of people out. I just felt like this is the way Lark should be, the way it used to be.”

His own numbers back that up: Business at the Lark Street Tavern is running about 8% to 10% ahead of last year.

New Scotland Spirits founder Jesse Sommer, a major Lark Out Loud sponsor and one of Lark Street’s loudest boosters, sees a similar shift.

“There remain challenges, but those challenges are no longer defining the street,” Jesse says. “You talk to the businesses here and the revitalization is tangible.”

Chris sees Lark Out Loud as a way to fuel that momentum. Last year, he handed departing festival-goers drink chips, encouraging them to visit other Lark Street bars.

“I don’t want this to be seen as the Lark Tavern’s event,” he says. “Everybody’s involved.”

Indeed, festival sponsors include neighborhood anchors like Savoy Taproom, the Lionheart Pub, Lark Hall, and The Loft at 205.

As with last year’s fest, the tavern’s back lot will serve as the main stage. Also same as last year, the musical lineup will exclusively feature tribute bands, celebrating Neil Young, R&B & soul, ’90s country, and Aerosmith.

Why only tribute bands? “Because tribute bands are hot right now, and everyone knows the songs,” Chris says. They’re also more affordable to hire than a lot of other talent. The event is being entirely funded by sponsoring businesses and the Lark Street BID.

Kicking off the festival this year is a new event called Golden Hour. Think dozens of golden retrievers parading down Lark Street. It’s inspired by Goldens in Golden, when thousands of golden retrievers gather in Golden, Colo. Golden owners in the Capital Region can register their pup for free.

The deets: Lark Out Loud, taking place behind Lark Street Tavern (453 Madison Ave, Albany) on Sat, Sept. 19, 1:30–8:30p, free. Golden Hour kicks off at 11a.

A word from our sponsor

The Counter is a play by Meghan Kennedy about an unlikely friendship that develops between a lonely waitress, Katie, and a regular customer, Paul, a retired firefighter, at a small town diner in upstate New York.

Their casual morning conversations evolve into a deep, life-affirming bond as they share secrets, culminating in a shocking request from Paul that forces them both to confront their grief and find hope through human connection. Directed by Harbinger Theatre founder Patrick White, the play premiered Off-Broadway in 2024. It’s Harbinger’s 21st Capital Region premiere, and is known for its intimate, moving, and provocative exploration of loneliness and connection. Runs Sept. 17-26.

👨‍🎓 Higher education institutions in the Capital Region are holding steady on enrollment, for the most part. Some schools, like UAlbany and HVCC, are even seeing double digit gains. [Daily Gazette]

🎸 On Sept. 26, Indian Ladder Farms will host the free Love. Joy. Festival., to support suicide prevention. On the bill: E-Block, Sydney Worthley, Reality Distortion, Stellar Young, Amanda Case, Zeffler, and more local acts.

🍸️ The First + Adams x Jacob Alejandro collab dinner is almost SOLD OUT! There are only a few tix left for this 3-course dinner with dessert and cocktail/wine pairings.

🥾 The TU is out with a list of 5 beginner-friendly hikes in the Adirondacks with massive views [Times Union]

23 Rothermel Lane, Kinderhook, NY 12106

This idyllic Kinderhook live/work property offers more than 5,000 square feet of airy live-work space on nearly an acre, just a short stroll from the charming village. Lovingly restored exposed beams run through the main living area. The separate one-bedroom suite boasts a big skylight, and the ground-level studio is economical, though spacious. Fully finished and ripe with potential, this upstate HQ is the goat.

The deets: 3 bd, 3 ba, 2000 sq. ft. home. Asking: $555,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🎸 PearlPalooza | Albany’s biggest block party returns to downtown with a thumpin’ lineup that includes King Tuff, Robber Robber, The Parlor, Bruiser and Bicycle, and the Albany Rock Pit. Of course, there will be a variety of vendors and food options. Don’t forget to register for YogaPalooza, kicking off at 11a. Sat, 12-7p, free.

⭐️ 🇮🇹 Schenectady’s Little Italy StreetFest & Amsterdam’s ItaliaFest | On Saturday, we’ve got dueling celebrations of Italian culture. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of neighborhood pride to go around. Hit up one or both, and get your fill of good eats, live music, kids’ activities and performances. Schenectady’s StreetFest kicks off at noon while ItaliaFest starts at 11a.

⭐️ 🇬🇷 2026 Greek Festival | As if your choices this weekend weren’t tough enough, St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church is putting on its annual street party as well. Come for the Greek treats and stay for the folk dancing, live music, and marketplace vendors. Sat, 11a-10p; Sun, 11a-3p, free.

⭐️ 🖼️ Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show | This long-running neighborhood tradition turns the Stockade into an open-air gallery, with visitors able to browse original work from dozens of artists while strolling through the city’s historic district. Sat, 10a-4p, free.

⭐️ 🔔 Remembering 9/11 | This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Capital Region will honor the lives of the people lost with various events, including a talk with photojournalists Todd Maisel and David Handschuh (Wed) and a special tour of the 9/11 exhibit (Sun) at the NYS Museum. On Friday, Rensselaer County will hold a ceremony at its 9/11 memorial, which contains a section salvaged from one of the Twin Towers.

Honorable mentions…

⭐️ 🧶 2026 Harvest Craft Fair | Get to the Shaker Heritage Society for a weekend of sheep shearing, hands-on activities, demonstrations, live music, and delicious food. There will be more 75 vendors on hand, plus a petting zoo! Sat, 10a-4p; Sun, 10a-3p, free.

⭐️ 🪕 Eastbound Throwdown | Celebrating its 11th year, Eastbound Throwdown brings two days of bluegrass, Americana, country and jam-friendly rock to Washington County. This year’s lineup includes Eastbound Jesus, Sicard Hollow, The Mallett Brothers Band, Neon Moons, Chloe Kimes and more, with camping, food and drinks available on site. Fri-Sat. Tix: from $53.74.

🎭️ GET TICKETS

• Jekyll & Hyde opens Sept. 11 at SLOC Musical Theater and runs through Sept. 20. The Frank Wildhorn musical kicks off SLOC's 100th season.

• Get tix to Harbinger Theatre’s The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer. Starting Sept. 17.

• Parallel Lives begins with a pay-what-you-will preview Sept. 17 at Albany Civic Theater and officially opens Sept. 18.

• Capital Repertory Theatre launches its season Sept. 25 with The Last American Newspaper, running through Oct. 18.

• Albany Center Gallery's Mystery Masquerade Gala will be at Common Roots Brewing this year.

WEDNESDAY

🎷 The Capital Jazz Collective is back at one of their regular joints, Dove + Deer in Albany.

THURSDAY

📚️ Suketu Mehta, author of This Land is Our Land: An Immigrant’s Manifesto, speaks at Opalka Gallery in collaboration with the NYS Writers Institute.

FRIDAY

🍺 The second of three Pop-Up Beer Garden nights at Opalka Gallery brings Dust Bowl Faeries and Joseph Biss to the Russell Sage lawn. It’s also the opening reception for the main exhibition, Light and Transient Causes.

🎸 TV Doctors bring their joyful rock to the Electric Grinch in Schenectady.

💋 Lost & Found Bar and Kitchen will host a free drag show in honor of Kaylen and Carole Ann’s upcoming nuptials.

SATURDAY

🐕️ Bring your pup to Caroga Lake for Woofstock, featuring food trucks, live music, and dog-friendly vendors.

💀 The Twilight Market is back at Quackenbush Square for a summerween gathering of 40+ vendors.

📚️ Meet and support Capital Region writers at Guilderland Public Library’s first-ever Local Author Fair!

📜 Discover the city’s crucial role in the birth of our nation 250 years ago, at the Revolutionary Albany Walking Tour.

🍷 The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival in Rhinebeck is worth the drive!

🚁 Operation Adopt a Soldier at the Saratoga County Airport features $70 helicopter rides and tethered hot air balloon rides, benefiting local veterans.

🎬️ Catch a screening of The Aura of Upstate, an animated project dedicated to shining a light on the upstate NY community.

🚶‍♂️ The Moving Message Walk and Festival is a one-mile walk and fundraiser to raise awareness about neurogenic communication disorders, on the Russell Sage campus quad.

🚒 The 5th annual Community Day at East Greenbush Town Park features face painting, a bounce house, rock wall, K9 demos, drone demos, and more!

👨‍🎨 Get to Albany Center Gallery for an Art.Work.Space. Storyboarding Workshop with Nasir Villegas.

SUNDAY

👗 There are always good vintage finds to be had at the Second Sunday Market in Saratoga.

🏳️‍🌈 Also in Saratoga is the next A Big Gay Market, at High Rock Park.

🐦️ Get to Bard & Baker for this charming bird watercolor workshop with Kayla Jolin.

📜 Join Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Victoria Johnson at the Albany Institute for History & Art—Glorious Country: How Frederic Church Brought the World to America and America to the World.

🚵‍♀️ The Capital Bicycle Racing Club invites you to Collins Park in Scotia for Race 1️⃣ of the 2026 CBRCX Series.

MONDAY

💼 Interested in a job opportunity with the City of Albany or New York State? Join this civil service workshop at the Albany West Community Center.

UPCOMING

• Adirondack Balloon Festival (9/17-20)

• Lark Out Loud (9/19)

• Big Sky Fest at Indian Ladder Farms (9/18-19)

• 9th Annual Albany Book Festival (9/26)

• New York Paw Paw Festival (9/26-27)

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

Back for its 11th year, Eastbound Throwdown brings two days of bluegrass, Americana, country and jam-friendly rock to Washington County.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

Hey, 518 readers! Today, we’re pointing you toward North Troy where Powers House Revel is going down this Labor Day weekend. This end-of-summer art party overlooking the Hudson is not to be missed!

🍸️ We had an absolutely delicious time at The 518 Dinner Club in Troy last week. Thanks again to our generous sponsors, EMRY’s Garden & The Berlin Lounge.

Here’s what Jessica Wakefield had to say: “We had the best time! I actually left hungry bc I was having too much fun talking to focus on my food! 😂 There's always SUCH lovely, kind people at The 518 events.”

Kelsey Shadick added: "This was such a great experience! From the company to the food and drinks, it was an awesome night."

🎟️ Save your seat for the next 518 Dinner Club on Thursday, Sept. 24. We’re heading back to Albany’s Center Square / Lark Street!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Last summer’s Powers House Revel in Troy

Powers House Revel: The can’t-miss art party of the summer

Last summer, Powers House Revel turned the sprawling riverside lawn of a historic North Troy home into something between an outdoor art exhibition, a performance space, and a very hip backyard party.

For its second year, the organizers are going bigger and giving the event a little more room to breathe.

Expanded into two days, Powers House Revel returns this Labor Day weekend with more than 20 artists and performers from the Capital Region, New York City and beyond. The event is organized by a collective of curators and artists, led by Adam Frelin, Daniela Kostova, Eun Young Choi and Meglena Zapreva.

Saturday is the more eventful day. Beginning at 1 pm, the property will fill with large-scale installations (including a couple of big inflatables that have become the event’s signature pieces), performances, and participatory art. For the first time, there will be a dedicated main stage with a full afternoon and evening of live music.

The lineup includes Troy singer-songwriter Caity Gallagher, experimental sound duo Dunnage and dream-pop/grunge trio Reality Distortion, along with site-specific dance and performance pieces throughout the grounds. By 8:30 pm, Picture Lock One will be projecting film abstractions as DJs from groop.lab take over and the event shifts into a dance party.

Programming director Corey Aldrich says the stage is part of an effort to make the event more organized and ambitious without losing the creative energy that made the first gathering so special.

“We’re really trying to ramp up the professionalism side of the event,” he says, “while maintaining the quirky and eclectic nature of what it is.”

Sunday takes a more leisurely approach. Workshops and a guided art tour kick off the day, while the centerpiece is Daniela’s “Running Table,” a communal potluck lunch beginning at 1 pm.

“I love these events that mix art with performance and food,” Daniela says, “so there’s more than one way to connect.”

The idea of connection runs through the event. Powers Revel House was conceived in part as a way to bring artists from both the Capital Region and downstate into conversation together.

Among the artists featured are Michael Oatman, the Troy contemporary artist known for his immersive installations, collage and archival-based work; Tamar Ettun, an accomplished sculptor and performance artist who is currently a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow at the Hirshhorn Museum; Allie Wist, who works at the intersection of art, food and climate; notable NYC new-media artist Eva Davidova; John Umphlett, an art fabricator/designer who is on the sculpture faculty at Bennington College; and emerging Albany talent Phoebe Rotter.

This year’s ambitious event reflects the growth of Troy’s art scene, which has noticeably expanded as part of a broader creative surge across the Capital Region.

“What I’ve been seeing in recent years is basically this blooming art scene in Troy,” says Daniela, who earned a graduate fellowship at RPI. “It’s super exciting because it wasn't like this when I was there at school.”

By the way, Powers House is named for Deborah Powers (1790–1891), the pioneering Lansingburgh businesswoman and philanthropist. It’s fitting that her former estate now supports a thriving art scene.

The deets: Powers House Revel; 415 2nd Ave, Troy. Free parking along Second Avenue. Sat, 1-10p; Sunday 11a-3p. Potluck lunch at 1p—bring a dish to share! Follow their Insta for the latest news.

👨‍🚒 On Saturday, Broadway in Albany’s Warehouse District will be closed for a fundraiser benefiting two Department of General Services employees who were severely burned in a fuel pump explosion. [Times Union]

👨‍🌾 Have you checked out the new Pine Hills Farmers Market on the former St. Rose campus? This Thursday is a great time to visit since it will be Food Truck Nite, from 5 to 8 pm.

🕹️ Herbie’s Burgers has taken over the former Bomber’s Burrito Bar on Lark Street and transformed it into a “barcade” complete with old-school arcade games and a full-service bar. [Instagram]

🇮🇹 Next weekend will see two dueling Italian festivals competing for crowds in the Capital Region. Schenectady’s Little Italy StreetFest and Amsterdam’s ItaliaFest are both set for Sat, Sept. 12. It also happens to be the same day as PearlPalooza in downtown Albany 😲 [News10]

40 Beebe Pond Road, Chatham, NY 12037

Simply enchanting! This charming 1830s farmhouse sits in a magical country setting, offering cozy spaces, wideboard floors, period details, and modern updates. Enjoy the fireplace, sunroom, screened porch, spacious deck, and streamside gazebo overlooking a peaceful waterfall. A two-story antique barn adds versatile storage or hobby space, while excellent skiing, hiking, restaurants, and Tanglewood are all just a short drive away.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1840 sq. ft. Asking: $750,000. Days on market: 7. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🍺 Opalka Popup Beer Garden | The headlining event for this month’s First Friday Albany, Opalka’s art-and-music lawn party generates the kind of energy that reminds us why Albany is actually a pretty cool place to live. Expect a big crowd for Super 400, Melora Creager, and special guest Ryder Cooley—who performs with a stuffed ram! Don’t miss the new exhibition, Light and Transient Causes, smartly curated by our friend Marisa Espe. Fri, 6–9p, free.

⭐️ 🖼️ Powers House Revel | Get to this historic riverside estate in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood for a sprawling end-of-summer art party featuring screenings, performances, site-specific installations, workshops, participatory experiences, sound art, and live music. The dance party gets going on Saturday night, while Sunday afternoon offers a more relaxed experience with a potluck lunch. Sat, 1-10p; Sunday 11a-3p, free.

⭐️ 🔦 This looks pretty darn cool! Night Lights in New Lebanon invites visitors to follow a quarter-mile path through fields and wooded areas, discovering original illuminated installations created by lighting designers and volunteers. And it’s free! Sat, 8-11p.

⭐️ 🎷 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival | Albany’s annual jazz fest returns to Jennings Landing on Saturday with a full day of live music, food, and vendors along the Hudson River. This year’s lineup includes Ghost-Note, New Breed Brass Band, Glen David Andrews Band, The Harlem Gospel Travelers and Shiri Zorn Trio, with fireworks closing out the free, all-ages show as usual. Sat, 12:30-9p, free.

⭐️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Capital District Scottish Games | This annual celebration of Scottish culture takes over the Altamont Fairgrounds on Saturday with pipe bands, Highland dancing, traditional athletic competitions, food, vendors and free pint-size games for the wee lads and lassies. This year’s live music lineup includes Scottish folk-rock favorites Skerryvore, along with Cécilia, Hadrian’s Wall and Friends Union. Sat, 8a-6:30p. Tix: $25 at the gate; free for kids 12 and under.

Honorable mentions…

⭐️ 👗 The Vintage Roundup | Arguably the best vintage market in the Capital Region returns to Albany’s Warehouse District on Saturday with 60+ vendors offering cool threads, home decor, jewelry, and collectibles. While you’re there: Head to Nine Pin across the street and get 10% off all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.” Sat, 11a-5p, free.

⭐️ 🔈️ TOPOS Festival | Over four days, EMPAC explores the many ways music can shape how we understand ourselves and each other, with performances, screenings, talks and experimental collaborations from artists including Vijay Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith, Miho Hatori and Fred Moten. The festival finishes Saturday with a free community BBQ (from Brooks House of BBQ), followed by an afternoon and evening of experimental music, drumming, and a live-scored screening of the Japanese silent film, A Page of Madness. Wed-Sat, various times. Tix: $50 all-festival pass; $20 single tickets.

🎭️ AT THE THEATER

• Jekyll & Hyde opens Sept. 11 at SLOC Musical Theater and runs through Sept. 20. The Frank Wildhorn musical kicks off SLOC's 100th season.

• Get tix to Harbinger Theatre’s The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer. Starting Sept. 17.

• Parallel Lives begins with a pay-what-you-will preview Sept. 17 at Albany Civic Theater and officially opens Sept. 18.

• Capital Repertory Theatre launches its season Sept. 25 with The Last American Newspaper, running through Oct. 18.

WEDNESDAY

🎙️ Hear what Natalie Merchant has to say about her new album and her Mother Goose nursery rhyme project, in conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue. Brought to you by the New York Writers Institute at UAlbany.

🎟️ Admission is only $2 on opening day for The Great Schaghticoke Fair (plus enjoy $2 rides and $2 food at select vendors).

🎡 The Fonda Fair and the Columbia County Fair also kick off on Wednesday and run through Labor Day.

THURSDAY

✏️ Fur Trade invites you to draw a live nude bear (not the animal kind, y’all) at Troy’s Context Collective.

FRIDAY

🖼️ First Friday Albany is back! Besides Opalka’s Pop-Up Beer Garden, highlights include: Free admission and a performance by HV music collective Pulso de Barro at the Albany Institute of History & Art; Caity Gallagher at The Eleven; swing dancing with Eight to the Bar at the Elks Lodge; and the 47th Annual Photography Regional Show at Albany Center Gallery.

🎹 Troy-based pianist and composer Sophia Vastek (who runs the Troy Listening Room with her partner) celebrates her first album under her new moniker, at the Sova: Alight! album release party.

👻 Is it already spooky season? Haunted Upstate launches its Ghosts of the Gilded Age tours this week. (Pro tip: Use code SUMMERWEEN for $5 off your ticket).

SATURDAY

🌮 Carne asada tacos and cumbia? Yes please! Los Hermosos is popping up at Yesfolk for an evening of delish eats, kombucha and the beats of DJ Lovely Candela.

🧘‍♂️ It’s the last Saturday to get your Rise & Flow on at Peebles Island for free.

🎷 Byrdhouse Records presents An Evening of Anime Jazz with Catbus Collective at Troy’s No Fun.

SUNDAY

⛴️ Join a dressed-to-impress, 420-friendly crowd aboard the 3rd Annual Capital District Cannabis & Wellness Boat Party.

🎭️ Improv Spaces Music Festival showcases the work of more than 20 musicians and artists working in improvisation at Saratoga Arts.

MONDAY

🍔 It’s Labor Day, America! Rest up, pop a cold one, and make the best backyard burger with these Reddit tips.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

The Futurebirds land at Lark Hall this Saturday!

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

In partnership with

Hey, 518 readers! Today, we’re heading to one of the Capital Region’s real cultural gems: The Opalka Gallery at Russell Sage College. It consistently brings in smart, surprising contemporary art—and one of the best times to experience the gallery is during its annual Pop-Up Beer Garden Series, when bands, brews, and good food spill out onto the lawn.

🍸️ We’re also excited for this month’s 518 Dinner Club, happening Thursday in downtown Troy. Reservations are officially closed, but be sure to get on the list for the next gathering. This month’s dinner is generously sponsored by Emry’s Garden and The Berlin—two of our favorite spots in the heart of Troy.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Good art and good music at Opalka Gallery’s Pop-Up Beer Gardens 📷️ Via Instagram

Opalka’s new fall season: Big ideas and big block parties 🖼️ 🎸 

Opalka Gallery opens its fall season next week with a packed schedule of events, anchored by a new exhibition and the return of its hugely popular Pop-Up Beer Garden series.

Opening Sept. 1, Light and Transient Causes is a group exhibition curated by independent curator Marisa Espe and inspired by a line from the Declaration of Independence: “Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.”

Although the show is loosely tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, Marisa says she wasn’t interested in making a sweeping statement about America. Instead, she assembled regional and national artists whose work approaches history, identity, resistance and resilience in more subtle ways.

“There could never be a singular, definitive statement about America,” says Marisa, who is also the director of communications at the Albany Institute of History and Art. “It’s pluralistic. It's multi-vocal. It’s confusing.”

With the intent of incorporating a multitude of perspectives, the 10-artist show includes painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, and video installations. Among the artists featured is Paul Miyamoto, a longtime RPI professor whose recent paintings draw inspiration from his Japanese grandparents. They worked as itinerant farmers in Central California, and endured the institutional racism of the internment camps during World War II.

His spare landscape paintings convey “the psychological barriers of the mountains and the kind of emptiness and loneliness of those conditions,” Marisa says.

Light and Transient Causes asks you to linger and consider the many conflicting meanings infused into the American experience. 

Opalka’s returning Pop-Up Beer Gardens also offer another reason to stay awhile.

The outdoor series runs three consecutive Fridays—Sept. 4, 11 and 18, from 6 to 9 pm—turning the gallery grounds into a block party with local bands, food trucks, lawn games and art. The exhibition’s opening reception is on Sept. 11, while the makers market is on Sept. 18.

The music lineup includes Super 400, Melora Creager with Ryder Cooley, Dust Bowl Faeries, Joseph Biss, Swamp Baby and JJ’s OK.

Opalka director Amy Griffin says the gallery’s new season is unusual for its scope.

“I'm excited for everyone to see the gorgeous and thought-provoking new exhibition that talented curator Marisa Espe has put together,” she says. “To complement it, we have loaded the semester with more events than ever, with expanded music and literary performances and collaborations with other arts organizations. And of course, it all kicks off with First Friday and our Pop-Up Beer Gardens outside the gallery on the first three Fridays of September!”

The deets: Light and Transient Causes opens Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 5 at Opalka Gallery, on the Russell Sage campus, at 140 New Scotland Ave, Albany. There will be several events tied to the exhibition, including a collab with the New York Writers Institute and a culinary experience with The Dishing Studio.

And don’t miss the Pop-Up Beer Garden Series:

Friday, Sept. 4: First Friday Albany
Bands: Super 400, Melora Creager with special guest Ryder Cooley
Brewers: Druthers, Frog Alley
Food: Dotty Lou’s BBQ, Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen

Friday, Sept. 11: Gallery Opening Reception
Bands: Dust Bowl Faeries, Joseph Biss
Brewers: Mean Max, Common Roots
Food: La Capital Tacos, Euro Delicacies

Friday, Sept. 18: Student Appreciation | Art Market
Bands: Swamp Baby, JJ’s OK
Brewers: Allied Brewing, Fort Orange Brewing
Food: Slidin Dirty, Mi Casa

A word from our sponsor

The Counter is a play by Meghan Kennedy about an unlikely friendship that develops between a lonely waitress, Katie, and a regular customer, Paul, a retired firefighter, at a small town diner in upstate New York.

Their casual morning conversations evolve into a deep, life-affirming bond as they share secrets, culminating in a shocking request from Paul that forces them both to confront their grief and find hope through human connection. Directed by Harbinger Theatre founder Patrick White, the play premiered Off-Broadway in 2024. It’s Harbinger’s 21st Capital Region premiere, and is known for its intimate, moving, and provocative exploration of loneliness and connection. Runs Sept. 17-26.

🍪 The Cookie Factory has closed its retail locations in Clifton Park and Troy, but you can still get their cookies at Hannaford and Stewart’s Shops. [News10]

🔈️ Beginning Sept. 2 at EMPAC, TOPOS 2026 explores music as more than performance—it’s a way of making sense of memory, identity and the stories we tell about ourselves. Through concerts, films, podcasts and conversation, artists including Vijay Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith, Miho Hatori and Fred Moten create a festival built around deep listening and the possibility of imagining a less fractured future.

🎸 An entire festival dedicated to the paw paw? And it’s local? Count us in! The New York Paw Paw Festival takes place Sept. 26-27, at the Magic Forest Farm in Coeymans Hollow. There will be live music, workshops, and tastings, of course!

105 Brunswick Road, Troy, NY 12180

This noble Colonial on two acres is flush with refined details, including shining wood floors, natural slate, and wall-length windows. The whole family lives like royalty with 5 grand bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms, and the practical updates make this lovely home a solid investment for years to come. There’s a new roof, freshly concreted basement and foundation, and the garage has just been painted inside and out with its own concrete floor. There’s also a new boiler in the basement and fresh insulation in the attic. The cherry on top: downtown Troy’s cool shops and eateries are mere minutes away.

The deets: 5 bd, 4 ba, 5598 sq. ft. Asking: $750,000. Days on market: 7. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🖼️ Set a Scene: Places, Spaces, Without Faces | This juried exhibition at Context Collective brings together Capital Region artists exploring how landscapes, interiors, architecture, maps and imagined environments can tell stories—all without depicting people. Opening reception on Friday, 6-9p, free. Exhibition runs through Oct. 10.

⭐️ 📚️ The Rough Notes Festival | This inaugural book fest turns Kinderhook into a three-day celebration of storytelling. Highlights include an opening-night performance with comedian Tig Notaro, plus an intimate evening of live music with Natalie Merchant. Unfortunately, those two marquee events are SOLD OUT but there are tickets available for the rest of the festival. Fri-Sun, various times & admission prices.

⭐️ 🏮 Autumn Glow Festival | The annual festival of lights returns to Mabee Farm in Rotterdam Junction on Thursday evening, transforming the historic site with hundreds of handcrafted Chinese lanterns, interactive light displays, live entertainment, vendors and food. The festival runs Thursdays through Sundays from 6:30-10p each night, through Nov. 1. Tix start at $14.99, and children under 3 are free.

⭐️ 🥃 Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy | This cocktail-focused experience brings four of Poe’s most famous tales—including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven and The Masque of the Red Death—to life in a 90-minute immersive theater experience at The Egg. Each story is paired with a themed cocktail, with zero-proof options available, for a gothic night of storytelling, suspense and drinks. Guests must be 21+. Fri, 10p; Sat, 12p; Sun, 2p. $55/person.

⭐️ 🎡 Washington County Fair | Unlike other modern-day county fairs, this one still takes the “county” part seriously, with a heavy emphasis on livestock competitions, 4-H exhibits, farm demos and even the chance to see calves being born at its popular Big Push exhibit. Add demolition derbies, tractor pulls, live music, carnival rides and plenty of greasy fair food, and it’s an old-school county fair that’s worth the drive from Albany. Through Sunday. Tix: $15 adults; free for kids 13 and under; $30 all-you-can-ride bands.

🎭️ AT THE THEATER

• 13 The Musical explores the joys and agonies of being a teenager. At Cohoes Music Hall. Aug. 21-30.

• The Park Playhouse presents Elephant & Piggie: We Are in a Play. Free shows through Aug. 28.

• Get tix to Harbinger Theatre’s The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer. Starting Sept. 17.

WEDNESDAY

🎬️ Bring some lawn chairs and a picnic, and watch the cult classic, The Goonies, under the stars at Albany’s West Capitol Park.

🍝 Join the Albany County Land Bank and the City of Albany for “Let’s Talk Over Dinner,” a casual evening of good food, conversation, and community.

💃 Line dancing at the New York State Museum? Yup. Everyone’s invited to try out their best country dance moves at this free event.

🍿 Albany’s Palace Theatre hosts a free screening of SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

THURSDAY

🎉 Get to Arbor Hill for the free I Love Albany 2nd Street Block Party.

🧘‍♂️ Experience yoga during the golden hour at Evermore Hall’s Sunset Sessions.

FRIDAY

🍺 Allied Brewing Company invites you to a Full Moon Jam Party with cold beer and good music from Raisinhead.

🎸 Lost Radio Rounders performs at the Valley Falls Free Library.

SATURDAY

🧑🏾‍🌾 Tour Soul Fire Farms, an Afro-Indigenous-centered community farm and training center that connects regenerative agriculture with food justice, racial equity and land sovereignty.

🖼️ The Arkell Museum hosts an artists reception with free museum admission, light bites, prosecco, and live music.

🥒 Celebrate all things pickle at the popular Picklepalooza (say that 5 times) at Indian Ladder Farms. Sat & Sun.

🐎 It’s Travers Day at the Saratoga Race Course!

🎭️ Improv teams duke it out for laughs and bragging rights at Mopco’s Theatresports.

🎛️ The Allissa Show presents Ladies of the Arts Festival, featuring 12 vendors at KBK Studios in Troy.

SUNDAY

👕 Circus and Honest Weight Food Co-Op invite you to this free BYOS (bring-your-own-shirt) screening printing event.

MONDAY

Get to Albany’s Clinton Market for Beats & Eats, featuring DJ Hollyw8d and the Reel Hot Stuff and Butta food truck.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

The Outlaw Music Festival is at SPAC on Sunday!

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

In partnership with

Hey, 518 readers! Summer’s end might be fast approaching, but there’s still time to indulge in some warm-weather fun. This week, we’ve got a pile-up of alfresco festivals, almost all of them taking place on Saturday 🤦‍♀️ Alas, hard decisions are in order.

Today, we’re also taking a look at the plethora of vintage markets popping up in the 518. Thrift is hip, so let’s go find that velour tracksuit of your dreams.

👨‍🎓 The Capital Region is blessed with a high concentration of top universities and colleges. Each one puts on tons of on-campus events throughout the year. Alan Koslow tells you which ones are worth your time at Capital Region Curated. Subscribe today to stay in the know!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Find the next Albany Bound Vintage at Likeable Popups in Watervliet 📷️ via Instagram

The Capital Region is having a vintage market moment

The secondhand apparel market is booming.

But shoppers aren’t just looking for that perfect pair of vintage Levi’s. They want experiences that are offline and unique, as a response to the digital overwhelm.

That helps to explain the rise of vintage popups across the Capital Region.

Perhaps the biggest and best known is the Vintage Roundup, founded in 2021 by long-time Albany resident Sarah Minguela and slow-fashion advocate Kristin Bradley. Sarah also owns the Bevy Vintage Collective stores in Albany and Troy. Save the date: The next Vintage Roundup is Sept. 5!

There’s also the Twilight Market, A Big Gay Market, and the Second Sunday Market in Saratoga, among others.

Now we’re seeing other vintage markets trying to break into the CR, though not necessarily with local ties.

This Saturday, an upstart brand called New Life Markets is bringing the “Albany Fashion Market” to the Washington Park Parade Grounds. Promising 50+ vendors, food trucks and live music, the sizable event is being billed as the “biggest fashion market of the summer.”

Another similar outfit, Albany Bound Vintage has held roughly 20 markets here in just over a year. This Friday, they’ll be setting up shop at their usual location at Likeable Popups. 

Started out of NYC as Brooklyn Bound, the company made Albany its first expansion outside the city.

“It was our biggest request,” says general manager Ellie Walz. “We got the most comments and DMs about Albany.”

The company now operates in nine cities and expects to keep growing, but Ellie says Albany remains one of its strongest markets.

“Albany has definitely been one of our favorite and most consistent expansions with our shoppers and our sellers,” she says.

Albany Bound leans heavily into Y2K fashion—think Juicy Couture, low-rise jeans, Ed Hardy and other late-’90s and early-2000s styles—while still offering a wide mix of vintage clothing, sneakers, jewelry, accessories, home decor, art and upcycled pieces.

Its Albany events are relatively small, with about 15 vendors at Likeable Popups, but Ellie says they typically draw between 300 and 600 shoppers. The crowd also tends to be on the younger side, with Gen Z heavily represented.

The market tries to keep barriers low for sellers. Some vendors run established vintage businesses, while others may be selling for the first time.

“We really are open to a wide array of sellers because we just want to promote small businesses and people really having the opportunity to try something new,” she says.

If you’re looking for something new to add to your closet or home, check out these markets this weekend:

Albany Bound Vintage | This month’s theme is back to school (“Bound University Market”). Friday. Early admission is $5 from 3–4p, then free from 4–8p. Likeable Popups at 51 Watervliet Ave. 15+ vendors. 

Albany Fashion Market | This is NLM’s first entry into Albany. Expect vintage & Y2K gems, food trucks, live music and $20 fill a bag. Sat, 11a-4p, free. Washington Park Parade Grounds. 50+ vendors.

A word from our sponsor

The Counter is a play by Meghan Kennedy about an unlikely friendship that develops between a lonely waitress, Katie, and a regular customer, Paul, a retired firefighter, at a small town diner in upstate New York.

Their casual morning conversations evolve into a deep, life-affirming bond as they share secrets, culminating in a shocking request from Paul that forces them both to confront their grief and find hope through human connection. Directed by Patrick White, the play premiered Off-Broadway in 2024. It’s Harbinger Theater’s 21st Capital Region premiere, and is known for its intimate, moving, and provocative exploration of loneliness and connection. Runs Sept. 17-26.

🍽️ The TU’s Steve Barnes gives us a sneak peek of the gorgeous new restaurant in Rensselaerville called Hamlet, rising out of the space once occupied by the Palmer House Cafe. [Times Union]

☕️ A new family-owned cafe called Cindy B’s opened this week on the former St. Rose campus, in what was the athletic center. [News10]

🍎 After an expansive $1 million renovation, Windy Hill Estate in Schodack has reopened as the Goold Hill Apple Orchard. The lovely property soft-opened last week and will be ready for the coming apple picking season. We’ll be making a visit out to the orchard soon! [Albany Business Review]

📜 This Saturday, the Tang Museum opens Mark Thomas Gibson: We Are A Constellation, exploring American history, democracy and the responsibilities of citizenship through painting, drawing and performance. Central to the exhibition is the recurring “Town Crier” figure, which will be brought to life each day by a Skidmore student who will announce the news from both 250 years ago and the present.

130 Fleetwood Avenue, Albany, NY 12209

This charming Albany Tudor blends classic character with everyday comfort, featuring a stone-and-brick exterior, arched doorways, hardwood floors, a welcoming fireplace, and a thoughtfully designed kitchen. A first-floor bedroom adds flexibility for guests or a home office, while the full bath preserves its original tile for an extra dose of vintage charm.

Out back, a lush, fully fenced yard with flowering trees creates a private retreat, complemented by both front and back porches for relaxing outdoors. Add in a dry basement, detached garage, and a quiet, walkable location near shops, restaurants, and everyday conveniences, and you have a home that offers both neighborhood energy and a peaceful place to unwind.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1528 sq. ft. Asking: $324,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🎪 Circus in the Park | Step right up for an afternoon of high-flying family fun in Troy’s Prospect Park! Enjoy live circus performances, hands-on activities, music, movement, and plenty of surprises throughout the day. Designed for circus fans of all ages, the festival runs through the day. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic! Sun, 12-6p, free. There’s still time to sign up for trapeze lessons happening through the weekend. More to explore: Read our profile of The Big Top Group, the folks behind Circus in the Park.

⭐️ 🌮 Albany LatinFest | The largest Latino event in the Capital Region brings plenty of traditional foods and musical performances, headlined by Puerto Rican star Christian Alicea. Also on the bill: David Cedeño and his orchestra; and other local Latin artists. Sat, 11a-6p, free.

⭐️ 🎸 GEM Festival returns to downtown Glens Falls, bringing live music and live art installations to three venues: Downtown Social, Mean Max Brew Works, and Golden Monkey Lounge. The musical lineup includes Sophistafunk, Glass Pony, Joe Mansman & The Midnight Revival Band, Capital Zen, and The Hauntings. Sat, kicks off at 4p. Full pass is $20 (includes access to the afterparty); $10 per venue pass; available at the door.

⭐️ 🖼️ Romantics Arts & Culture Festival | Ten Broeck Mansion’s free “Hopeless Romantics” Arts & Culture Festival celebrates Albany’s connections to Romanticism through poetry, art, history, theater, and live music. The day includes a garden-inspired poetry workshop, a guided tour exploring Romantic-era artwork, performances from Capital Repertory Theatre and musician Eli Pafumi, and a closing concert by Shiri Zorn and Chad McLoughlin. Sat, 2-4p, free.

⭐️ 🍵 Mabee Farm Arts & Craft Festival | Up to 75 regional artists and makers will come together to showcase handmade jewelry, ceramics, fine art, home decor, artisan foods and wines, woodworking, and more. The day also features live music, with admission priced at $10 per parked car to benefit Mabee Farm. Sat, 10a-4p, free.

Honorable mention…

⭐️ 🇺🇲 Schenectady County Freedom Festival | Celebrate America’s 250th at this evening celebration, featuring live music and family-friendly fun. Jimmy Kenny & the Pirate Beach Band will bring the beach-party vibes with tributes to Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, and Zac Brown Band. The evening wraps up with a spectacular drone light show. Sat, 7-10p, free.

🎭️ AT THE THEATER

• 13 The Musical explores the joys and agonies of being a teenager. At Cohoes Music Hall. Aug. 21-30.

• Bridge Street Theatre raises the curtain on Building the Wall, a dystopian thriller exploring the extreme consequences of anti-immigration politics. Aug. 20-23.

• The Park Playhouse presents Elephant & Piggie: We Are in a Play. Free shows through Aug. 28.

• Get tix to Harbinger Theatre’s The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer. Starting Sept. 17.

TUESDAY

🎬️ It’s a dream team collab as First + Adams, Collar Works, Troy Social Cycling and Picture Lock One get together for a screening of Water & Power by Pat O’Neill.

🎡 The Altamont Fair brings the Royal Hanneford Circus, pig races, demo derbies, and Midway rides, all week long.

🍽️ The Downtown Schenectady Summer Sampler Restaurant Week (now that’s a mouthful) features 2 courses for $20, or 3 courses for $30/$40.

WEDNESDAY

👕 Join Circus and Tulip City Creative for Print Albany, a free hands-on T-shirt printing experience. It’s BYOS—bring your own shirt!

🎸 Sirsy headlines the Freedom Park Summer Concert Series in Scotia.

THURSDAY

🪴 Bring clippings, propagated plants, or fully mature specimens to Nine Pin’s Plant Swap. If you go, remember that 518 readers get 10% off all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.”

🍸️ Toast the end of summer at Cocktails & Caftans, a fabulous yet relaxed poolside party with Opera Saratoga.

🍧 The Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library welcomes DinoPalooza & the Kona Ice Truck (1 free per child).

FRIDAY

🎬️ Movies Under the Stars screens "Hoppers” at Ridgefield Park.

🍕 Have you been to Anthony’s by Romos Pizza? Check them out on Friday as Black Mountain Symphony hits the stage.

🖼️ Make it an art-filled stroll through downtown as Art Night Schenectady returns.

💣 Get to Fort William Henry to see The Last of the Mohicans on the big screen with an immersive atmosphere, featuring surround sound, and live musket and cannon fire! Fri & Sat.

SATURDAY

🎸 Join the New Jerusalem Home of the Saved Church and CDPHP for the 23rd Annual Dr. Pamela J. Harper Community Block Party.

🍺 While you’re in Glens Falls, get to Common Roots Brewing for Books, Beats & Brews. Kicks off at noon.

SUNDAY

🥖 The Sanctuary for Independent Media invites you to join the long table at Freedom Square for a free Community Brunch.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

Ruthie Foster brings her rich blend of blues, gospel, soul, folk and roots music to The Egg.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

Hey, 518 readers! After getting rained out in July, you all really showed up for The 518 Dinner Club this month. We are fully booked for our August dinner with 60 guests coming out for a delicious evening of food & friendship!

We want to thank our generous sponsors EMRY’s Garden and The Berlin for helping to make this dinner possible. We love these two hotspots located in the heart of Troy.

Today, we’re introducing you to The Big Top Group, the Troy arts org dedicated to contemporary circus. Don’t miss their Circus in the Park next week!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Circus in the Park, The Big Top Group’s marquee event in Troy 📷️ via Instagram

Step right up: The Big Top Group is redefining circus in the Capital Region

For a lot of people, the word “circus” still conjures a pretty old-school image: big tents, animal acts, goofy clowns, and daredevil stunts.

The Big Top Group wants you to toss that idea straight out of the ring.

The Troy-based arts organization is on a mission to spread the joy of contemporary circus, bringing together aerial arts, dance, music, puppetry, physical theater and storytelling.

“There’s the traditional circus that people think of, right?” says managing director Amy Hitchcoff. “But you know, the circus arts are much broader. It crosses so many disciplines.”

Founded in 2019 as the Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center, the organization initially operated on a more seasonal schedule, with its annual Circus in the Park serving as the marquee attraction.

Now, the group wants more people under its big top.

“We’re very intentionally trying to reach out to other parts of the Capital District and even beyond,” Amy says.

That expansion has included a World Circus Day celebration at The Egg; Circus Lab, a two-week run of performances, workshops and conversations; and a newly launched “salon series” that gives artists room to test new work in a more intimate setting. (We want to host a salon at The 518 HQ!)

The idea is not simply to put on more shows. The Big Top Group wants to build a regional network around contemporary circus, connecting artists, venues and audiences who might not otherwise find themselves under the same proverbial tent. Partners include Arts Letters & Numbers, NY Circus Project, and Cirque Kikasse.

“We don’t have a physical location that we perform out of,” Amy says. “But I think the beauty of that is that it allows us to create this ecosystem of partners.”

All of it feeds into a larger goal: getting people to reimagine circus as a creative form rather than a fixed genre.

“We’re really trying to broaden that concept of what a circus performance can even be,” Amy says.

The Big Top Group’s signature event returns this month as Circus in the Park takes over Prospect Park in Troy, Aug. 22–24.

🎪 The free festival runs from noon to 6 pm on Sunday, Aug. 23. Bring your lawn chairs and snacks, and picnic in Prospect Park (“the best place to see sunsets in the Capital Region,” Amy says). Full schedule to come.

🙌 Learn to fly: Sign up for trapeze lessons in the park.

🎟️ Summer Soiree: The Big Top Group depends on grants and donations to do its work. Join artistic director Arthur Yorinks and choreographer Ellen Sinopoli for an evening of performance, celebration, and artistic discovery.

🎬️ Also this Wednesday evening, Arts Letters & Numbers hosts a free screening of Born to Fly, the documentary about aerial artist Elizabeth Streb, who’s being honored at the soiree.

A word from our sponsor

Want chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals ready in 2 minutes?

Try Factor, America's #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service.

Made from ingredients you recognize. Whole food. Nothing unnecessary. Let’s eat real.

Get 50% off your first Factor box + Free Breakfast for a year *1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription active.

Try Factor Now

🐔 Chicken Feastin has opened in Schenectady, at 1625 Union St. The restaurant originated in Brooklyn but moved upstate with bigger ambitions in mind. Centered around its delicious charbroiled chicken, the menu features Spanish, Greek, and halal influences. Give it a try!

🌆 Local businesses are hopeful that $40 million carved out of Gov. Hochul’s $200 million plan to revitalize downtown will mean neglected Liberty Park will finally get the redevelopment it so desperately needs. [Albany Business Review]

🍔 In case you missed it with all the hoopla around the new Costco, Shake Shack is now open at Stuyvesant Plaza.

🚨 Even the county is mad about those speed cameras around Albany schools. Albany County is suing the City of Albany to try to overturn more than $7,000 in “unfair fines.” [Times Union] Also beware of the work zone cameras! [Reddit]

33 Grove Avenue, Albany, NY 12208

Well, if this isn’t the sweetest little starter home…

This 2-bed, 2-bath cutie in the Helderberg/New Scotland Ave neighborhood packs a lot of charm into 1,173 square feet, with reclaimed-mahogany porch boards, hardwood floors, fresh paint and a private fenced yard, complete with box gardens.

With newer appliances, a five-year-old roof and an updated hot water tank, you can check off some of the bigger-ticket maintenance items. Plus, you’re walking distance to Albany Ale & Oyster, Little City Luncheonette, Mr Bumble’s Cafe, Russell Sage’s Opalka Gallery, Albany Med, and Washington Park.

The deets: 2 bd, 2 ba, 1173 sq. ft. Asking: $199,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🐷 Troy Pig Out | If you love barbecue and pork, you’re going to be in hog heaven at Troy’s annual celebration of this tasty beast. Get to downtown Troy to sample your way through some of the best BBQ in town. The competition looks fierce this year, too. Sun, noon-5p, free to attend (samples $4-$5 each).

⭐️ 🌭 Palace Theatre Community Block Party | Is it already time for the end-of-summer block party in front of Albany’s Palace Theatre? Alas, celebrate the season with free burgers and hot dogs from Ted’s Fish Fry and free dessert crepes from The Skinny Pancake (while supplies last). Bring the kiddos to check out the pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house and more! On the stage: The Ky McClinton Band & the Albany Rock Pit Showcase Band. Sat, noon-4p, free.

⭐️ 🎸 Trail Tunes | In its second year, this music / biking / hiking combo event is organized by the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy. Hit the trails of the Bender Melon Farm Preserve in New Scotland and enjoy music from some great local musicians as you stroll around. It's right off the Rail Trail, so you can even bike to the show! Sun, 1-4p, free.

⭐️ 🎡 Schoharie County Sunshine Fair | The county fair season is in full swing, and the one in Schoharie County has always been one of our faves. We love that they include gate entry and unlimited rides in one reasonable, all-inclusive admission price. Parking is free as well. Check out the discount tix for seniors and military. Open daily through Aug. 16. Tickets: $10-$23.

⭐️ 🇲🇲 Capital Thingyan: Myanmar Summer Water Festival | Celebrate the culture, music and foods of Myanmar at this day-long fest. We don’t get to indulge in Burmese cuisine much around these parts, so this is an excellent opportunity to try some tasty dishes! Sat, 11a-5p, free. At the Corning Preserve Boat Launch in Albany.

Honorable mention…

⭐️ 🐘 🐽 Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play | Although budget cuts forced the Park Playhouse at Washington Park to scale back its traditional summer run, we’re still getting 10 days of this musical adaptation of Mo Willems’ popular children’s book series. This year, there are no reserved seats and admission is free for all! Kicks off Sunday at 5:30p and goes through Aug. 28.

🎭️ AT THE THEATER

• Bridge Street Theatre is staging Terrence McNally's The Lisbon Traviata, which explores friendship, obsession, and unrequited love during the height of the AIDS crisis. Through Aug. 16.

• The hit movie comes to the stage with Footloose: The Musical at Cohoes Music Hall. Through Aug. 15.

• Mopco has a full weekend lineup to enjoy, including Mopco & Chill, Theatresports, and What the F– Friday?

• On Sunday, get to Sand Lake Center for the Arts for the final performance of Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee.

• Get tix to Harbinger Theatre’s The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer. Starting Sept. 17.

WEDNESDAY

🥙 The New York State Food Festival brings some 40 food trucks to the Empire State Plaza for an all-day foodie feast with live music to boot.

🌮 Speaking of food trucks… Have you been to the Food Truck Night on Wednesdays in Wynantskill? Tomorrow is the last night to check it out for the season! 4-7p at Town Hall.

🔭 Get to Guilderland Public Library for a screening of Small Town Universe, a documentary exploring Green Bank, WV, where residents willingly restrict cellphone use to preserve the area for the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope.

THURSDAY

🌠 Join Greene Land Trust for a night under the stars. Learn about constellations and maybe spot a meteor or two at the Starlore Night at the Coxsackie Creek Grassland Preserve. Only a few tickets left.

FRIDAY

🌆 The last Franklin Plaza Rooftop Series of the season doubles as a fundraiser, with DJ Eric Whin on the turntables.

SATURDAY

🫙 The Community Market Swap at Context Collective starts with a really fun concept: Make 12 of the same items, swap for 12 items.

🎸 Harbor Jam Concert | Rivers Casino Schenectady hosts a free two-day jam session with The Lords of 52nd Street (Billy Joel tribute) on Sat; and The Blushing Brides (Rolling Stones tribute) on Sun. 3-6p each day, free.

🖼️ Picture Lock One presents an artist talk and shorts program in connection with Gracelee Lawrence’s “Light Eaters” at Collar Works.

🧘‍♂️ Come for the free yoga class at Nine Pin and stay for the tasty cider drinks. Remember, 518 readers get 10% off when you mention “The 518 Crew.”

🎭️ Want to practice your theater voice? Join the Scripts & Sips night at Bard & Baker to read Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

🎨 The Shaker Heritage Society celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ann Lee’s arrival with What Blooms in the Moonlight—live painting and ecstatic dance.

SUNDAY

🪦 The Albany Institute of History & Art goes offsite for a walking tour of the Albany Rural Cemetery, to view Remembered in Stone: The Legacy of Erastus Dow Palmer.

🌘 The rescheduled Dance Under the Waxing Moon at Stablegate Winery is this Sunday!

💄 Trash and Roast, the Deflock Drag Show, hosted by Tommie Lee and featuring Opal Essence and Lady Seanzia, takes over the Troy Rewind arcade bar.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

In partnership with

Hey, 518 readers! Last week’s torrential rains did a number on the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. It also forced us to cancel our 518 Dinner Club gathering. That means you have a second chance at getting a seat to this month’s dinner! We’re keeping it in downtown Troy because we love it so much. It’s also where you’ll find our generous dinner sponsor, EMRY’s Garden & The Berlin Lounge. Two terrific hotspots in one location.

🎟️ Save your spot for The 518 Dinner Club—the most delicious, low-key way to make friends in the 518.

🏐 Speaking of making friends, today we’re introducing you to the Winners Circle, a new social club that’s all about meeting new people—with a healthy dose of fitness thrown in. Check them out!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

(L) The Winners Circle founders; (R) pickleball players at a recent event 📷️ via Instagram

Move your body, meet your people. Welcome to the Winners Circle.

The pickleball courts at the Hockey Hut in Clifton Park were packed with fit and healthy 20-and-30 somethings.

Music blasted from a DJ deck. The Meat Stick Chick brought her mobile cart and was serving up gourmet hot dogs. Two girls wore matching pink t-shirts that read: “Pickle my balls.”

Everyone looked like they were having a great time.

Welcome to the Winners Circle, a new social club out of Saratoga whose motto is: “Fitness, but social.”

The group was created by longtime friends Alec Lind, Gordy Adams and Chris Serafini, who all met at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and played lacrosse together. 

After talking about the idea for years, they launched it this spring with a casual run around Saratoga. Their first official event drew about 15 people. Less than a year later, more than 600 have joined the club’s group chat, with roughly 100 or so who regularly come out to events.

Their fast growth says something about what young adults are looking for right now.

For many people in their 20s and 30s, going out no longer automatically means spending a night at a crowded bar. But they still want to meet people, have fun and feel part of something.

“A big reason why a lot of our members show up to our events is because they want other ways to socialize and meet people that doesn't involve drinking,” says Alec, 25, during a break in the friendly pickleball contest.

The social club leans heavily into fitness events: standup paddle boarding and kayaking outings, beach volleyball games, lakeside parties, “rave saunas” at KOS, hikes and runs.

There’s something else going on, too. Call it a vibe. You can see it on their Instagram. Everyone looks genuinely friendly and thrilled to be doing something active, together. Many friendships have been sparked.

Alec says the one word to describe the Winners Circle is “authentic.”

“Everything you see on our Instagram page is exactly what we're all about—just spreading positivity. Everyone's welcome. We just want to meet new people, have a good time.”

Jenna Clark, who started up the Casa Volley beach volleyball club in Milton / Ballston Spa, has been coming to Winners Circle events and recently hosted a volleyball tourney with them. (Btw, we profiled Jenna back in early 2025 as she was thinking about launching Casa Volley 🏐)

“I think anybody bringing people together to move their bodies, be active, is just a very special thing. It's what we need,” she says.

Another member, Ciara Cullen, 27, added: “With so many different types of events they have going on, there’s an entry point for everybody. It's good people, and we're all just here to have a good time.”

You can join the Winners Circle (the name is a homage to the winners circle in horse racing) by filling out this form. It’s free to join! Be sure to follow them on Insta.

There’s a group event almost every week. And stay tuned for some exciting news about events that will keep the social club going through the winter months when beach volleyball isn’t an option.

A word from our sponsor

The 518 is proud to be the media partner for the new season of Mopco’s Theatresports, on Saturday nights this summer. If you’ve never experienced the thrill of Theatresports, here’s what to expect:

Two teams of top-notch improvisers go head-to-head in a fast-paced showdown, battling for points, bragging rights, and your laughs.

It’s fast, fearless, and completely unscripted. No two shows are ever the same!

⚓️ A new seasonal bar called the Hudson Shore Tavern is opening on the waterfront in Watervliet, near the former Rusty Anchor barge. The owners also operate ROCKS and Just a Bar in Albany. The grand opening is scheduled for Thursday at 4:30 pm. [News10]

🌶️ If you’re heading to Watervliet, you might check out Ben Thanh Vietnamese Bistro. The restaurant got a nice writeup in the TU this past weekend. [Times Union]

📚️ The lineup for the 9th annual Albany Book Festival on Sept. 26 has been announced. Among the speakers will be Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Kolbert and famed restaurateur Keith McNally. And guess who will be moderating a panel at the book fest? That’s right, our very own Phat! [Times Union]

🍦 Say it ain’t so… The ice cream trucks of your childhood are being threatened by soaring insurance premiums 👎️ [Albany Business Review]

2727 Delaware Turnpike, Voorheesville, NY 12186

This comfy family home in Voorheesville opens with an impressive porch that looks out over a peaceful woodland setting. The lofted living room feels bright and open, while a wood stove and lots of little nooks throughout the house keep it cozy. Admittedly, the interior could use a bit of a glowup. Tucked into the surrounding forest are several outbuildings, including a heated studio/garage. Bonus: It’s also in a top-notch school district.

The deets: 4 bd, 3 ba, 1,940 sq. ft, 1.7 acres. Asking: $414,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🏮 TroyAsia Night Market | It’s back by popular demand! And boy, is it popular! If you didn’t heed our advice last time to get there EARLY, you probably missed out on some of the best vendors—or waited in super long lines. The early bird gets the inihaw baboy (Filipino grilled pork) and a variety of Asian treats. Vietnamese bakery Chateau Homemade will be there! Sat, 5-9p, free.

⭐️ 🖼️ First Friday Albany | The city’s monthly arts and music showcase is back this Friday with a solid lineup of events. There will be a fun block party in front of Fort Orange General Store, with an afterparty at Ophelia’s—Femininomenon Fest. More highlights: Half Cousin at New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room; a free show at Dive; Press Rewind at Circus, and free admission at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Fri, 6-11:30p, free.

⭐️ 🥕 The Markets at Round Lake | This year’s event features 3 separate markets: a food market, a maker’s market, and a book market. Our friend, Lidia’s Empanadas, will be among the excellent food vendors. At the book market, you can make your own tiny book or print screen your own library tote bag. Sat & Sun, kicks off at 10a.

⭐️ 🎆 Tchaikovsky Spectacular | Guest conductor Marin Alsop returns to SPAC for an all-Tchaikovsky program with The Philadelphia Orchestra. The evening features Symphony No. 5, the dramatic Romeo and Juliet, and a grand finale of the 1812 Overture accompanied by fireworks and actual live cannon fire! 💣️ Come early to picnic and fun family activities. Wed, 7:30p, $26.66 for lawn tix.

⭐️ 🎸 Femininomenon Fest: Live Band Sing-a-Long | This is part of First Friday, but it’s worth calling out on its own: A bunch of Capital Region faves like Sydney Worthley, Shannon Tehya, Caity Gallagher, Nocturnne and Julia Alsarraf will be belting out covers of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan and more! Fri, 8:30-11:30p, free.

Honorable mentions:

⭐️ 🖼️ 3rd Annual Capital Region Activated Artist Fest | Experience a full day of live art demonstrations, interactive workshops, and unique pieces from various artists. At the Art Center of the Capital Region in Troy. Sun, 11a-6p, free.

⭐️ 🛒 The much, much anticipated Costco in Guilderland is finally opening on Wednesday morning, following a 7:30 am ribbon cutting ceremony. Some 14,000 memberships have been sold ahead of the opening—a record for the Northeast. So, there might be a little traffic, just saying. If you really want to brave opening day, head to 1701 Western Ave, Albany (Guilderland). Doors open at 8 am.

🎭️ AT THE THEATER

• Bridge Street Theatre raises the curtain on Terrence McNally's "The Lisbon Traviata,” which explores friendship, obsession, and unrequited love during the height of the AIDS crisis. Through Aug. 16.

• The hit movie comes to the stage with Footloose: The Musical at Cohoes Music Hall. Through Aug. 15.

• Prepare for a blast of 80s nostalgia at theREP’s “Mystic Pizza.”

• Theater at Troy’s No Fun? Yup. The No Fun Fringe: Play Showcase features not one, but two plays!

• Elton John tribute, The Rocket Man Show is coming to Proctors for one night only (Sept. 12).

SUMMER FUN

🖼️ The Albany Institute of History & Art invites children ages 9–12 and 6–8 to Artful Morning, for three and one-day sessions at the museum.

WEDNESDAY

🤣 Cloud City Comedy is bringing the laughs with a clean (and free!) Comedy Open Mic Night at Nine Pin. Remember that 518 readers get 10% off all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.”

🍜 Join Chef Saso at Capital Cooks as he guides you through cult classics straight from the hit show, “Midnight Diner.”

THURSDAY

🎸 Electric City Summer Fest closes out the season with Tommy V Live, a Capital Region fan favorite bringing 80s hard rock and metal to the stage.

🖼️ The Tang Museum’s free concert series Upbeat on the Roof welcomes Little Saints. Get there early for some fun crafting!

🏃‍♂️The Bad Blood 5K Run returns to Siena University to benefit Wicklund Warriors' mission of helping local families facing blood cancer.

🍸️ Rescheduled due to last week’s downpour, the Golden Hour Garden Party at Good Friends Ecological Garden is your chance to tour this wonderful suburban oasis.

FRIDAY

🖼️ In honor of Andy Warhol’s birthday, come learn how to paint your own version of his iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans.

SATURDAY

🕷️ The Twilight Market is back at Quackenbush Square in Albany. Explore a curated collection of oddities, dark art, taxidermy, gothic fashion, and more!

💃 Lark Before Dark is a dance party for people with stuff to do the next day 😂 featuring DJ Rvmba on the decks.

🖼️ At Albany Center Gallery’s Moveable Mural Workshop, participants collaborate to create movable murals using recycled materials.

👩‍🎨 Meet artists Jahniah Kum and Jess Stapf as they open up their spaces during the Collar Works Open Studios.

📚️🍺 The Book Hive brings its book popup to Albany’s Broken Loop Brewing Co. If you haven’t dropped into this brewery, it’s worth checking out!

SUNDAY

👗 The Second Sunday vintage market will setting up shop in Saratoga’s Congress Park.

🧘‍♂️ Grit & Grace Salon and Boutique is hosting Reset Session #3, the third in a series of events that includes light yoga and meditation.

👂️ Albany Community Acupuncture invites you to learn about the healing powers of Ear Seed therapy at the Sanctuary for Independent Media. It’s not as strange as it, um, sounds.

ART ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

Capital Region stalwart Sean Rowe plays Caffe Lena on Friday

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

Hey, 518 readers—meet Patrick White, one of the hardest-working people in the Capital Region theater scene. As the founder of Harbinger Theatre, he’s on a mission to pull audiences away from their screens and into a room where live performances can surprise, provoke and move them.

Patrick’s own story has all the ingredients of a great play: ambition, struggle, sacrifice, a bit of brashness, and an enduring belief that theater still matters.

He’s convinced us to add a new theater section to this newsletter, so thanks for the nudge, Patrick!

Patrick White portraying the young Tennessee Williams in Harbinger Theatre’s production of A Distant Country Called Youth

Why Patrick White keeps chasing the next great play 🎭️ 

Patrick White remembers the first play that made him feel less alone.

He was a gay teenager at Colonie Central High School. His 10th-grade English class read Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.

“I was like, ‘F—ing finally, there’s a place for me,’” he remembers. “I know where I am in the world, and I know who I am, and that’s what theater does for me.”

That feeling sent Patrick toward New York City. At 17, he enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and spent the next 13 years acting, creating theater companies, and working in East Village performance spaces. He had a brilliant time, but he also never came close to making a living at it.

Burned out, Patrick returned to Albany in 1994. He gave up his union card, took day jobs and kept doing theater anyway.

That persistence led to the Harbinger Theatre, the community company Patrick founded as pandemic restrictions began to lift. Since 2021, Harbinger has staged roughly 20 Capital Region premieres—work that local audiences might otherwise never see.

The artistic mission is ambitious. The business of selling tickets is less glamorous.

The Harbinger has no permanent home. A small but devoted group of supporters follows the theater from venue to venue, whether it’s the Albany Barn, Union College, or Sand Lake Center for the Arts.

Productions can cost between $4,000 and $6,000, while tickets are just $15 each. Pulling a profit isn’t usually in the cards. 

“I’m looking to break even,” Patrick says. “I’m looking to not lose too much.”

The Harbinger is not only competing against the inertia of the non-theater-going crowd, it’s also trying to peel audiences away from established institutions like the Capital Repertory Theatre and Proctors. 

But you won’t find crowd pleasers like “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory” or “The Life of Pi” here. Patrick searches far and wide for stories that surprise, challenge, and occasionally unsettle.

“I'm looking for plays that hit me spiritually, emotionally, politically. And if they're hitting on all of those cylinders, that's the one I'm going to pick.”

At times, Patrick’s pure devotion has led to an outspoken brashness.

After only about 20 people attended one Harbinger production, Patrick shot off an angry Facebook post criticizing fellow theater artists for not showing up. The backlash was immediate. Critics said he came across as shaming. The controversy eventually cost him his leadership role with the Capital Region Festival of Theatre, which he founded.

Patrick regrets making the post, though not entirely the frustration behind it.

“I was wrong to post it,” he said. “The feelings—I wasn’t necessarily wrong.”

It’s this intensity of feeling that keeps the Harbinger alive.

More than four decades after The Glass Menagerie first showed him there might be a place for him, Patrick is still trying to create spaces for others to find their own story.

🎭️ Harbinger Theatre’s upcoming production is Meghan Kennedy’s The Counter, which follows Katie, a lonely waitress, and Paul, a retired firefighter, whose morning conversations at an upstate New York diner grow into a deeply personal friendship. It will be staged at the Albany Barn, Sept. 17–26.

Directed by Patrick himself, the 2024 Off-Broadway play offers an intimate and provocative look at grief, loneliness and the hope of human connection.

🎟️ Get tickets now. Pro tip: Purchase a Flex subscription, which gets you 4 tickets to any Harbinger production for only $50.

👨‍🌾 A veteran farmers market organizer is bringing a new farmers market to the former Saint Rose campus starting in mid-to-late August, to be held 4-7 pm on Thursdays. [Times Union]

🍸️ The power couple behind The Nest and Milas are opening a new bar concept called Bar Calvin at Stuyvesant Plaza, where Shake Shack is also opening on Aug. 4. [Albany Business Review]

🥃 The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy is coming to The Egg next month. The immersive cocktail experience brings four of his stories to life, in a “meticulously crafted, gothic atmosphere.” The tickets aren’t cheap, but VIP seats are already sold out.

🥞 In case you missed it, Trixie’s Diner is now opened in the former (and much loved) Dan’s Place II at 494 Washington Avenue in Albany. The TU’s Steve Barnes stopped in on their first day and says hardly anything has changed from the looks of it, although it’s not exactly the same menu.

184 White Mills Rd, Chatham, NY 12037

Admittedly, this 1850s Center Hall home is a fixer-upper—but at $249,000 for a home in charming Chatham, it’s the kind of project that gets your attention. The three-bedroom house still has its original wide-plank floors, period details and a wonderfully old-school Glenwood wood-burning cookstove, alongside a modern propane range and dishwasher.

Restoration work is already underway, and the kitchen and bathroom are fully functional. The roof, kitchen and hot-water heater were updated between 2017 and 2023, and the house sits just moments from Chatham’s natural drinking-water spring.

The deets: 3 bd, 1 ba, 1,728 sq. ft, 0.5 acres. Asking: $249,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🎸 Black Arts & Cultural Festival | This annual culture fest brings gospel performances, art, food and a full day of family-friendly activities at the Empire State Plaza. The festival culminates Saturday evening with funk and R&B performances, including headliner Lloyd. Fri & Sat, free.

⭐️ 🛶 Waterford Dragon Boat Festival | Cheer on teams as they climb into dragon-headed boats and compete in a series of heats near Hurst Harbor. Each 42’ long boat carries about 20 paddlers, plus a drummer who sets the crew’s rhythm. Sat, 10a-4p, free.

⭐️ 👩‍🎨 1st Annual Glens Falls Plein Air Festival | Watch artists paint scenes alfresco as they gather downtown and other locations around the charming Glens Falls area, including at the Hyde Collection, which is offering free admission. Various times, all week. Free.

⭐️ 🐟️ Great Hudson River Fish Count | Get up early to help document the number and different species of fish in the Hudson at this 15th annual fish count organized by the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program. All families are welcome! Sat, 6a-12p, free. At Peebles Island State Park.

⭐️ 🏖️ Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.’s Anniversary Beach Party | Listen to Big Fez and the Surfmatics tear up the stage with surf rock tunes, and sample from an excellent lineup of food vendors, including Chee-bog, Sunhee's Kitchen, Los Hermosos, and Vandor’s Ice Cream. Sat, 5-9p, free to attend.

Honorable mention this week…

💀 Need a cathartic stroll? Join the death doulas of Thin Veil Death Collaborative for a Death Wander around the Albany Rural Cemetery, while listening to conversations about dying and grief. Sun, 2p, free.

🎭️ AT THE THEATER

• The hit movie comes to the stage with Footloose: The Musical at Cohoes Music Hall.

• Prepare for a blast of 80s nostalgia at theREP’s “Mystic Pizza.”

• Broadway Camp presents “Sweeney Todd: School Edition.”

• Albany Civic Theater presents local playwright Mark Dalton’s Exit Wounds at its annual Playwright’s Showcase. The play is a gut-wrenching and personal exploration of gun violence. Free show this Sunday!

WEDNESDAY

🍿 Albany’s Palace Theatre hosts a free screening of the Disney classic,
“Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.”

🐕️ Have you been to June Farms’ Dog Park Night on Wednesdays? It’s a whole scene. Free admission with your dog, plus free pup cups and the Wood Fired Wagon Pizza truck will be slinging pies.

THURSDAY

🌻 Good Friend Ecological Garden invites you to the Golden Hour Garden Party, featuring tours with owner Felicia Reid, wine, and light bites from Arthur’s Market. Read our profile of the Good Friend Garden.

🐦️ Join scientists from the NYS Museum as they go out into the field and demonstrate bird banding at the Albany Pine Bush.

🪕 Upbeat on the Roof, the Tang Museum’s free summer concert series, brings Carolyn Shapiro (Skidmore class of ’15), named the Folk/Traditional Artist of 2026 by the Capital Region Eddie Awards.

FRIDAY

🖼️ It’s the last day to see the Fence exhibition at the Art Center of the Capital Region.

🤠 Get to Albany’s Nine Pin Tasting Room for a free line dancing class and party. Remember that 518 readers get 10% of all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.”

SATURDAY

🏳️‍🌈 The Albany Center Gallery invites you to Gay Aunties Day, celebrating lesbian pride.

🎭️ Mopco’s Theatresports pits crack improv teams in a battle for laughs and bragging rights. We are thrilled to be the media partner for this season of Theatresports.

🎙️ Rock Voices Saratoga presents Music from the Movies.

🏎️ The Saratoga Automobile Museum brings an incredible lineup of classic, vintage, and modern cars to its free Summer Auto Show.

SUNDAY

🌘 Dance Under the Light of the Waning Moon at the Stablegate Winery!

🖼️ It’s your last chance to see the wonderful “Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist,” at the Albany Institute of History & Art.

🦺 Citizen Preparedness Corps is coming to Albany, thanks to the Love Your Block Program. Each family that attends the Preparedness Workshop will receive a handy preparedness kit to take home. Register for this free workshop today.

MONDAY

💼 Interested in a career in the civil service? Join this free workshop at the Albany Public Library to learn about career opportunities and hear from some folks working in local government.

ART ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

Ally Piper has gone viral with her bagpipes. Catch her at The Egg on Wednesday!

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

0/

Hey 518 readers, FOMO alert: If you missed our Sundae Morning cafe popup this past weekend, you missed a really lovely gathering. More than 70 folks came out to celebrate National Ice Cream Day at our home. Stay tuned for the next Sundae Morning, happening sometime in September.

Our next event is The 518 Dinner Club, taking place in downtown Troy on Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 pm. Seats are filling up fast, and bookings will close soon.

It’s a delicious way to make new friends in the 518. Mimi Evans, who came out to Sundae Morning, told us that she’s gone to every Dinner Club. “I still stay in touch with the people from our first dinner. We have a group chat!” Bravo, Mimi 👏 That’s exactly why we started the dinner club.

Today, we’re getting back to a regular feature we haven’t done in a hot minute—5 things we’re loving right now in the Capital Region. Enjoy!

Little City Luncheonette might be your new favorite brunch spot 📷️ Courtesy of The Dishing

5 things we’re loving right now 🏆️ 

Here are some awesome things in the Capital Region catching our attention at the moment…

🥞 Little City Lunchonette

Yes, it lives up to the hype. Brought to you by the folks behind Albany Ale & Oyster, Little City Lunchonette may be the best brunch spot in Albany right now, rivaling an old favorite—the Iron Gate Cafe. Everything here is thoughtfully prepared and just so good, like the City Style buttermilk pancakes. They also have a few hard-to-find menu items definitely worth trying: Dutch babies, made-from-scratch pot pies (only 12 per day!), latkes, and matzo ball soup. Here’s a look at the menu. Be prepared for a wait on the weekends.

🦪 The $1 oysters at Jack’s / Ale & Oyster

For just a $1 per oyster, you can experience one of the prettiest restaurants in town—Jack’s Oyster House. The special is offered all day at the bar. Get two dozen for $24, some fries, a couple of drinks, and it's an elegant but casual date night that won’t completely break the bank. By comparison, we were in Los Angeles for a business trip recently and spent $48 on a dozen oysters—and the whole dinner was very meh. The other place to get the $1 oyster special is at Albany Ale & Oyster—Sundays only. Pair it with a cold craft brew on the patio and it’s perfection👌 

🍰 Chateau Homemade Bakery

Asian desserts are having a moment. The mango sticky rice sundae at Cafe Panna in NYC is drawing huge lines every day. Locally, we’re drawn to the elegant Vietnamese desserts coming out of Chateau Homemade Bakery—”made with sweet love, baked with Asian soul.” At the TroyAsia night market in May, they were one of the first vendors to sell out. Try the pandan honeycomb cake or cookies with unique Asian flavors. Better yet, take home one of their Cake Boxes to sample a bunch of their sweets. On Saturday, find Chateau Bakery at the Niskayuna Farmers Market, and the Schenectady Greenmarket on Sunday.

👗 Big Emotions Studio

The whole vintage / thrift trend is on fire. One of our favorite new discoveries is Big Emotions Studio, a new shop at 296 Delaware Avenue in Albany. In fact, we invited them to join our Sundae Morning cafe popup this past weekend. Lovingly curated by Jammella Anderson, a Black queer activist known for their free food fridges, Big Emotions Studio is a whole vibe—part shop, gallery, and sewing studio. The focus here is on truly rare vintage gems, not just old stuff. Expect prices to match.   

🕹️ Troy Rewind

Seriously, why do all of the coolest things pop up in Troy? Troy Rewind is an arcade bar and retro lounge where you can drink adult beverages and play vintage arcade games, all day for $12. You’ll find games in the Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Mortal Kombat era, plus classic Atari and Nintendo consoles. We absolutely love that they have real pinball machines—an old childhood favorite. They’re also putting on some cool events, like a Y2K Rewind Night (that’s tonight!) and Christmas in July on Sunday. Don’t forget the full bar with fun arcade-themed drinks.

🍪 The brand-new Scotia Sweets Drive-Thru at 35 Freemans Bridge Road in Schenectady soft-opened on Monday—and it’s absolutely adorable. The whole butter-yellow vibe is 🤌. Get there for cold brew coffee, and giant cookies and pastries.

☕️ Also just opened is Cafe 66 on State Street in downtown Albany, serving coffee, pastries, breakfast and lunch. You might know them because they supply the bread and desserts for Jack’s Oyster House, The Vault and Izakaya.

🌴 The Verandah, a new Jamaican restaurant in downtown Troy inspired by the flavors, hospitality, and culture of the islands, is celebrating its grand opening at 1 pm Friday, with festivities going until 10 pm. On the menu is Caribbean comfort food: Jerk wings, curry and brown stew chicken, slow-braised oxtail, and fried snapper. Yum! The interior looks upscale, too.

🍕Pizzeria Mari in Troy got a rave review in the TU. Of course, loyal readers of The 518 know that we profiled them back in January, calling the artisan pies from Alex Chronopoulos our new favorite pizza in the 518.

39 N Warren Street, Athens, NY 12015

We can’t get enough of these solid historic homes. It’s the rich textures that make this brick beauty in the Village of Athens so special, from the well-worn wide-plank flooring to the lush, Insta-ready hand-plastered walls. Other standout details include the graceful arches and marble backsplash quarried from the Alford Marble Works. Upgraded electric and plumbing seal the deal. The home is just two blocks from a marina and kayak put-in, and a stone’s throw from Hudson, the Amtrak and the Thruway.

The deets: 3 bd, 1 ba, 2711 sf. Asking: $535,000. Days on market: 4. See the full listing here.

THIS WEEK’S TOP 5 PICKS

⭐️ 🎸 Get to Schenectady’s Music Haven for the WEXT Local 518 Music Fest, featuring some of our favorite local talents, including Sirsy, Shannon Tehya, Alec Lewis Group, The Sugar Hold, and more! The first 250 attendees get a free festival t-shirt, btw. Sat, 2-9:30p, free.

⭐️ 🎤 Wha?? Wu-Tang Clan in Albany? Ghostface Killah closes out the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza with a local DJ battle. Wed, 5:30-8p, free. Afterparties at the Fuze Box and Lost & Found.

⭐️ 💐 Pick up to 18 stems to put together your own stunning summer bouquet at the Forts Ferry Farm Bouquet Bar. Plus, shop the Mini Market and find your next summer read at the Dilly Dally Books popup. The flowers are in full bloom, so this is a terrific time to visit this charming farm in Latham. Sat, 10a-12p, $20 per bouquet.

⭐️🪁 This looks really fun. June Farms invites you to bring your own kite to its first-ever Kite Festival. Come enjoy a lovely summer day on the 120-acre reality-show famous farm, drink some craft brew, and watch the kids (and kids-at-heart) send their kites soaring into the air. Sat, 11a-4p, $11.65. Btw, the Mamma Mia screening and sing-along later in the evening looks like a blast as well.

⭐️ 🎡 Now in its 82nd year, the Punkintown Fair in Voorheesville is classic Americana. Think carnival rides, greasy fair food, cold beer and wine slushies, and a fireworks show to cap off the night. Best of all, admission is free. Thu-Sat, 11a-6p, free.

SUMMER FUN

🎡 The Saratoga County Fair opens today. Get there for classic summertime fun, carnival rides, and animals.

SHOUTOUTS

🖼️ Context Collective is inviting artists to submit work that “explores the narrative potential of environments” as part of its Set a Scene exhibition.

🦺 Citizen Preparedness Corps is coming to Albany, thanks to the Love Your Block Program. Each family that attends the Preparedness Workshop will receive a handy preparedness kit to take home. Don’t delay, register for this free workshop today.

WEDNESDAY

🪕 Bluegrass and roots stars Alison Krauss & Union Station play Albany’s Palace Theatre.

THURSDAY

👩‍🎨 Get to Context Collective for the ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ Artist Talk with photographer Kiki Vassilakis.

🖼️ Tang Museum director Ian Berry will lead the Curator’s Tour of Kathy Butterly: Assume Yes.

FRIDAY

🎸 Legendary Pink Floyd tribute band Run Rabbit Run drops into Saratoga’s Putnam Place.

SATURDAY

⭐️ 🎸 Rockin on Burden Lake is a family-friendly affair featuring the Spider Murphy Band, food trucks, and plenty of swimming under the hot sun. Also on the bill: Ken & Billy Cioffi, The Brit Beat Band, and Shut Up Sam. Sat, kicks off at 1p, $20 (free for kids 12 and under).

💃 The Havana Night Summer Series at Wolf Hollow Brewing Company in Schenectady brings a free salsa lesson (zero experience necessary) and dancing until 10 pm! Btw, Wolf Hollow’s new Scotia taproom is now open.

🏃‍♂️ Remember kickball? Kicking It for a Cause brings the first annual Kickball Tournament to Albany’s Lincoln Park to support youth programs and the fight against cancer. Free.

🏳️‍🌈 A Big Gay Market presents the Summer Sapphic Market at Saratoga Arts, featuring 23 curated vendors, live print making, and a sapphic open poetry mic! After the market, head out to Congress Park for a "gay-ass picnic” 😂 

🎭️ Watch improv teams duke it out for laughs and bragging rights with full audience participation at Mopco’s Theatresports!

🎸 Trampled by Turtles, with special guests Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, plays the Frog Alley Summer Stage. Annie in the Water also performs at the afterparty.

SUNDAY

🌭 All dogs will be celebrated at Nine Pin’s Hot Summer Dog event. Amy Z. Photography will be capturing shots of your 4-legged BFFs, plus Piece of Heaven will be serving up their specialty dogs. Remember that 518 readers always get 10% off all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.”

🌿 Bring the kiddos to the Eco-Art Event at the Schenectady JCC to learn about nature and sustainability through the lens of art.

ART ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah leads Hip-Hop Night on Wednesday at the Empire State Plaza.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

Hey 518 readers, welcome to the first week of our Tuesday-only newsletter! We’re doing our part to save your inbox while still giving you all the “dam news you can use” 🦫

🍨 Did you know that this Sunday is National Ice Cream Day? Serendipitously, it’s the same day as our very first ice cream social, Sundae Morning. Think ice cream + artisan coffee + brunch pastries + a bunch of cool popup vendors.

We just added two awesome vendors: a vintage thrift popup by Big Emotions Studio / Lil Thrift Ma, and a book popup from Urban Aftermath Books (that’s right, they just closed their shop but are popping up at our event). Plus, Virgo Rising Coffee, Yellow Corner Bakery, and a permanent jewelry popup from Erin Byrns. It’s gonna be amazing, and we only have 12 spots left!

Since some people have asked, we added a lower ticket tier for $8—come hang out with us & check out the vendors (ice cream, coffee & pastries are extra).

Jade Warrick (middle) with their brother, Quill, and sister, Zoe Harrison. 📷️ Phat X. Chiem

The murals that make a city feel seen 🎨 

The Mexican-American muralist Judy Baca once said: “Murals sing gospel from our streets, preach to us about who we can be, what we fear, and to what we can aspire.”

That’s a good way of summing up the power of a public mural.

A great mural makes everyone sit up and pay attention. And it becomes inseparable from the fabric of the city.

In Albany, the Capital Walls initiative recently celebrated its 10th year. Capital Walls gave us Albany’s most prominent mural—Michael Conlin’s massive ”Bluebirds,” seen by thousands of people daily as they pass the Quackenbush Parking Garage on the I-787.

We’re fond of the work of Samson Contompasis, who uses a distinct monochromatic style of inky black lines.

Then there’s Jade Warrick, a self-taught Black queer artist who discovered the magic of murals not too long ago. Commissioned by Capital Walls, their first mural at 39 Columbia Street in Albany features a young Black girl with a red Afro, sitting in a field of sunflowers. It’s playful and somehow subversive at the same time.

The mural, “Escape to Nature: Where Peace Awaits,” is now a downtown landmark.

“Almost all of my murals have some type of representation, whether it’s able-bodiedness, queerness, race or gender,” Jade says. “I tend to create murals with underrepresented voices.”

Jade points to another big project of theirs—the murals on the concrete abutments below the Collar City Bridge along Hoosick Street in Troy. “Gems of Troy” visually connects neighborhoods divided by the raised highway. One mural features an Asian girl on a skateboard.

“People have said to me, ‘Thank you for showing a person of Asian heritage in this way.’ They don’t see many murals with people that look like them.”

Jade’s ‘Gems of Troy’ 📷️ Lori Van Buren/Times Union

We caught up with Jade while they were painting a new mural in Rotterdam, where the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail goes under a tunnel. This project is special because Jade has brought in several of their siblings—Zoe, Quill and Shalom Harrison—who are all artists in their own right.

The mural is a sweeping scene of cyclists, dog walkers, wetlands, birds, foxes and flowers. Everyone had a part in it: Zoe shaped many of the people, Quill handled animals, Shalom built nature elements, and Jade helped pull the composition together.

“We’re siblings, so there’s a lot of bickering,” Zoe says. “But it’s super fun.”

Jade also spreads the power of art through Amplified Voices, which they started in 2020. The program teaches young artists about public art and how creative work can lead to a real career—and also improve your mental wellness.

“At the end of the day, it's less about a mural, and more about how you can use art to express yourself in a big way.”

We’re excited to see how Jade and other talented muralists around the Capital Region will transform our big beautiful walls.

A word from our sponsor

Master Claude AI (Free Guide)

The professionals pulling ahead aren't working more. They're using Claude.

Our free guide will show you how to:

• Configure Claude to be the perfect assistant

• Master AI-powered content creation

• Transform complex data into actionable strategies

• Harness Claude’s full potential

Transform your workflow with AI and stay ahead of the curve with this comprehensive guide to using Claude at work.

Get The Free Guide

🍏 The owners of Nine Pin Cidery want to build more housing in the Warehouse District by converting an old office building next door into apartments. [Albany Business Review]

👩‍🌾 The Guilderland Farmer’s Market is without a home after the Guilderland Public Library ended its contract with the operator. [Facebook]

🥟 La Empanada Llama is closing in September after 13 years in business. [Times Union]

🍕 After the massive success of Anthony’s by Romo’s Pizza, the owners are opening a second location in Voorheesville. [Times Union]

5 Albany Avenue, Round Lake, NY 12151

This 1873 Victorian in Round Lake drips with architectural detail and charm. Modern upgrades, including tankless hot water, central air, hydronic second-floor air handling, and a generator, seal the deal. The combination of historic presence with modern-day comfort and efficiency really does make everyday life hit a bit different. We should know, this place was built during the same era as The 518 HQ.

The picture book view doesn’t stop at the driveway. The surrounding village of Round Lake is just as lovely. Originally a summer camp for Methodists, this “Little Village in the Grove” has grown up to be a historic enclave for these gorgeous Victorian homes, nestled like a jewel in a top notch school district.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1722 sf. Asking: $375,000. Days on market: 1. See the full listing here.

THIS WEEK’S TOP 5

⭐️ 🖼️ Back by popular demand, Albany Center Gallery’s Summer Art Fest is a festive celebration of the arts at Quackenbush Square. Sat, 12-5p, free.

⭐️ 🎸 The cleverly named Farming Man Festival at Indian Ladder Farms is a full day of live bands and craft beverages, plus a twilight hike and the burning of the straw man. This year, admission is free! Sat, 1-10p, free.

⭐️ 🎪 The charming village of Chatham closes down Main Street for its SummerFest featuring classic Americana like a pie-eating contest and the Great Chatham Bake-Off (Ruth Reichl is one of the judges). Sat, 10a-4p, free.

⭐️ 🚲️ Bike Night Along the Trail brings live music, craft beer, local artists, and family activities to the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail in Delmar. Thurs, 5-7p, free.

⭐️ 🎥 Picture Lock One presents FROM ENTRE / WITH LOVE: ENTRE Film Center and C. Díaz, a program of documentary and experimental films from the ENTRE Film Center in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Come back the next day to join their filmmaking workshop in downtown Troy. PL1 screens in a literal bank vault, it’s a remarkable location. Screening Fri, 7:30p, suggested donation. Workshop (be prepared to walk) Sat, 11a, free.

SUMMER FUN

🍫 “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” continues at Cohoes Music Hall through this weekend. It’s been getting rave reviews! Also: Catch “Mystic Pizza” at theREP.

🎬️ Albany’s Palace Theatre screens a free family-friendly movie every Tuesday as part of its Summer in the City series.

🖼️ All summer, Ten Broeck Mansion offers Living History, free family programs with hands-on art, garden, and history activities set among its four acres of historic gardens.

WEDNESDAY

🍯 Visit the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, peruse the farmer’s market, and enjoy live music with Lunchtime at the Plaza. 

🎸 Lawrence headlines the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza.

🎷 The Capital Jazz Collective plays Dove + Deer.

THURSDAY

🎸 The last Alive at Five show of the season is Funk & Jam Night, featuring Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with our friends, the NolaNaughts, in support. At the Washington Park Playhouse.

📚️ Find your next great read at Nine Pin’s Book Swap. Remember that 518 readers always get 10% off all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.”

🖼️ The Tang Museum’s next Upbeat on the Roof concert features Paint Brush Charlie, which includes the stellar Julia Alssaraf. Come early and bring the kids for crafting!

🎸 The Dave Matthews Band is at SPAC this weekend for two shows, but if you don’t want to pony up the 💰️ for tix, catch tribute band Big Eyed Phish for free at Schenectady’s Electric City SummerFest!

🎸 Benson Boone’s big, emotionally charged pop-rock is built for arena-sized audiences.

FRIDAY

🎬️ Catch a free screening of “A Minecraft Movie” at Albany’s historic Lincoln Park.

🦎 Uncharted Wild brings a free reptile show to the Guilderland Public Library (registration required).

SATURDAY

🐕️ Bark, Brew & Tattoo is exactly what it sounds like—tattoo artists, craft beer, and animal rescues, plus plenty of food from Saratoga restaurants.

🧘‍♂️ Don’t forget that there’s free yoga from State Street Yoga every Saturday morning in front of the SUNY Building on Broadway, through Aug. 1.

SUNDAY

🍨 Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with us at Sundae Morning!

ART ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

In partnership with

Hey 518 readers, the Weekender is hot off the presses! There’s an embarrassment of riches with too many awesome free festivals happening at once. Decisions, decisions.

🥐 We’re thrilled to welcome a new bakery partner for our Sundae Morning event, taking place next Sunday. The Latina-owned Yellow Corner Bakery in Troy will be providing blueberry crisp cinnamon rolls, local strawberry oat bars, herby focaccia, and local garlic scape, goat cheese puff pastry. Are you kidding me? This is your sign to get your tickets to Sundae Morning—yes, we’re talking ice cream!

🎟️ Don’t forget that The 518 Dinner Club is also in downtown Troy this month.

📆 Finally, just a reminder that we will be going down to one newsletter a week, starting next Tuesday. Your inbox thanks us.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Celebrate the Erie Canal’s bicentennial at the Water Music NY: Waterford Festival on Friday.

⭐️ = Top 5 Staff Picks

⭐️ 🎸 Schenectady County SummerNight | Schenectady’s biggest event of the year features two talented tribute bands, Refugee (Tom Petty) and The Warped Band Tour (emo-pop punk), plus local favorites like The Sugar Hold and Ky McClinton. The night ends with a fireworks finale. Friday, 5-10:30p, free.

⭐️ 🛶 Water Music NY: Waterford Festival | This Erie Canal bicentennial celebration at the Waterford Lock is a full day of art, music, and food. Start the day with a kayaking trip or a historic hike on Peebles Island. See Adam Frelin’s “Walking Stones” and artwork curated by Collar Works. Stay for the free Albany Symphony concert and a light drone show in the evening. Friday, 2:30-9:40p, free.

⭐️ 🦸 MVP Kids Day at Empire State Plaza’s West Capitol Park features Bebefinn, the popular animated children's character, who will perform three live mini-shows throughout the day (11a, 1p & 3p). Plus, pony rides, face painting, rock climbing, animal encounters, and more! Sat, 11a-4p, free.

⭐️ 🎆 Ravena and Coeymans America's 250th Celebrations | Instead of the annual Friendship Festival, Ravena and Coeymans are going big for America’s 250th this year with a full weekend of hometown pride, starting with a Friday night block party at Mosher Park, followed by a Saturday festival at Coeymans Landing with food, fun, and fireworks over the Hudson. Friday, 7-10p; Sat, 1-9p. Free.

⭐️ 🇺🇲 The Washington County NY History Festival | Washington County celebrates America’s 250th with a weekend of hands-on experiences including living history demos, displays, kids’ activities, live music, wagon rides, food vendors, and more. Sat & Sun, free.

Honorable mention:

⭐️ 🇲🇽 Felipe Esparza at the Funny Bone | What’s up, fool? Get your homies out to see Felipe Esparza as he brings his irreverent, working class, laid-back style of stand-up comedy to Albany’s Funny Bone. Expect plenty of laughs that come from a lifetime of gritty stories, shaped by his experience growing up Mexican American on the streets of Los Angeles. Fri-Sat, $32-$42. Two shows each night.

A word from our sponsor

The 518 is proud to be the media sponsor for the new season of Mopco’s Theatresports, premiering this Saturday. If you’ve never experienced Theatresports, here’s what to expect:

Two teams of top-notch improvisers go head-to-head in a fast-paced showdown, battling for points, bragging rights, and your laughs. Every scene is created on the spot from audience-inspired challenges, while a panel of judges scores them on storytelling, skill, and entertainment. But beware—boring scenes can earn penalties.

It's got the excitement of a sporting event with all the chaos, comedy, and unpredictability of live improv. Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, fearless, and completely unscripted. No two shows are ever the same!

🐈️ Downward dog with the kitties at the Pretty Paw Lounge

We last visited the Pretty Paw Lounge back in November 2024. Read our story to learn how Rotterdam native Rachel Anne was inspired to create the Capital Region’s only cat cafe for kitties with special needs.

On Sunday, July 26, get to the Pretty Paw Lounge and stretch with the kitties during Cat Yoga Class. You’ll start with a 45-minute all-levels yoga class, followed by 30 minutes of quality cat time. What a purrfect combo.

SUMMER FUN

🍫 “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” continues at Cohoes Music Hall through July 18. It’s been getting rave reviews! Also, the cult classic, “Mystic Pizza,” is playing at theREP through Aug. 9.

🩰 The New York City Ballet brings the perennial fan-favorite, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Innovators & Icons, featuring signature works and an exciting premiere, to SPAC.

🖼️ All summer, Ten Broeck offers Living History, free family programs with hands-on art, garden, and history activities set among its four acres of historic gardens.

THURSDAY

🎸 Get to the Tang Museum for the kickoff of its 2026 Upbeat on the Roof concert series, featuring funk-music ensemble Oobleck.

🤡 Break out your clown costumes as Weirdo Night Returns: Clown Edition at No Fun.

🎸 It’s Classic Rock Night at Alive at Five, headlined by FJ: A Tribute to Foreigner & Journey. Meanwhile, in Cohoes, Rock the Block features Magical Mystery Doors (Beatles/Zeppelin/Doors tribute). And in Schenectady, catch the country/blues rock of Chris Sanders at Electric City SummerFest.

FRIDAY

🔥 The Albany Firebirds put on a big ol’ block party in front of the MVP Arena ahead of their match with the Nashville Kats.

⛴️ Experience the high of the Canna Cruise with 420-friendly folks and music while taking in the sights along the Hudson.

🎸 TV Doctors bring their charm to Wolf Hollow Brewing Co. in Schenectady.

🖼️ Get to Albany Center Gallery for the opening reception of “Then & Now: Allen Grindle, Moments in Time.” Btw, the gallery has a rare opening for a new development director!

SATURDAY

🎸 Relive the Grateful Dead concert experience at Rock the Dock Festival featuring the 7-piece Dark Star Orchestra.

☠️ The Twilight Market returns to Albany’s Quackenbush Square.

🎆 Get to the Mechanicville Family Day in the Park for live music, vendor booths, and activities for the kids, plus a big fireworks show.

🌷Hoosick Blooms Garden Tour offers a driving tour of private gardens and farms in historic Hoosick Falls and surrounding rolling hills of upstate NY. Sat & Sun.

🪶 Catch Chris Thomas and Smoke Dancers, a multigenerational and celebrated dance troupe practicing traditional Haudenosaunee music and dance, at the Iroquois Museum.

🎸 A perennial favorite, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra plays Freedom Park Summer Concert Series in Scotia.

SUNDAY

☀️ Ditch your phone and learn how to produce images without a camera at the Alternative Image-Making workshop at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

🥯 Enjoy the live music of Ed Conway, and dig into complimentary bagels and Bloody Marys at Second Act Spirits in Amsterdam.

🏳️‍🌈 A Big Gay Market returns to Washington Park for another gathering featuring 100+ queer, gender expansive, and allied vendors.

🔥 Join Ash King for an exclusive 4-week workshop focused on the magic of salt firing, at Context Collective.

🤹 The Gratto Family Jugglers delight the crowd at Scotia’s Freedom Park.

MONDAY

🎻 Go way high with Lindsey Stirling, pop violin virtuoso, at SPAC.

UPCOMING

7/18: Summer Art Fest
7/19: Sundae Morning (our own ice cream event!)
7/21-26: Saratoga County Fair
7/25: Catskill Mountain Yoga Festival
7/29: The 518 Dinner Club (in downtown Troy)
8/7: Femininomenon Fest
8/16: Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Trail Tunes
8/16-28: “Elephant & Piggie: We Are in a Play!” at the Park Playhouse
8/18-23: Altamont Fair

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com

In partnership with

Hey 518 readers, we’re glad you’re here! Today, we’re taking you to the beloved NYS Museum, where we meet up with director Jennifer Saunders for a personal tour as she talks about the big improvements coming for everyone’s favorite museum.

✍️ Big changes are also coming for The 518! Starting next week, we will be going down to just one issue per week because nobody needs more emails in their life. We think we can get you everything you need into one crisp newsletter, and lighten up your inbox a bit. Expect it now on Tuesdays, which also sets you up nicely for the weekend. 🙌 

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Jennifer Saunders, the new director of the NYS Museum, in front of the T-Rex at Expedition: Dinosaurs 📷️ Phat X. Chiem

The New York State Museum wants to surprise you again

For years, the New York State Museum has had a very specific reputation in Albany: beloved, nostalgic, and a bit dusty, if we’re being honest. But, that’s changing.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has committed $150 million to modernize the museum—a big number that initially drew some skepticism. But visitors are already beginning to see the signs of that investment. The gift shop is back on the ground floor, the café has reopened on the second floor with Stacks Espresso at the helm, and there’s a new dedicated Kids’ Zone on the fourth floor, currently anchored by the fantastic Expedition: Dinosaur exhibit.

The museum is finally getting into a rhythm of putting on better exhibitions, more often. The lobby is gradually getting upgraded. Even the dust-covered vinyl signs outside the front entrance have been replaced.

The whole vibe just feels fresher.

Jennifer Saunders, the museum’s new director and the first woman to lead the institution in its nearly 200-year history, says that’s exactly the point.

“What families want, hands down, is new experiences and changing experiences,” she tells us during a recent interview and tour, describing feedback from visitor surveys. “They perceive the reality, which is that there are elements of the museum that have been here since 1976.”

That tension—between old favorites and long-overdue updates—is at the heart of the museum’s next chapter.

“We can’t just build something new and then step back for another 50 years and say—enjoy!” she says.

To create that element of surprise and delight, the museum wants to mount 5 to 8 major exhibitions each year. These include exhibits done by the museum’s in-house curatorial and design staff, and traveling national shows.

The dream, Jennifer says, is that local families “wake up on the weekend and their first thought is, ‘I wonder what’s going on down at the museum.’”

The new Kids Zone launched with Expedition Dinosaur: Rise of the Mammals, a very cool hands-on traveling exhibit with animatronics, fossils, and interactive features that have been a huge hit with families. 

Before that, Barbie: A Cultural Icon brought in a different kind of crowd. Revolutionary New York, a large semi-permanent exhibit tied to America’s 250th, is another example of the museum’s expanded ambitions. The nearly 7,000 square-foot exhibition not only features 200 artifacts, including the completely restored gunboat discovered at Ground Zero, but it also looks at other times when ideals of justice, liberty, and democracy sparked revolutions. Fully two years in the making, the exhibit is a must-see.

This isn’t just about better exhibits. Jennifer sees the museum as part of downtown Albany’s revival, and a regional and even national destination that can help support nearby restaurants, businesses, and tourism.

“This is an economic development strategy, in addition to being a cultural one,” she says.

For Albany families, this means something significant: a museum worth rediscovering.

🦕 Have thoughts on the new NYS Museum? Jennifer and her team want to hear from you! You have until July 20 to share your ideas, stories, and feedback. Start here.

A word from our sponsor

The 518 is proud to be the media sponsor for the new season of Mopco’s Theatresports, premiering this Saturday. If you’ve never experienced Theatresports, here’s what to expect:

Two teams of top-notch improvisers go head-to-head in a fast-paced showdown, battling for points, bragging rights, and your laughs. Every scene is created on the spot from audience-inspired challenges, while a panel of judges scores them on storytelling, skill, and entertainment. But beware—boring scenes can earn penalties.

It's got the excitement of a sporting event with all the chaos, comedy, and unpredictability of live improv. Your laughter helps decide the winner. Fast, fearless, and completely unscripted. No two shows are ever the same!

🕯️ The TU’s Chris Churchill redirects the stomach-churning controversy that has erupted in the aftermath of Harbe Nagi’s death. [Times Union]

🍸️ RiiLaxx Tavern in Albany has closed after just 3 months in business, blaming “repeated and ongoing building-related issues, operational disruptions and circumstances beyond our control.” [News10]

🍜 Albany’s Madison Theatre is getting two new restaurants: a fresh Pho Yum and a new Colombian-American fusion restaurant. [Albany Business Review]

🐔 All this week, get free Chick-fil-A by playing its “Spot the Cows” game.

100 Truax Lane, Guilderland, NY 12084

This remarkable homestead in Guilderland dates back to 1742, before the USA was even a twinkle in the eye of the founding fathers. Take a gander at the centuries-old craftsmanship, from the fantastic wide-plank floors to the hand-hewn beams to the beautiful brickwork. Centered on 2.2 private acres of mature field and forest on the banks of Norman's Kill, and located in the top-notch Guilderland school district, this is a one-of-a-kind historic gem.

The original brick residence is graceful and sturdy, with all of the woodwork stripped and ready for a loving touch. Dream deep and roll up your sleeves because the whole place is ready for a thoughtful renovation. Considering the low selling price, the blood, sweat and tears will be well worth it. Just please be sure to preserve some part of the fabulous wallpaper! This is just the place for that special homeowner who values history and craftsmanship, someone who would relish an opportunity to steward a historic homestead on the river for the next generation.

The deets: 4 bd, 3 ba, 2318 sf., 2+ acres. Asking: $350,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

Note: The 518 Weekender now publishes on Thursdays. Watch your inboxes! 

SUMMER FUN

🍫 “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” continues at Cohoes Music Hall through July 18. It’s been getting rave reviews!

The New York City Ballet brings the perennial fan-favorite, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Innovators & Icons, featuring signature works and an exciting premiere, to SPAC.

🖼️ All summer, Ten Broeck offers Living History, free family programs with hands-on art, garden, and history activities set among its four acres of historic gardens.

WEDNESDAY

🍯 Visit the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, peruse the farmer’s market, and enjoy live music with Lunchtime at the Plaza.

👵 Learn about the lives and stories of the Women of the Ten Broeck Mansion.

🎸 Reggae star Ding Dong headlines the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza. And the Refrigerators play Scotia’s Freedom Park Summer Concert Series.

THURSDAY

🎸 Get to the Tang Museum for the kickoff of its 2026 Upbeat on the Roof concert series, featuring an evening with funk-music ensemble Oobleck.

🤡 Break out your clown costumes as Weirdo Night Returns: Clown Edition at No Fun.

🎸 It’s Classic Rock Night at Alive at Five, headlined by FJ: A Tribute to Foreigner & Journey. Meanwhile, in Cohoes, Rock the Block features Magical Mystery Doors (Beatles/Zeppelin/Doors tribute). And in Schenectady, catch the country/blues rock of Chris Sanders at Electric City SummerFest.

FRIDAY

💧Relax with the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a free outdoor concert performed by the Albany Symphony at the Waterford Lock.

🖼️ Get to Albany Center Gallery for the opening reception of “Then & Now: Allen Grindle, Moments in Time.” Btw, the gallery has a rare opening for a new development director!

SATURDAY

🎸 Rock the Dock Festival brings the 7-piece Dark Star Orchestra to continue the Grateful Dead live concert experience.

☠️ The Twilight Market returns to Albany’s Quackenbush Square.

🌷Hoosick Blooms Garden Tour offers a driving tour of private gardens and farms in historic Hoosick Falls and surrounding rolling hills of upstate NY. Sat & Sun.

🪶 Catch Chris Thomas and Smoke Dancers, a multigenerational and celebrated dance troupe practicing traditional Haudenosaunee music and dance, at the Iroquois Museum.

🦸 MVP Kids Day features Bebefinn, the popular animated children's character, who will perform three live mini-shows throughout the day.

🎸 A perennial favorite, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra plays Freedom Park Summer Concert Series in Scotia.

SUNDAY

☀️ Ditch your phone and learn how to produce images without a camera at the Alternative Image-Making workshop at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

🥯 Enjoy the live music of Ed Conway, and dig into complimentary bagels and Bloody Marys at Second Act Spirits in Amsterdam.

🏳️‍🌈 A Big Gay Market returns to Washington Park for another gathering featuring 100+ queer, gender expansive, and allied vendors.

🔥 Join Ash King for an exclusive 4-week workshop focused on the magic of salt firing, at Context Collective.

🤹 The Gratto Family Jugglers delight the crowd at Scotia’s Freedom Park.

MONDAY

🎻 Go way high with Lindsey Stirling, pop violin virtuoso, at SPAC.

ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: phat@the518.com