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Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Vinny Guadagnino from the Jersey Shore (in red) leads a group fist pump Saturday at a sold-out party at Vapor Night Club in Saratoga Casino and Raceway. Photo courtesy of the racino. I was backstage (joke, smile, teeth show).

Night at the Brewseum will take place Friday, March 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.Participants in the event will be able to sample area craft beers while taking a look at New York’s Military history. There will also be special raffle prizes, music and entertainment, food compliments of Maestro’s Restaurant and beer and wine compliments of Saratoga...

For the first time in a quarter of a century, New York City Ballet dancers will perform in conjunction with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs this August for a spectacular night of performance of the highest caliber.

New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck and soloist Chase Finlay will bring a stunning visual element to the SPAC's ever-popular "Tchaikovsky Spectacular" program by the Philadelphia Orchestra on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 8:00 pm.

The dancers will be performing the pas de deux from two beloved Tchaikovsky works: Swan Lake and The Nutcracker in conjunction with the Orchestra's performances of the works. They will perform on a specially erected dance floor in front of the amphitheater stage.

This is a very special treat indeed. New York City Ballet has a repertory of ballets to the music of Tchaikovsky that is unmatched by any other company in the world. The last time New York City Ballet dancers performed on an Orchestra program at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was 25 years ago!

So if you're trying to choose between going to see the orchestra or going to see the ballet in Saratoga this summer, now you can see them both in one night. Of course, it would just be a little taste of the ballet, but stunning nonetheless. I am looking forward to it!

TCHAIKOVSKY SPECTACULAR, 1812 OVERTURE
Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 8:00 pm
Sponsored by HVCC
Cristian Macelaru Conductor
Dancers from New York City Ballet
TCHAIKOVSKY Nutcracker or Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty
TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture

To learn more about this and other events at SPAC this summer, contact Shane Williams-Ness at 518.584.9330 x 116.

How awesome is this? Are you going?

Learn more about the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2012 Season >>
Learn more about the NYC Ballet at SPAC 2012 >>
Did you hear? SPAC is going to have a new look this summer!

Saratoga Casino and Raceway has been named the premier sponsor and host site of the 8th annual Saratoga Lions Duathlon. The event will be held at the Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 8 AM.

What exactly does a Duathlon entail? Race participants will endure a 5K run, followed by a 20 mile bike ride and wrapping up with another 5K run. Participants can enter the event individually, two-person teams or three-person teams. Area businesses can also participate with three person teams in the Corporate Challenge category. What a great team building activity!

Proceeds of the dualthlon will benefit the Saratoga Springs Lions Club's work in sight and hearing conservation, diabetes, community and youth programs. Moreover, the Raceway is donating $5,000 to Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation.

In past years, the duathlon was held at Skidmore College and this is the first year the event will be held at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

"I am pleased to move our event to Saratoga Casino and Raceway. This move will give us the opportunities to help grow our event and continue to provide an excellent atmosphere for our participants and spectators", said Michael Baxter, Lions Duathlon Chair.

Early registration fees are until 5/10/12 and pricing is $55 for individual participants, $80 for two-person teams and $100 for three person teams. Pre-registration fees from 5/10/12 are $60 for individual participants, $90 for two-person teams and $115 for three-person teams. On race day, pricing is $65 for individuals, $100 for two-person teams and $130 per three person teams.

Free shirts will be provided for the first 300 people who enter! Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age category.

The Saratoga Springs Lions Club is currently working on finalizing the course layout for the dualthlon, as well as the raffle prizes. Information on both of those, along with the downloadable application, will be available very soon. 

For more information, please call Crystal Beauchemin at 518-584-2110 or email her at cbeauchemin@saratogagaming.com 

As Skidmore College hosts its first New Energy Economy Forum Thursday and Friday, evidence shows that solar power in New York had a record year in 2011.

The Skidmore student-organized conference will focus on the newest wave of clean energy innovations and their economic impact.  The conference is free and open to the public.  Rolling Stone journalist Jeff Goodell will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday on America’s coal industry and the issues facing the climate. The conference is 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. It will feature talks by industry leaders, expert panel discussions, technology demos and a networking session designed to connect students and job seekers with leaders in the new energy economy. Visit here for more info.

Here’s an accompanying story on how solar power is expanding in Saratoga County and New York through government incentives.

The 25th annual Dance Flurry steps off Friday in Saratoga Springs

The 25th annual Dance Flurry, a celebration of music and dance from America and around the world, will be held Friday through Sunday at various locations in the city.

Hours will be 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Dances and workshops will be in contra, swing, Latin, English Country, squares, Cajun, Zydeco, Irish, Scandinavian, Middle Eastern, European, American and International Folk, Chinese, Sacred Circle, Vintage, clogging, yoga and body movement.

The event draws 5,000 participants, including 300 volunteers and 400 performers: musicians, dance teachers, callers, and performance dancers.

For more information, go to www.flurryfestival.org.

- Azra Haqqie

Skateboarders around Saratoga Springs have announced an art show for dates in March to raise funds for maintenance, teaching, skate jams and contests at the recently unearthed skateboard park. “On Deck,” described as a “HUGE racious art show,” will be shown in the Springs Street Gallery, according to Charlie Samuels, the self-described “50-year-old-skateboarder.”

Have you heard the buzz about Saratoga.com's first ever Saratoga Beer Week, but not sure what the deal is? We here at Saratoga.com want to help take the mystery out of it!

Saratoga Beer Week is a three-day, city wide beer celebration from Thursday, February 23rd until Saturday, February 25th. It's a beer connoisseur's ultimate event promising fun, food, and fantastic beer for all! 

What most people probably don't know is that Saratoga Beer Week will actually be an educational event. Informative seminars will be given throughout the weekend, all about the art of beer - they sure don't offer these classes in school! If you're interested in learning about home brewing, pairing food with beer or just picking a brew-master's brain, you won't want to miss the Seminar Series 1 on Friday - learn more and get pricing! Is learning the ins and outs of starting a brewery more your style? Then Friday's Seminar Series 2 is an event that you shouldn't pass up! More information on that here. 

Drum roll please? Saturday brings the main event! There will be two sessions at the Saratoga City Center covering beer from all over the world.

"Saturday we will see an influx of attendees in town for the Saratoga Beer Summit which is a world class sampling event with over 80 breweries being represented," Garth Ellms of Saratoga Festivals said. 

Summit Session 1 will start at 12:30 PM and Session 2 is at 5:00 PM. Forget about Calculus 101- let's talk about Hops 101 baby!

In addition to the seminars, there will be over 40 amazing events throughout the weekend. What type of events you ask? How about Five Floors of Beer at Saratoga City Tavern, Davidson Brother's Tap Takeover at Jacob & Anthony's and Meet the Brewer of Brooklyn Brewery to name a few. I am most looking forward to the Adirondack Brewery's tap takeover at Max London's...I am a huge fan of their Bear Naked Ale. There is literally an event for everyone! Check out this list of events!

Of course we all want to be safe when consuming alcohol. According to state law, if your blood alcohol concentration is over .08 you shouldn't be behind the wheel and your BAC could reach that level before you even "feel" like you've had too much. But don't sweat it! You still have options! Invite a designated driver to come with you, or call a cab that will get you home safe and sound. 

"We are excited to have this event in a walking city where people have numerous options for responsible drinking and do not need to be driving. We have arranged a discount with Premiere Transportation for any services throughout the weekend receiving a 15 percent discount," Ellms said.

How awesome is that? Everyone loves a discount! You can also check out the list of Saratoga taxi services here. If you're visiting from out of town and need a place to stay, then you're in luck! Saratoga Springs has so many great lodging facilities - many of them are having discounted rates for Saratoga Beer Week as well!

 "We have hotel options starting at just $59 and attendees are already making the safe decisions, with over 100 hotel rooms booked to date," Ellms said.

That's right, safety first folks! View the list of lodging in Saratoga here, or check out the lodging specials here.

Make sure you mark your calendars for Saratoga's first ever Saratoga Beer Week - it's going to be so much fun! Not only will you be able to learn the craft of beer making, but you will be able to sample beers, eat delicious food and get to know the people behind your favorite brews! Who doesn't love an ice cold beer? Always in moderation of course!

Questions? Call Garth Ellms with Saratoga Festivals at 518-339-6333. 

SPAC Welcomes YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN, The Philadelphia Orchestra's dynamic, Music Director Designate, for three exciting evenings.

Mega-star LANG LANG, heralded by the New York Times as the "hottest artist on the classical music planet" performs Franz Liszt's fiery Piano Concerto No. 1 in commemoration of the composer's 200th birthday.

OZ with ORCHESTRA, will take audiences on a journey to the Emerald City as beloved movie classic, The Wizard of Oz is shown in its entirety on SPAC's cinema screens as The Philadelphia Orchestra performs the score live.

A stellar cast of INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GUEST CONDUCTORS take the podium including Rafael Frübeck de Burgos...Gianandrea Noseda...Stéphane Denève... David Robertson...Cristian Macelaru...Steven Reineke and Constantine Kitsopoulos.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads ITALIAN OPERA NIGHT, featuring the classic arias and overtures of Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and other masters. Stellar operatic vocalists accompany the Orchestra for this special evening.

The world's finest GUEST SOLOISTS will display their musical genius in collaborations with the Orchestra including Yo-Yo Ma... Joshua Bell...Garrick Ohlsson...Johannes Moser... Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Arabella Steinbacher.

NEW YORK CITY BALLET dancers Tiler Peck and Chase Finlay bring a stunning, visual element to SPAC's ever-popular "Tchaikovsky Spectacular" program, performing the pas de deux from The Nutcracker and Swan Lake in conjunction with the Orchestra's performances of the works. The last time New York City Ballet dancers performed on an Orchestra program was 25 years ago.

Click here to read the full press release!

The Saratoga Springs Public Library’s Community Cinema series continues at 7 p.m. Wednesday (tonight) with the screening of “More Than a Month” in its H. Dutcher Community Room.

Timed for February – Black History Month – the film explores “one man’s quest to end Black History Month.” Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African-American filmmaker, sets out on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. He stops in various cities, wearing a sandwich board, to solicit signatures on his petition. He explains that relegating Black History Month to the coldest, shortest month of the year is an insult, and that black history is not separate from American history. Through this thoughtful and humorous journey, he explores what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.

There will be a group discussion after the film, which is free and open to the public.