MONDAY, FEB. 24
The Underground Railroad of Troy, NY: A Secret History
Paul and Mary Stewart of the Underground Railroad Education Center will be sharing the history and stories of those who were important to the success of the Underground Railroad from right here in Troy. They will also be debunking common misconceptions many may assume are historical facts, such as houses with secret rooms being an indicator that they were a part of the Underground Railroad. Call the library or go online here to register.
@ Troy Public Library | 6 PM
Poetic Vibe
This week’s edition of the open mic poetry series features Karyn “poetik” Dyer–a poet, performer, community builder, coach, intuitive healer, DJ and all around creative. Dyer recently published her second collection of poetry, “Seasoned Bellows,” from which she will be reading at tonight’s event. Copies will also be on sale for $12.
@ Troy Kitchen | 7 PM
Poets Speak Loud
Featured reader Glenn Cassidy, whose poetry and short fiction often draw on his formal study of human behavior as an academic of public policy analysis, will perform at the monthly open mic poetry series.
@ McGeary’s Irish Pub, Albany | 7 PM
Ceiba, Alkemii, Thanks
Hold on to this lovely weather as long as you can tonight with Philly’s pastoral-folk outfit Ceiba as well as Saratoga’s electronic artist Alkemii and charming indie rockers Thanks.
@ Desperate Annie’s, Saratoga | 9:30 PM | Free
TUESDAY, FEB. 25
Schenectady ARC Art Show
Featuring artwork made by people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities supported by Schenectady ARC’s Maple Ridge, Princetown Ridge and City Club Day Programs made in collaboration with CREATE Community Studios instructors, this show will be on view through 5 PM. A formal artist reception will take place from 5-7 PM. RSVP at beverlys@sarcny.org or call (518) 688-8278.
@ Schenectady ARC | 9 AM | Free
Suffragettes Painting Session with Patrice
Celebrate the suffrage movement and Susan B. Anthony’s birth-month. Participants will use acrylic paints on stretched canvas to create a beautiful sunflower painting inspired by Georgia O’Keefe’s painting “Sunflower, New Mexico”, 1935, as the Suffragettes adopted the Kansas state flower, the sunflower, as a symbol for the cause. This class is open to all skill levels. Please call the museum at (518) 793-2826 or email educator@chapmanmuseum.org for registration.
@ Chapman Historical Museum, Glens Falls | 6 PM | $20 (members)-$25 (non-members)
‘Always in Season’ – Screening and Community Discussion
Albany Barn and WMHT Public Media’s Indie Lens Pop-Up present Jacqueline Olive’s “Always in Season”, a raw and thought-provoking documentary delving into the not so distant history of lynching and racial violence in the American South, and a family’s struggle to seek justice. Members of the Underground Railroad Education Center will moderate a community discussion following the film. For more information please call (518) 935-4858.
@ Albany Barn | 6 PM | Free
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26
LARAC Annual Potluck Dinner: Show & Share
Artists are encouraged to bring their art to share and a dish to pass, though artwork is not required to attend. Take advantage of this opportunity to receive feedback, share ideas and enjoy the company of other art-lovers. This event is open to the public, RSVP preferred, please call (518) 798-1144 x2.
@ Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, Glens Falls | 5 PM | Free
Fitz And The Tantrums
The soulful indie-pop band are on their winter tour promoting their latest album All The Feels.
@ Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park | 8 PM | Tickets start at $30
THURSDAY, FEB. 27
Tour: The Origins of Rapp Road
During the Great Migration from Mississippi the families who built Rapp Road–a group of over 20 houses located near Albany Pine Bush–chose to buy rural land and start from scratch, instead of staying in the South End. The resulting “Southern style shotgun homes” make up the current Historic District. This community and architecture is truly one of a kind, with the majority of homes still being owned by the original families and their descendants. The Rapp Road Association will present these stories preceded by a tour of Wilborn Temple, which was founded in the ‘30s and still runs today.
@ Wilborn Temple First Church of God in Christ, Albany | 5:30 PM | $5-$10
Artist Reception: Jane Swavely
Experience the solo show of abstract painter Jane Swavely. “My aim is to create a place of space and light to inspire a shift in perception that is at once familiar and unfamiliar. Although the work depicts abstracted forms and colors, it is based in the landscape tradition, exploring the boundary between the conscious and the subconscious, deriving inspiration from both the natural environment and supernatural forces,” the artist says.
@ The Mandeville Gallery, Schenectady | 6:30 PM
Air Supply: The Lost in Love Experience
Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock sing their greatest hits, including “All Out of Love,” “Lost In Love,” “The One That You Love,” and “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All.” The chart-topping duo celebrates 45 years this year.
@ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall | 7:30 PM | Tickets start at $49.50
Author talk: ‘For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics’
A presentation and Q&A with Minyon Moore and Yolanda Caraway, political strategists and coauthors with Donna Brazile and Leah Daughtry of the book, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” (2018), a group memoir of four women who are among the most influential African Americans in the U.S. political sphere.
@ University at Albany – Campus Center Ballroom | 7:30 PM | Free
Motorbike, Belle-Skinner, Grayling
A powerful blend of alternative rock, hypnotic indie folk and shoegaze from the local scene and beyond, courtesy of Super Dark Collective.
@ Desperate Annie’s, Saratoga | 9:30 PM | Free
FRIDAY, FEB. 28
Show #2
The artist-run gallery will show their second exhibit on the theme of “materials,” featuring artists Berly Brown, Joyce Chan, Maxwell Goodknight, Madison LaVallee, Janice Medina, Adelia Roberts and Jackie Zysk.
@ The Hallway at Second Street Studios, Troy | 5:30 PM
‘Indian in Indiana’: Book reading and discussion
Meet author Himanee Gupta-Carlson, author of “Indian in Indiana” at Taj Mahal. The restaurant will offer two drinks and a full course meal with appetizers for $25. Gupta-Carlson will discuss and read from the book after the appetizers and before the meal, and will be on hand to sell and sign books during the dinner.
@ Taj Mahal, Schenectady | 6 PM
Drawing from the dance style known as “Flexn,” which was developed from various Jamaican street styles into a distinct art form, Flex Ave’s group choreography and solo improvisational works – all set to a continuous mix of reggae, hip hop and pop music – is inspired by personal experience and current events.
@ The Egg Performing Arts Center, Albany | 7:30 PM | $20
The Figgs with Candy Ambulance
The Saratoga rock band formed back in ‘87 and they’re back with more. Playing from their latest album, a 24-track beast Shady Grove that ticks off a range of up-tempo rockers, experimental numbers, and a handful of instrumentals, The Figgs take Putnam with Troy’s punk trio Candy Ambulance.
@ Putnam Place, Saratoga | 8:30 PM | $12-$15
SATURDAY, FEB. 29
Grant Writing Seminar
Find yourself asking,“Where do I look for grants? How do I start? What are the granting organizations that l can apply to? How do I write a good grant?” This four hour seminar led by Miracle on Craig Street’s Rosa Rivera will cover how to get started writing a grant for your program, basic budgeting, resources and grant opportunities and best practices in grant writing. Learn how you can support, sustain and facilitate collective learning and sharing in our local community.
@ Miracle on Craig Street, Schenectady | 9 AM
Meet the Author Series – Donna Esposito
WWII historian and author Donna Esposito will be meeting with readers and signing copies of “Flying Time,” in which college-age Clare is sent back in time to 1943 where she rolls her sleeves up and gets involved in the war effort at home and overseas. Esposito relied heavily on Schenectady to portray the fictional town of Laurelmont in the novel. This event will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
@ Schenectady Trading Co. | 11 AM
Afrobeat Dance: Zag K
This special performance by NYC-based Congolese dancer and choreographer Zag K is in support of two local nonprofit organizations: Empower Ethiopia and Taasa Health Inc. The artist has choreographed and danced with many artists including Hood Celebrity, Jay Q the Legend, Eddy Kenzo, and the legendary Fally Ipupa. Empower Ethiopia provides healthcare, nutrition, education, & a safe, loving home to previously homeless children living in Hawassa, Ethiopia, and Taasa Health Inc., improves access to healthcare in Central Uganda.
@ Umana Restaurant and Wine Bar, Albany | 5 PM | $20 suggested donation
HeART Party 4: Food for the Soul
The event is open to all, although the Dinner Party Collective encourages all who come to contribute creatively–be it through music, song, poetry, dance, storytelling, drag, clowning, comedy, sculpture, visual art, performance art, participatory art, storytelling, spoken-word, or other forms of creativity. Enjoy/bring good food and take part in/experience the visual arts gallery, open mic and more. Visual art for the gallery exhibition may remain in the space overnight. Performers will have approximately 5~7 minutes to present – or the equivalent of two short songs or poems. All art submissions can be sent to Mark Russo at russomc@gmail.com
@ Mount Ida Preservation Association, Troy | 6 PM | $5-$15 suggested door donation
Bttr peach EP release show with SooDooKoo and Patient Sound
The Albany shoegaze band will release their newest EP with the support of Albany electronic artist Soo Do Koo and experimental group Patient Sound out of Brattleboro, Vt.
@ Superior Merchandise Co., Troy | 7:30 PM | $5 suggested donation
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
‘The Glass Menagerie’ presented by NorthEast Theatre Ensemble
In Tennessee Williams’ memory play, Tom Wingfield looks back on years spent with his mother Amanda and his sister Laura. Amanda, desperately seeking security for her children, especially Laura, finds a fragile hope in the form of Tom’s work friend, Jim, a young man Laura knew in high school. Watch the classic come to life in the historic Stockade District’s Brouwer House through March 8.
@ Brouwer House Creative, Schenectady | 3 PM | $20
Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers
Five-time Grammy Award-winning artist and founding member of the eclectic group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Victor Wooten is recognized as one of the greatest living bassists today. Don’t miss him as his band of brothers rip it up in Albany.
@ Massry Center for the Arts, Albany | 7:30 PM | $45
