Great Performances, Fabulous Festivals and Amazing Discoveries in Albany in October
Albany, N.Y. — October in Albany offers some amazing discoveries with great entertainment, fabulous festivals and rich history.
The Palace Theater hosts Jerry Seinfeld, Housewives of New York and New Jersey, R. Kelly, Celtic Thunder and Loretta LaRoche. The Times Union Center welcomes Keith Urban with Sugarland. At The Egg there are performances by Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Playing for Change. And, Capital Repertory Theater is home to Conor McPherson’s Broadway hit, The Seafarer.
Albany continues its Quadricentennial Celebration of discovery by explorer Henry Hudson as it showcases its history and traditions. A special exhibit, Art Meets History, is on display at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. Historic Cherry Hill has tours showing its evolution from a farm to an urban home. The USS Slater celebrates the U.S. Navy and the University at Albany has unique lectures on Albany history, including pirates on the Hudson River.
The Capital City also celebrates its heritage with Oktoberfest, the 18th Annual Columbus Parade and Italian Festival, apple and craft festivals and a quilt festival.
As the haunting Halloween season arrives, Historic Schuyler Mansion offers ghost stories from the 18th century. The Albany Trolleys have ghost tours throughout the city’s historic downtown, and the New York State Theatre Institute features, A Legend of Sleepy Hollow.The New York State Capitol has special Halloween Tours that tell the tales of “Capitol Hauntings”.
For the most up-to-date information about these and other special events in New York’s Capital City, visit http://www.albany.org/
Oktoberfest
10/1/2009
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12242
(518) 473-0559
Convention.Center@ogs.state.ny.us
Times: 10am
Celebrate the Harvest the Old World Way. Tasty German food and drink specialties, arts and crafts vendors all in a festival atmosphere.
******************************
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
10/1/2009
The Egg
Empire State Plaza
PO Box 2065
Albany, NY 12223
(518) 473-7773
http://theegg.org/
Time: 7:30 pm
Admission: $55, $45, $35
Since winning a Grammy for “Best New Artist´ in 1987, Bruce Hornsby has created a musical life that has expanded far and wide to include a broad stylistic range of activity.
****************************
Photographic Memories: Bethlehem - Hudson 400
10/1/2009 - 10/31/2009
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, NY 12054
A display of historic photographs from the collection of the Bethlehem Historical Association and the Town Archives.
***********
Jerry Seinfeld
10/2/2009
Palace Performing Arts Center
19 Clinton Avenue
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 465-3334
Admission: $47.00, $62.00, $77.00
Due to popular demand, America´s premier comedian is hitting the road in a return to his first love - stand-up comedy. Recently hailed as “the master stand-up comic of his generation,” Seinfeld has an uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere.
****************************
Art Meets History - Celebrating 400 Years
10/2/2009 - 12/31/2009
Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square
(Corner of Broadway & Clinton Avenue)
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 434-0405
http://accvb@albany.org
Times: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm; Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm; Sunday, 11 am - 3 pm.
The 300-member Colonie Art League will present approximately 100 original works of art featuring themes and scenes celebrating Albany´s Quadricentennial. Many of the works, all by local artists, will be for sale. An added feature of the exhibit will be the display of the prize-winning art works from the Colonie Art League´s invitational exhibit by student artists from all the high schools in Albany County.
****************************
17th Annual Capital District Apple Festival and Craft Fair
10/3/2009 - 10/4/2009
Altamont Fairgrounds
129 Grand Street
Altamont, NY 12009
518) 861-6671
Times: 10 am - 6 pm Saturday, 10 am-5 pm on Sunday.
Admission: $10 general admission. Children 12 and under are free.
The show offers 160 of the finest crafters and artisans from throughout the northeast presenting a wide array of unique handmade crafts. Other activities include a haunted house, face painting, pumpkin painting, clowns, pony rides, kids’ activities, fiddlers, wine tasting, museums, farmers market and bakery, cooking demonstrations.
****************************
Historic Cherry Hill Trolley & Walking Tour - Hudson 400
10/3/2009
Historic Cherry Hill
523 1/2 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12202
(518) 434-4791
info@historiccherryhill.org
Times: 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Albany City Historian Anthony Opalka leads these combined trolley/walking tours that highlight changes as Cherry Hill evolved from a 900-acre farm to an urban home on five acres. Funded by the NY Council for the Humanities and the Town of Bethlehem.
********************************
Rensselaer 2009-10 Men´s Hockey Season Opens
10/3/2009 - 2/27/2010
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Houston Field House
1900 Peoples Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
518-276-6262
Admission: $129; $144; $126; $111; $108; $93
http://www.wrpi.org/
Season kicks off with an exhibition game.
********************************
Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer
10/3/2009
The Egg
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
(518) 473-7773
info@theegg.org
http://theegg.org/
Time: 8: pm
Admission: $48.50, $38.50, $34.50
Eclectic virtuosos Bela Fleck (banjo), Zakir Hussain (tabla) and Edgar Meyer (double bass) meld classical, bluegrass, traditional Indian music and jazz for a concert that promises exciting and often surprising music performed by three musical masters.
*************
Rensselaer City History Research Center - Hudson 400
10/4/2009
Rensselaer City Hall
62 Washington Street
Rensselaer, NY 12144
518-462-9511
Time: 2 pm
Dedication and reception. Free and open to the public.
*************
Restaurant Week in Downtown Albany
10/4/2009-10/10/2009
Organized by the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District
522 Broadway
Albany, NY 12207
518-465-2143
Albany’s Fall Restaurant Week features a wide variety of restaurants offering three-course meals for $20.09. Visit http://www.downtownalbany.org/ for a list of the participating restaurants and their menus.
*************
River Rats Hockey Season Opener
10/3/2009
Times Union Center
51 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 487-2000
http://timesunioncenter-albany.com/
Time: 7 pm
Admission: Varies
The Rats take on the Manchester Monarchs.
*************
NY Knicks vs. Nets
10/4/2009
Times Union Center
51 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 487-2000
http://timesunioncenter-albany.com/
Admission: $35-$65
*************
Capitol Hauntings
10/5/2009-10/30/2009
Tours begin at the Plaza Visitor Center
North Concourse
Empire State Plaza,
Albany, NY
Admission: Free. Reservations required by calling 518-473-7582
Times: 10/5-30, weekday tours at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
10/21-23, evening tours at 7 p.m.
10/17, 10/24, 10/31, weekend tours at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
No tours on Sundays or Columbus Day (Oct. 12)
Special Halloween tours of the New York State Capitol. Find out which two United States Presidents visited the Capitol after they died and other haunting tales.
*************
Women´s Work: Building the 19th-Century Hudson Valley Economy - Hudson 400
10/6/2009
University at Albany - University Hall
1400 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12222
Time: 7:30 - 8:45 pm
Admission: Free.
Susan Ingalls Lewis, Associate Professor of History, SUNY New Paltz, is featured in a talk that ranges from cooks, collar-workers, and canawlers to farm wives, factory operatives, and female entrepreneurs. Nineteenth-century working women were vital to the economy of the Hudson Valley and the Empire State. Lewis will discuss numerous women who might once have been labeled “exceptional” because of their occupations, but can now be recognized as typical members of 19th-century communities. Visit: http://www.albany.edu/outreach.Grant support from the New York Council for the Humanities.
**************
Keith Urban with Sugarland
10/7/2009
Times Union Center
51 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 487-2000
http://timesunioncenter-albany.com/
Times: 7:30 pm
Admission: $20-$74.50
********************************
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
10/8/2009
The Egg
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
(518) 473-7773
http://theegg.org/
Time: 7:30 pm
Admission: $29.50
Featuring original members Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden, Bob Carpenter and John McEuen, these country rock pioneers — known for their cross-over hits such as “Mr. Bojangles” and “American Dream” and the classic “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” — perform.
********************************
Ghost Hunting in Historic Downtown
10/8/2009-10/29/2009 — Tuesdays and Thursdays Only
Albany Trolleys
Departing from the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square (corner Broadway and Clinton Avenue)
Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7 p.m.
Admission: $2 Adult | $19 Seniors and Active Military | $15 Children
Experience the hauntngs, ghosts and stories of those who have passed on, plus tales of murder, hangings and mutiny. Reservations required at 518-462-3825.
********************************
See the Housewives of NY & NJ
10/9/2009
Palace Performing Arts Center
19 Clinton Avenue
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 465-3334
Time: 8 pm
Admission: $77 (Limited Gold Circle - Includes Meet & Greet),
Featuring Jill Zarin & Ramona Singer from the New York cast and Theresa Grudice and Caroline Manzo from the New Jersey cast. Catch the Housewives of New York and New Jersey live in person as they bring the drama direct to you!
********************************
The Seafarer
10/9/2009 thru 11/1/09
Capital Repertory Theatre
111 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 462-4531
Times and Hours: Vary
http://www.capitalrep.org/
Conor McPherson´s Broadway hit finds four old friends gathering on Christmas Eve to face the holidays in a drunken game of cards. The stakes become damningly high when a stranger arrives. Soon, one of them is playing for his soul in this chilling, yet funny, Irish fable.
******************************
Festival - 21st Annual Apple Festival and Craft Show
10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009
Goold Orchards, Inc.
1297 Brookview Station Rd
Castleton, NY 12033-3166
(518) 732-7317
A celebration of the arts, crafts, and agriculture of the Capital Region.
********************************
Walking/Trolley Tour - Historic Cherry Hill - Hudson 400
10/10/2009
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
523 1/2 S Pearl St
Albany, NY 12202
(518) 434-4791
Times: 9:30 am and 1:30 pm
http://historiccherryhill.org/
Last program in a series entitled, “Where the Past Beats the Present: The Cherry Hill Family´s View of Their Hudson River Heritage.” This tour will explore the theme of history versus nostalgia in the last of four programs funded by the New York Council for the Humanities.
********************************
Albany’s 18th Annual Columbus Parade & Italian Festival - Hudson 400
10/10/2009
Washington Park Lake House
Madison Ave
Albany, NY 12203
www.columbusdayalbanyny.com
Times: Festival from 12 Noon to 5:50 .pm.; parade at 1 p.m. Rain or shine!
Admission: Free.
Historic Washington Park is the setting for an authentic Italian Festival with food, music, dancing, crafters, cultural displays and a special Kids’ Zone! The parade route through the park brings marchers, bands, floats and with the reviewing stand in front of the park’s Lakehouse.
********************************
Saratoga, a Battle on the Hudson that Changed the World - Hudson 400
10/10/2009
University at Albany - Assembly Hall, Earth Sciences 241
University at Albany Uptown Campus Center
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
Times: 12 Noon
Admission: Free.
Warren Roberts, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of History, UAlbany, discusses the battle fought 25 miles above Albany has been called the most important battle of the last 1,000 years. Persuaded by the victory at Saratoga that the Americans might prevail against Britain, France joined the American Revolution. The staggering cost to France in doing so contributed to a fiscal crisis that led to the French Revolution. Thus these first two great modern revolutions were connected by the Battle of Saratoga. Roberts will consider its historical importance, discuss key players, and reflect on some of its absurd, even comic aspects. Visit: http://www.albany.edu/outreach Part of UAlbany-Community.
*****************
“Specters, Strange Sights and Visions”
10/10/2009
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
32 Catherine Street
Albany, NY 12202
(518) 434-0834
Times: 5:30 pm to 7pm
Do you believe in ghosts? The people of 18th century Albany did! Join us around the campfire as we examine what ghost stories and apparitions tell us about beliefs during Philip Schuyler´s time.
********************************
R. Kelly, “Ladies Make Some Noise Tour”
10/10/2009
Palace Performing Arts Center
19 Clinton Avenue
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 465-3334
Times: 8 pm
R&B sung by Chicago Native R. Kelly, including “I Believe I Could Fly” and “Ignition.”
********************************
Celtic Thunder
10/11/2009
Palace Performing Arts Center
19 Clinton Avenue
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 465-3334
Time: 7 pm
From rousing ensemble numbers to solos showcasing each members´ vocal style and personality, Celtic Thunder performs powerful ballads, popular hits, and heartwarming songs of love and loss from across the Celtic music spectrum.
********************************
Civil War Tour of Albany Rural Cemetery
10/11/2009
Albany Trolleys
Departing from Albany Rural Cemetery
Cemetery Avenue (off Broadway)
Menands, NY 12204
Time: 1 p.m.
Admission: $25.00
Historian Mark Bodnar guides this tour that weaves a tapestry of mlitary interest, genealogical research and local history. Reservations required at 518-462-3825.
********************************
USS Slater Navy Day - Hudson 400
10/13/2009
USS Slater DE-766
141 Broadway
Albany, NY 12202
(518) 431-1943
Times 10 am to 4 pm
http://www.ussslater.org/
Celebrate the history and accomplishments of the United States Navy on board the USS Slater — the only destroyer escort still afloat in America. Also open Wednesday through Sunday through November.
********************************
Fall Northeast Art & Craft Show
10/13/2009 - 10/15/2009
Northeast Show Promoters
12 Avis Drive
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 786-1529
Times: 9 am - 3 pm
The Empire State Plaza boasts over 25 years of craft show history and Northeast Show Promoters is pleased to be a part of this tradition.
*****************************
A Legend of Sleepy Hollow at NYSTI - Hudson 400
10/16/2009 - 10/31/2009
New York State Theatre Institute
37 First Street
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 274-3200
Times: Vary
http://www.nysti.org/
A headless skeleton is unearthed in Sleepy Hollow, reopening an old mystery and a few unsettled grievances. But trespassing into forbidden territory could reawaken something far more menacing. Attorney and former Vice President Aaron Burr enlists the help of a burgeoning man-of-letters, none other than Washington Irving, to bring order to the village and solve the rather curious phenomena. Set in early 19th century New York, a Legend of Sleepy Hollow celebrates the rich history of the time and region as part of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial observance.
******************************
Loretta LaRoche & Friends, Women in Comedy
10/16/2009
Palace Performing Arts Center
19 Clinton Avenue
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 465-3334
Time: 7:30 pm
Admission: $25.00, $35.00, $50.00
With her trademark humor and practical wisdom, Loretta LaRoche shows you how to live a long, healthy, and juicy life by mastering your body and mind-before you lose them! She is joined by some of the hottest ladies in comedy including Kelly MacFarland (Comedy Central´s Laugh Riot and Premium Blend, NBC´s The Biggest Loser) and Mary Ellen Depetrillo Rinaldi. All $50 Gold Circle Tickets Include a Special Meet & Greet with Loretta LaRoche
********************************
Henry Hudson Planetarium Saturday Star Shows
10/17/2009
Henry Hudson Planetarium
In the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square
Albany, NY 12207
518-434-0405
Two shows on 10/17.
11 a.m.: Children’s Show with an interactive program exploring the stars, planets, comets and constellation. Geared to children ages 3-7 and their families. Admission is $3.
1 p.m. General Audience. Albany Star Sighting, an interactive program with tools and techniques for becoming an amateur astronomer, Admission is $3.
********************************
Empire QuiltFest 2009 - Hudson 400
10/17/2009 - 10/18/2009
NEW LOCATION - Shenendehowa High School East
970 Route 146
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Times: Oct. 17th - 9am-4pm
Oct. 18th - 10am-4pm
Admission: Adults $6.00 | Children under 12, $3.00
http://www.empirequiltfest.org/
This year, the Empire QuiltFest joins in the celebration of Henry Hudson historic voyage up the Hudson. The show aims to showcase how quilting can be a “voyage” of self-discovery, how studying antique quilts can lend insight into the lives of those who came before us, and learning about modern forms of quilting can teach us about ourselves and point to the future.
***********
The Hudson River and America´s Transportation Revolution - Hudson 400
10/20/2009
University at Albany - University Hall
400 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12222
Times: 7:30 - 8:45 pm
Admission: Free.
David Hochfelder, Assistant Professor of History, UAlbany, will focus on the pivotal role of the Hudson River as a transportation corridor from the days of Britain and France vying for power in Colonial America to the new nation’s expansion as a commercial powerhouse through the building of the interstate highway system after World War II. Hochfelder will discuss the Hudson during the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars, the Erie Canal era, and Albany’s days as a rail center. He will also cover the importance of the Northway. Visit: http://www.albany.edu/outreach .Grant support from the New York Council for the Humanities.
*********
Albany, the River and the World - Hudson 400
10/22/2009
Albany Institute of History & Art {AIHA}
125 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 463-4478
information@albanyinstitute.org
Times: 6 - 7:15 p.m.
Admission: Free.
From fur trading to nanotechnology, Albany is a player on the world stage. Its strategic location on the upper Hudson made it a safe place for a state capital and a major gateway for commerce. The Hon. John J. McEneny, NYS Assemblymember (104th Assembly District) will tell the story of Albany, the river, and the world through the people and power brokers who define its place in history. Presented by UAlbany, http://www.albany.edu/outreach Grant support from the New York Council for the Humanities.
*********
Playing For Change
10/24/2009
The Egg
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
518) 473-7773
Time: 7:30 pm
Admission: $34.50, $28
Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The video phenomenon that brought together musicians around the globe on YouTube, is now touring as a live performance uniting musicians from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds — offering a unique, uplifting cross cultural concert experience.
*********************************
Symphony of Seasons
10/25/2009
A benefit for the Albany Symphony Orchestra
Venue: Albany Country Club
300 Wormer Rd
Voorheesville, NY 12186-9764
(518) 765-2851
Time: 4 pm
Admission: $75 in advance | $85 at the door
The Albany Symphony Orchestra invites you to save the afternoon of October 25th, 2009 to celebrate the seasons and to honor our Music Director, David Alan Miller. Join us at the Albany Country Club to sample foods prepared by the best chefs and restaurants in the Capital Region paired with wine by Joseph Carr
Details at http://AlbanySymphony.com or call the Albany Symphony office at (518) 465-4755 for tickets and additional information.
***********************************
Crailo State Historic Site Lecture Series - Hudson 400
10/25/2009
Crailo State Historic Site
9 1/2 Riverside Avenue
Rensselaer, NY 12144
(518) 463-8738
Time: 2 pm
Tom Lake will present the lecture, “Why Henry Hudson Did Not Discover the River.”
**********************************
Dangerous Waters: Pirates and Piracy on the Hudson, 1600-1928 - Hudson 400
10/27/2009
University at Albany - University Hall
1400 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12222
Time: 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. at the UAlbany Main Campus, University Hall
Admission: Free.
Gerald Zahavi, Professor of History, will survey the history of piracy on the river since Henry Hudson’s exploration led to the river’s growth as a major commercial conduit for Euro-American trade. Like all such corridors, the Hudson drew its share of plunderers. As local 17th-century Albany records noted, “Pirates in great numbers infest the Hudson River at its mouth and waylay vessels on their way to Albany. . . .” Zahavi will offer glimpses into the many colorful and sometimes violent individuals who transformed the river into “dangerous waters,” even into the 20th century. http://www.albany.edu/outreach Grant support from the New York Council for the Humanities.
**********************************
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Jeffrey Gaines at The Egg
10/30/2009
The Egg
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
(518) 473-7773
http://theegg.org/
Times: 8 pm
Admission: $22
Stephen Kellogg has successfully blended the insightfulness of the folk tradition, with modern-rock showmanship and considerable charm to develop an ever-growing and devoted following for his group, The Sixers. Soulful singer/songwriter Jeffrey Gaines opens the concert.
On-Going Events
**********************************
Thru 1/3/2010
Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of Historic Art and Culture
Albany Institute of History and Art
125 Washington Ave.nue
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 463-4478
Times: Wed.-Sun. 10 AM-5 PM; Sunday, Noon-5 PM. Tuesday, Registered Groups only. Closed Monday and major holidays.
Admission: Adults $10| Seniors $8|. Students w/ID $8.| Children 6-12, $6 | Children under 6, free.
This unprecedented, year-long exhibit commemorates Henry Hudson’s 1609 exploration of the river that bears his name, and the remarkable narrative of the people, events and ideas that shaped the Capital Region. Features hundreds of artworks, artifacts and rare archival from the Institute’s renowned collection.
**********************************
Thru 10/25/2009
Bethlehem and the Hudson Art Show - Hudson 400
Cedar Hill Schoolhouse Museum
1003 River Road
Selkirk, NY 12158
518-767-9432
Exhibit features Native American artifacts, ice harvesting, steam ships and other small industries on the Hudson.
************************************
1609 Exhibit — Hudson 400
7/3/2009-3/31/2010
New York State Museum
Cultural Education Center
Madison Avenue
Albany, NY
(518) 474-5877
This new exhibition re-examines Henry Hudson’s voyage, myths that surround it and the legacies of Hudson’s unexpected discovery. In addition to artifacts from throughout the NYS Office of Cultural Education, the exhibit features paintings by the Capital Region’s expert historical artist L. F. Tantillo.
************************************
Thru Oct. 31
Historic Tours of Albany
Albany Aqua Ducks & Trolleys
Departing from the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 462-DUCK
info@albanyaquaducks.com
http://www.albanyaquaducks.com/
Departure times vary
The Albany Aqua Ducks & Trolleys serve some very special tours and fun times as the City of Albany celebrates the 400th anniversary of its discovery by explorer, Henry Hudson. Many tours have a first-person narration by Henry Hudson re-enactors.
*************************************
Thru 12/31/2009
Downtown Albany Bike Tour
Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 434-0405
accvb@albany.org
http://www.albany.org/
Two tours encompass downtown from Quackenbush Square to the New York State Capitol and Washington Park to the Empire State Plaza. Brochures available at Visitors Center.
*****************************
Thru 10/31/2009
Sunday Mansion Tours
Knickerbocker Historical Society
Schaghticoke, NY 10154
(518) 459-5098
ardrigh_2000@yahoo.com
Times: Every Sunday from 11 am-3 pm
###
CONTACT: Michele Vennard, President and CEO
(518) 434-1217 x300, mvennard@albany.org
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
