The Albany Irish Rowing Club will be hosting their regatta September 4^th, 2010 at the Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve with Irish Cultural events including step dancing, singing, music, pairs and set dancing, art exhibits, Irish Language lessons, exhibits from other Currach Associations in the USA and Ireland, cook off contest for best burgers and a host of other fun events.

 Currently the Albany Irish Rowing is fourth in the standing with 9 points out of a possible 30 points, check out the results here.  So come cheer them on help them make a comeback!

 Photo Courtesy of the Albany Irish Rowing Club

This will be the 4 Year and Counting!!

Friday, September 3rd, from 11 am to 2 pm, multiple venues will showcase artwork for the downtown lunchtime crowd. At 5 pm, that evening, you can enjoy the rest of 1st Friday throughout Albany. The trolley will be starting at the Upstate Artists Guild at 5 pm and stopping at other participating venues throughout Albany. Best of all, 1st Friday is an entirely free event. We hope to see you there!

LIVE MUSIC by Jeff Strange!!

Jeff Strange is a founding member of the internationally known Irish folk band Donnybrook Fair and longtime member of the Newports. He is also is known for his on-stage patter and energetic performances incorporating a broad selection of Irish, rock, and original music. He will play from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Albany Institute and from 8:00 to 10:00 pm at the University Club. The performance is free, and dinner will be served at the University Club until 9:00 pm. Call (518) 463-1151 for reservations.

Here are the Feature Artists and Locations:

• Albany Center Gallery: Then & Now: Channing Lefebvre, Peter Leue and Terry Slade
• Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center: Albanniversary: Kim Stock Photography Exhibit – Hudson 400
• Capital Repertory Theatre: Works by James Rose – canvas paintings and charcoal sketches
• Broadway Arts Center: The RED SHOW
• New York State Museum: Rhythms – Constructing the Jazz Tradition and My Brother’s Thread – Fiber works for and by Men of the African Diaspora
• 11 North Pearl Street: Photography of Trish Hennessy, Joe Putrock & Chris Shields

The event is free and open to the public. Albany Institute members receive a 10 percent discount on selected items in the Museum Shop.

Photo Courtesy of 1^st Friday

The 2010 Capital District Scottish Games are this weekend, September 4th & 5th at the Altamont Fair Grounds. The games are open on Saturday at 9:00am to 6:00pm and on Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The Scottish Games 5K Race is on Sunday!

2010 Scottish Games Schedule:

Scottish Entertainment:

• Rathketair
• Train of Fools (Kevin McKrell)
• The Brigadoons
• Colin Grant Adams & Who’s Your Paddy

Highland Hills of Altamont: Over 40 bag pip bands are expected, meaning about 500 pipers will be playing. This is the Northeastern United States Championship for Pipe Bands – the biggest Pipe band Competition on the Scottish Games circuit.

Highland Athletics:

• Caber Toss  (Telephone pole toss)
• Hammer Throw (16 pound weight set on a handle)
• Stone Put (17 & 22 pound stones thrown for distance, one-handed)
• Weight Throw (28 & 56 pound blocks of stone thrown by an iron chain handle)
• Weight Toss (58 pound weight swung and tossed over a bar for height)
• Sheaf Toss (16 pound sheaf of hay tossed by pitchfork over a bar)

Highland Dancing:

• Northeastern United States Open Championship (NEUS)
• Pre-Premiere Competition
• The Braemar Highland Dancers performing on Sunday

Demos & Events:

• Children’s Corner – rides, bounce house, petting zoo, Games2U, Giant HamsterBall
• Soliders of Scotland – Military historians in uniforms
• Irish Step Dancing – Dancers from the Boland School and Kelly School of Irish Dance
• The Living History of Swords – Lecturer Scott Ian Barry as Rob Roy, the greatest swordsman in all of Scotland.
• Tartans – Colorful Tartans from various clans of Scotland.
• Raptors of NY Wildlife Rescue Center – Educational birds of prey and falconry history. Hawks, owls, falcons.
• Scottish Dog Show – 18th Annual Scottish dog show with 14 breeds originating in Scotland.
• Harp Circle – Harp demonstration with three shows on Saturday.
• Celtic Vendors – Jewlery, clothes, gifts, memorabilia, music, musical instruments.

Clans & Societies Present:

• Capital District Scottish Society
• Council of Scottish Clans & Associations
• St. Andrews Society of Albany
• St. Andrews Society of Connecticut
• St. Andrews Society of Schenectady
• Scottish American Military Society
• Scottish Military History Association
• Tartan Education & Culture Association

The annual Uncle Sam Parade and Celebration, however, is more than just your everyday parade. It’s a celebration of patriotism and citizen recognition. The two day event includes an annual graveside ceremony at the grave of Samual Wilson, the annual ‘Uncle Sam Citizen of the Year Banquet‘, and immediately following the parade a celebration at the Knickerbacker Park. Park festivities include food, entertainment and the culmination of a spectacular fire works show at dusk.

By an Act of the 87th Congress of the United States, the following resolution was adopted on September 15, 1961. “Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Congress salutes “Uncle Sam” Wilson of Troy, New York as the progenitor of America’s National symbol of “Uncle Sam.”  This Statue of Uncle Sam is Located in downtown Troy on the Corner of River Street and Front Street.

2010 Schedule of Activities for the 35th Annual Parade and Celebration:

Saturday, September 11th

The Annual Uncle Sam Gravesite Ceremony at 10am

An annual ceremony by the Veterans of Lansingburgh will be held at the grave of Samual Wilson. Admission is FREE. Samual Wilson died in 1854 and is buried in Troy’s Oakwood Cemetary. For more information contact the Veterans of Lansingburgh (518) 233-8656.

Uncle Sam Citizen of the Year Brunch at 11am

Open to the public. The brunch will be held at the Veterans of Lansingbugh Club 777 First Avenue. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information contact John Rustin at (518) 235-0615.

Sunday, September 12th

Uncle Sam Parade at 1pm

The parade starts at 1p.m., RAIN or shine. The parade will step off from 125th Street and Fifth Avenue and ends at 106th street. The parade will feature a march from local schools, organizations and some military outfits.

Uncle Sam Celebration

Immediately following the parade a celebration at the Knickerbacker Park on 103rd Street and 8th Avenue will feature fun and entertainment for the family (rides for kids, chicken barbaque, our Elvis impersonator – Don Romines, and the Duanesburg sky divers).

Fireworks Show at 8pm

Following the Uncle Sam Celebration a fireworks show will be displayed at the Knickerbacker Park. Fireworks provided by Alonzo’s Fireworks.

Photo Courtesy of City of Troy

The Nation’s largest street festival and one of Albany’s true cultural gems is just around the corner. Enter Larkfest 2010, stretching across 10 city blocks with shopping, hundreds of vendors, dining, nightlife, arts and crafts, kids activities, live music, and many other unique experiences and entertainment. This year, like last, the event is fully expecting to draw over 80,000 people. Larkfest 2010 will be an event you don’t want to miss! There is fun for the entire family!

Previous Larkfest Festivals have featured Worldwide superstars Moby and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman, and Guitar Hero 3.

Event Information
Saturday, September 25, 2010
10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
FREE Admission

Larkfest 2010 Music Schedule:

Larkfest Madison Stage

• 10:00 AM: Skadee
• 11:00 AM: Tom McWatters & the Philo Beddoe Band
• 12:00 PM: Brendan James
• 1:00 PM: Harper Blynn
• 2:30PM: Eli “Paperboy” Reed
• 4:30PM: Backyard Tire Fire

Larkfest Washington Stage

• 10:10 AM: The Ill Funk Ensemble
• 11:10 AM: Rich Ortiz
• 12:10 PM: Sirsy
• 1:10 PM: Kaiser Cartel
• 2:45 PM: Jim Keller
• 4:15PM: Chris Barron

Larkfest is sponsored by:

• WEXT: Exit 97.7 Radio
• WMHT: Public TV and Radio
• The City of Albany
• Heineken
• Jägermeister
• Raise The Barn
• Albany.com
• The Holiday Inn Express
• The Capital Region CW 15

So come on out and enjoy one of the area’s free concert series at the Frank A Leak Amphitheatre for the Arts in Cook Park located in Colonie.

Photo courtesy of Hair of the Dog

The DJ and musician Moby will headline this year’s LarkFest. Also on the bill for the daylong Albany festival are Irish rockers Bell X1, Brooklyn-based synth-pop duo Matt & Kim and the Chicago indie band Company of Thieves. The lineups were announced this morning by the Lark Street Business Improvement District, organizer of the 28 year old festival.  Other main-stage bands announced by radio station WEQX, a co-sponsor of LarkFest, are Queer for AstroBoy, Lunic, The Burnham Bros. and Ten Year Vamp.

Closing off the entire Lark Street, this is one of Albany’s largest and most anticipated events with 70,000 people expected to attend this year!  There will be free entertainment and fun activities for the entire family. Visual arts, music, poetry, magic acts, dancing and great food were just a few of the many highlights of last year’s Larkfest in Albany, NY.

For the second year, LarkFest will be expanded onto Washington Avenue from Lark Street to Henry Johnson Boulevard.  That section of the street will be closed for the day, as will Lark from Washington to Madison Avenue.

PARKING is available at the East Garage on Madison Street and Eagle Street.

Closing off the entire Lark Street, this is one of Albany’s largest and most anticipated events with 70,000 people expected to attend this year!  There will be free entertainment and fun activities for the entire family. Visual arts, music, poetry, magic acts, dancing and great food were just a few of the many highlights of last year’s Larkfest in Albany, NY.

PARKING is available at the East Garage on Madison Street and Eagle Street.

There will be FIVE Stages of live performances!

            The Main Stage at Madison and Lark presented by WEQX:
                        12:00 Maggie Mayday
                          1:15 Aficionado
                          2:30 Val Emmich
                          4:00 Oppenheimer

            The Washington Stage:
                        12:15 Saving Atlantis
                          1:30 Sense Offenders
                          2:45 Eric Hutchinson
                          4:15 Tom Morello – The Nightwatchman

            The Townsend Park Stage presented by The Albany Barn & Central Ave BID:
                        11:00 Rich Ortiz
                        12:15 Broadcast Live
                          1:15 Cirque de la Nocturne
                          2:00 Taina Asili y La Bande Rebelde
                          3:15 Erin Harkes & The Rebound

            The Hometown Stage presented by Mother Judge:
                        11:30 Jazzhands
                        12:15 Albany Poets & House Band of the Apocalypse
                        12:50 Discard Avant Garb
                          1:15 Mother Judge & Mitch Elrod
                          2:00 Cristo Lewis
                          2:45 Big Nixon
                          3:45 Knot Working
                          4:45 Heavenly Echoes

            The Family Stage presented by EBA Arts Center
                        11:00 and 1:30 Mike McCrea – Juggler
                        11:30 and 2:30 Sassy Sapphires – Dance
                        12:00 and 3:30 Cirque de la Nocturne
                        12:30 and 2:00 OKS – Acoustic Music
                          1:00 and 3:00 Merdwin – Magic

Come early and stay all day for this fun-filled packed extravaganza!

On Thursday I took a trip to The Altamont Fair. On the way to the fair grounds a large thunderhead was following. Sure enough, I parked and got in line just in time for the wind to kick up and for the sky to completely unleash. It was probably the worst thunderstorm of the summer. Thankfully I wasn’t completely soaked before I could take shelter in an animal barn.

The storm passed pretty quickly, but standing around with a bunch of sheep made it feel like forever. Then I headed down to the Reid F. Northrup Memorial Stage to catch 11-year-old child star Anthony Gargiula film his music video. Gargiula has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, and The CBS Early Show. He has been on the American Idol red carpet, has sung the national anthem for the Boston Bruins, the New York Knicks, the Jacksonville Jaguars, at the Belmont Stakes, the Kentucky Derby Festival and most recently The 25th Decatur Celebration. Plus he has opened for acts like the Jonas Brothers, Jordan Pruitt, and Lady Antebellum.

Why is this all cool? He is a rising star, plus a Capital Region local! He was discovered on YouTube where has over 4,000,000 views on his national anthem performance! Check out Anthony Gargiula on YouTube. If you like what you hear and have a minute to support him and his dreams, please go to the Anthony Gargiula Facebook Page and click the “Like” button. The more people he can get to like him on Facebook, the more gigs he can land.

Watch a preview of some of the footage shot at the Altamont Fair Grounds:

After snapping a bunch of photos of the performance and filming of the music video, I went off to check out what else the fair had to offer. There was a cool car show with lots of old-time and antique models on display. In front of the entrance was a car that the public could sign with permanent markers as it was being entered in the Destruction Derby which took place on Sunday – not sure how it did. If anyone knows, please let me know via comment. It was car #2.

There was a pig-show where they did tricks. A little odd, but cool. (Pigs are the fourth smartest animal.) The show’s host kept mentioning what great pets they make – no thanks. There was a freak show, which was a bit disappointing outside of the two-headed cow, but there really was a two headed cow. Then, the best of all, is the fact that this year at the fair the wristband you got for paying admission got you unlimited rides. The fair had all the classics: The scrambler, the ferris wheel, starship 2000, swings, slides, haunted house, fun house, mini-coasters, etc, etc.

Check out all the photos in the 2010 Altamont Fair article.

If anyone else went to the fair, please share your experiences here.

Thanks.

-Ed
AlbanyAlive.com

Saratoga Eagle

Over twenty-two micro-breweries from around the region will offer samples of their brews for you to taste and vote on. Participating breweries include:

• Adirondack Pub and Brewery
• Anchor Brewery
• Blue Moon
• Boulder Beer
• Brewery Ommegang
• Brooklyn Brewery
• C.H. Evans Brewing
• Crossroads Brewery
• Davidson Brothers
• Dundees
• Harpoon Brewery
• Ithaca Beer
• Lake Placid Brewery
• Long Trail Brewery
• Magic Hat
• Olde Saratoga Brewery
• Otter Creek Brewing
• Sam Adams Brewery
• Saranac Brewery
• Sierra Brewery
• Spanish Peaks
• Switchback
• Crossroads Brewing Company

In addition to the microbrews, a limited number of breweries will be offering micro-brewed ciders. Samples will be provided by Green Mountain Beverage, Harpoon Cider and Samuel Smith’s. Judges will be provided by the Saratoga Thorobrews Home Brewing Association.

“The Battle of the Brews has become an annual tradition for the Saratoga Flat Track crowd and a staple event during Travers Week. This event is a prime example of how a collective group of local business owners, major corporations and patrons ban together for a common cause. Saratoga Eagle and the American Red Cross welcome one and all to the Battle of the Brews,” said Eileen Reardon, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter.

The event location within the track will be held in the area prior to the playground, which is left of the main gate facing Union Avenue. Tickets for the event are $25 per person which includes a commemorative glass. Attendees must be 21 years or over to participate and are encouraged to drink responsibly. The American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter will be abiding by the rules and regulations set forth by the NYS Liquor Authority. A list of area taxi-cab contact information will be available.

If you would like more information on tickets or sponsorships please call the American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter at 518-792-6545 or email reardone@usa.redcross.org.

Photo Courtesy of Saratoga Eagle