SCHENECTADY — Citing certain anonymous parties who have claimed that the Mop & Bucket Improv theatre troupe (MopCo) doesn’t actually improvise, the Artistic Director of the company, Michael Burns, issued an indignant challenge today on the steps of City Hall in Schenectady.

“We have to improvise; it’s absurd to think that we could come up with a new two hour show every week, writing, rehearsing, polishing—we all–well, most of us– have day jobs, you know. What do these people think this is, Saturday Night?” The improvisor was referring to the long-running late night comedy show on NBC. “MopCo is performing at Proctors on FRIDAY nights. with a heck of a lot smaller budget” Burns said. If we wrote it, trust us, it wouldn’t be as good, not by a long shot. In fact, with the amount of time we have available, it [...]

Tibetan Buddhist Institute Hosts Inaugural Event

Berne, New York – June 18-21, 2010 – The Tenzin Gyatso Institute, founded to advance the vision and ideals of the Dalai Lama, opens to the public for the first time. Its founder, Sogyal Rinpoche, will teach on “Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World: Celebrating Tibet’s Culture of Compassion.” Open to people of all backgrounds, the teachings will present the very essence of Tibet’s rich wisdom culture, including its emphasis on working with the mind and cultivating values such as altruism, compassion and non-violence.

A special one day inaugural celebration, including special guests, Lodi Gyari Rinpoche, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and others, starts at 10 am on June 19th. A full program of teachings begins June 18th and continues through June 21st.

Registration, fees and more information [...]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Phinney Design Group, a multi-disciplinary Architecture and Interior Design Firm in Saratoga Springs, was presented with two [Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation] 2010 Preservation Recognition Awards, presented by Mayor Scott Johnson on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at City Hall. Phinney Design Group was recognized in two categories – winning an award for ‘New Contextual Design’ recognizing their design of 153 Grand Ave., a multi- family residence in the historic “Dublin” neighborhood on Saratoga’s West side, and an award for their ‘Adaptive Reuse’ for their rehabilitation design of the historic Whitney Carriage House condominiums at 14 Talford Place. Further information on these projects and others by Phinney Design Group can be found at www.phinneydesign.com.

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For more information or to schedule an appointment with Michael Phinney please contact
Christine Hogan @ Phinney Design Group, 518.587.7120 x 10.

Date: April 21, 2010
Release: Immediately
Contact: Bob Kimmerle
518-580-5744
bkimmerl@skidmore.edu

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. —SaratogaArtsFest 2010 will launch the summer arts scene in Saratoga Springs June 10-13 with an agenda of some 75 events and activities at venues throughout the city. The festival, now in its fourth year, will span music, dance, visual art, film, theatre, and literary art. The full schedule for the festival is available at www.SaratogaArtsFest.org.

A small sampling of this year’s line-up includes the acclaimed José Limón Dance Company, jazz trumpeter Brandon Lee, pianist and jazz sideman Warren Bernhardt, the celebrated composer Richard Danielpour, Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble ACJW, and fiction writer Alix Ohlin.

These performances will be mixed in with dozens of events and activities for a wide-range of audiences— [...]

For Further Information Contact:
Casey Weakley, Marketing Media Specialist
(518) 581-5730

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

STREISAND AND SINATRA TRIBUTE HOSTED BY SARATOGA GAMING AND RACEWAY

Saratoga Springs, NY (May 17, 2010) – A past Vapor sell-out, the Barbra and Frank show is a tribute to Streisand and Sinatra and will be live at Vapor Night Club inside Saratoga Gaming and Raceway for two performances this Thursday.

This tribute show features Sharon Owens as Barbra Streisand and Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra. The real Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra never shared the stage, but did record the duet ‘I’ve Got a Crush on You’ separately. The Barbra and Frank show puts these two iconic performers on the same stage, bringing fans favorite hits such as ‘Luck Be a Lady,’ ‘That’s Life,’ ‘My Way’ and many more.

Sharon Owens’s career [...]

Local businesses rally behind the Caffe with an abundance of support

Saratoga Springs, NY – May 17, 2010: Caffe Lena will be celebrating its 50th anniversary May 21 and 22, 2010. To mark such an important milestone, Saratoga Springboard and the Caffe have aligned to plan a series of exciting musical performances and events throughout the weekend. The Caffe has been truly humbled by the support its local community has offered.
Friday, May 21 kicks off the weekend’s celebrations with a benefit concert planned at the Caffè to help raise funds for important renovation projects. Legendary folk duo Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur are scheduled to perform, with an evening of delicious hors d’oeuvres donated by Hattie’s, Beverley’s, Four Season’s, Gaffney’s and other local restaurants; beer donated by Saratoga Brewery; and wine donated by D’Andrea’s. A silent auction includes [...]

Saratoga Arts is seeking artists for its three summer outdoor art exhibitions.

There will be an art exhibit and sale as part of the Caroline Street Art and Blues Fest 10th Year Celebration on Sunday, June 6, from 1 to 7pm in downtown Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Arts’ exhibit will take place with artists featured along the sidewalks of Putnam, Henry and lower Caroline Street. Other features of the festival include a chili contest, t-shirts, blues music in the restaurants, and family and children’s activities sponsored by the Children’s Museum of Saratoga in the lot of the Saratogian. Artists need to register with the Arts Council for this exhibit by May 21.

On Saturday, July 10, the first of Saratoga Arts summer Art in the Park exhibition and sale events will occur in Saratoga Springs’ historic Congress Park, from 10am to 5pm. The second Art in the [...]

DATE: May 5, 2010 PRESS RELEASE

Jewelry Designer Dennis deJonghe Wins Prestigious Award

Jewelry artist Dennis deJonghe of deJonghe Original Jewelry, located at 470 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, was recognized for his distinctive gold work.

Every year, the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) celebrate outstanding talent in the field of jewelry design with the Vision Awards competition. The winning designers represent the future of the jewelry manufacturing industry, and the Vision Awards competition showcases their creativity and boosts their careers. Some of the industry’s finest designers can point to a Vision Award among their exemplary credits.

The 19th annual design competition winners were honored during MJSA Expo New York on March 16th at the New York Hilton. Mr. deJonghe’s gold brooch was selected as a Gold Distinction Winner. The winning brooch [...]

Saratoga Springs Dog-Friendly Downtown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 30, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Melanie Dallas (518) 587-2207
Adrianna Flax (518) 584-4132

Saratoga Springs Dog-Friendly Downtown Program Launch Event

(Saratoga Springs, NY) – Sloppy Kisses and Saratoga Arts announce the official launch event for the Saratoga Springs Dog-Friendly Downtown Program (DFD). On Saturday, May 15th, area dogs and their owners are invited to participate in the DFD Scavenger Hunt and Doggie Yappy Hour to follow.

11 am to 3 pm
Scavenger Hunt participants (both human and canine) are tasked with visiting as many DFD
businesses as possible to answer a canine-related question specific to that business. Scavenger
Hunt participants must answer at least 7 questions correctly to be eligible for the prize raffle, to
be held as part of the [...]