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- Big ideas and deep conversations at the Albany Book Festival 📚️
Big ideas and deep conversations at the Albany Book Festival 📚️
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Hey, 518 readers! Feel that snap in the air? 🍂 Fall has officially entered the chat—and it’s wasting no time filling the calendar.
This weekend is stacked with Oktoberfests and harvest celebrations, including the inaugural New York Pawpaw Festival.
🍎 Speaking of fall rituals, last week we asked you to name the Capital Region’s best apple-picking spot, and one orchard ran away with it: Nearly half of you chose Indian Ladder Farms, with Goold Hill Estate taking second.
518 reader Becca Pollard made a strong case for Riverview Orchards in Rexford: “It’s smaller than the rest but has been voted best cider donuts in the Capital Region for years.”
You also shouted out Perry’s Orchard in Eagle Bridge, Saratoga Apple in Schuylerville and McWhorter’s Orchard in Argyle. And a few of you backed us up on Samascott and Golden Harvest being primo picks.
🍽️ This Thursday evening, 60+ diners are heading to The 518 Dinner Club, generously sponsored by The Lark Street Tavern. We can’t wait to meet you all!
Didn’t get a seat at this month’s dinner? We have two new dates—Wed, Oct. 28 in Albany, and Thurs, Nov. 12 in Saratoga (our first in Spa City). Reserve your spot!
—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan
Albany Book Festival brings big ideas and deep conversations
In its ninth year, the Albany Book Festival returns to UAlbany on Saturday with a lively mix of literary star power, conversations among writers on writing, and local author signings.
This year’s headliners include Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental writer Elizabeth Kolbert, novelists Namwali Serpell and Gish Jen, and legendary New York restaurateur Keith McNally.
But one of the day’s most resonant conversations will center on a writer who won’t be there: Toni Morrison.
In her national bestseller, “On Morrison,” Serpell revisits the writer’s literary legacy and dives deep into her oeuvre. She approaches Morrison not just as a cultural icon, but as a writer whose craft demands and rewards careful, attentive reading.
For the New York Writers Institute, the festival organizer, this subject hits especially close to home.
Morrison taught at UAlbany during the mid-1980s, and lived in an apartment near Washington Park. She worked closely with William Kennedy to shape the Writers Institute in its early years. Last year, the university installed a permanent exhibit featuring her desk and chair in the Science Library.
“Namwali Serpell really makes the case why Morrison still matters and still sells and is still a literary icon,” says Paul Grondahl, the Opalka-endowed director of the Writers Institute who has a forthcoming biography on Andy Rooney.
More than 100 authors, exhibitors and booksellers will take part in the book festival, with conversations spanning climate change, memoir, history, identity, food and fiction. Among the hot topics: trans athletes and the fight for fairness; the future of Iran, the mother-daughter dynamic, an exploration of the audio book business, and more.
McNally, the famously sharp-tongued force behind restaurants including Balthazar and Pastis, comes with a memoir that Grondahl calls “sad, funny, poignant.”
The 518’s very own Phat Chiem will moderate a conversation with Nancy Matsumoto, author of “Reaping What She Sows: How Women Are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System,” and farmer-activist Ashanti Williams.
As usual, the festival is completely free to attend.
The deets: Albany Book Festival, taking place at UAlbany’s Campus Center, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany. Here’s a map of the festival location with nearby parking lots. Sat, 10:30a-5p, free. Phat’s conversation on rebuilding our food system kicks off at 11:45a in the Campus Center West Boardroom.
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🍽️ The TU is out with its list of the “50 Essential Restaurants in the Capital Region and the Hudson Valley.” [Times Union]
🍗 Tickets are now on sale for the hugely popular Schenectady Wing Walk, taking place Saturday, Oct. 3. Here’s a list of participating restaurants and information on getting tickets.
🥐 Brianna Wells, a graduate of the SUNY Schenectady culinary arts program, has opened Oh, Honey Cafe & Bakery in Rotterdam at 2976 Hamburg St. This place looks amazing!
🖼️ Local arts organizations have one week left to apply to become beneficiaries of the 2027 Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival, which gave out more than $90,000 last year. Apply here.
This mid-century mod gem designed by architect Victor Civkin rests coolly in Rotterdam’s coveted West Hill community. With walls of windows, original Spanish mahogany paneling, bluestone fireplace, and radiant heat, it oozes a retro lux vibe in all the right ways. Upstairs, the master bedroom has a full bath and rooftop deck. Downstairs is a bonus space with wet bar, workshop, and private entrance.
Outside, an expansive patio offers stunning views of the surrounding woods. The neighborhood has extensive trails, a community pond, playing field, and tennis and pickleball courts. Private and full of light, this is a groovy spot to make your own.
The deets: 5 bd, 3 ba, 3072 sq. ft. Days on the market: 1. Asking: $399,000. See the full listing here.
🏡 Honorable mention: A longtime 518 reader is offering a peaceful private retreat nestled on 5 beautiful acres of countryside in highly underrated Coeymans Hollow. The passive solar home features beautiful floor to ceiling windows on the main level. Check out 178 Blodgett Hill Road.
TOP 5 PICKS
🍺 The city’s biggest Oktoberfest happens at Wolff’s Biergarten’s annual block party featuring huge crowds, Oktoberfest games, wiener racing and a best-dressed competition. The 21+ celebration transforms the street outside Wolff’s into a beer-soaked festival worthy of any in Bavaria. Sat, 11a-6p. $10 presale tix on sale now.
🕰️ The Upper Madison Street Fair is a treasured neighborhood tradition featuring live music and dance, local vendors and artists, food, community groups, a kids zone, plus hands-on activities like art-making, chess, and ping pong. Sun, 12-5p, free.
🥭 The inaugural New York Pawpaw Festival celebrates this quirky native fruit at Magic Forest Farm in Coeymans Hollow with tastings, workshops, live music and farm exploration. The two-day festival sprawls across the farm’s 200-plus acres and is designed as a full-on introduction to one of the region’s most unusual seasonal treats. Sat & Sun, various times. Get tix: $45 single day; $82 both days; children 10 and under free.
📚️ The 9th Annual Albany Book Festival gathers more than 100 authors, exhibitors and booksellers to UAlbany’s Campus Center. Expect to explore the craft of writing, the allure of the memoir, and hot topics ranging from trans athletes to America’s relationship with Iran and Iranians. Sat, 10:30a–5p, free.
🎸 Love. Joy. Festival. raises awareness of mental health with support from a terrific lineup of local bands. Taking place at Indian Ladder Farms, the festival raises funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Northeastern NY. On the bill: The E-Block, Amanda Case, Sydney Worthley, E.R.I.E., Stellar Young, Zeffler, Reality Distortion, Haley Stafford, and more. The event concludes with a campfire sing-along! Sat, 3-9p, free.
Honorable mentions:
🥟 TroyAsia Night Market | This year, we’ve been blessed with not one but three TroyAsia Night Markets. It’s back again in its usual spot across from Sunhee’s in Troy to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. As always, get there early to avoid long lines and before vendors like Chateau Homemade Bakery (get your mooncakes here) and Cheebog run out of food! Fri, 5-9p, free.
🎃 The 11th Annual Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest takes over the Saratoga Springs City Center parking garage with growers from across the Northeast hauling in the biggest pumpkins you’ve ever seen, weighing well over 1,000 pounds and even approaching 2,000 pounds! Sat, 11a-3p, free.
WEDNESDAY
🎃 Catch acoustic Americana by Tanager and sample from a pumpkin-themed menu at Empire State Plaza’s Pumpkin Fest.
🥭 Get to the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center in Albany for their free pawpaw tasting.
THURSDAY
🍄🟫 Collar City Mushrooms invites you to learn about mushroom foraging at the Indian Ladder Farms Tasting Room.
🍏 Nine Pin’s free Drag Me to Nine Pin show is always sassy, always fun. If you go, remember to mention “The 518 Crew” to get 10% off all cider pours!
FRIDAY
🖼️ The Printmakers Guild of New York (PGNY) has an awesome new exhibition, “Commanding Color”—a full-blown celebration of the power of color in printmaking. Get to the opening night reception to meet the printmakers!
🍸️ This month’s Troy Night Out is themed College Night Out and features a special scavenger hunt
🎬️ Pat Fahy and the NYS Writers Institute host a fundraiser for Mary Paley’s new film, Stories from the Pavement, the followup documentary to “The Neighborhood That Disappeared,” about the communities lost during the development of the Empire State Plaza.
🤠 Grab your boots and your besties for line dancing at Evermore Hall’s country night.
🥌 Schenectady Curling Club invites you to Learn to Curl.
🌕️ Experience the Hudson Valley beneath the glow of the full Harvest Moon during a special edition of Walkway at Night!
🤣 The Capital Region's Funniest Comic Competition (Night 2) continues at The Parting Glass in Saratoga.
SATURDAY
🖼️ Browse artwork from dozens of local artists at Fall Art in the Park in Saratoga.
🏠️ Stockade Walkabout gives you a rare chance to step inside some of the unique homes in New York State's first historic district.
🦸♂️ Excelsior Con in the Empire State Plaza Concourse is a brand-new, family-friendly celebration of gaming, creativity, and fandom.
🍺 Have you checked out Broken Loop Brewing Co. in Colonie yet? This Saturday is a great time to drop in—join their Oktoberfest celebration featuring $50 tattoos!
🎭️ Cheer on The 518 Beavers as they go up against Nine Pin’s Apples for laughs and bragging rights at Mopco’s always-hilarious Theatresports.
🥾 Peebles Island State Park invites you to a Nighttime Nature Hike.
👕 Circus and Nerdy by Nature team up for this shirt printing event in Troy—bring any colored shirt to get printed!
🎻 Albany High’s Jazzmanian Devils will open for Steep Canyon Rangers at The Egg.
🍺 Downtown Saratoga’s Oktoberfest is brought to you by Druthers and the Franklin Square Market. Meanwhile, downtown Glens Falls puts on its own Oktoberfest.
SUNDAY
🎷 Alias Coffee in Albany hosts the Fall into Jazz Festival, celebrating the life of Tim Coakley and jazz in the Capital Region.
📚️ Get to Nine Pin for the 518 Romantasy Popup.
THEATER ROUNDUP
The Counter, at Harbinger Theatre (now through 9/26)
Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron, at Curtain Call Theatre (9/24-10/4)
The Last American Newspaper, at theREP (9/25-10/18)
Looking for more theater news? Be sure to follow Jeffrey Hocking’s very comprehensive CapDistTheater.org.
UPCOMING
Saratoga Book Festival (10/1-4)
Schenectady Wing Walk (10/3)
The Nightmare Market (10/17)
GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸
Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!
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