The County Bounty Tour is the ultimate farm crawl 👨‍🌾 🍁

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Happy Thursday, Capital Region! Today, we’re taking you out to Washington County for the rebranded and refreshed County Bounty Tour. Indulge in artisanal cheese, local wine, smoked brisket, farm-baked goods, fresh-picked produce & flowers, and cider everything.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

More than cheese: County Bounty Tour returns bigger & better 👨‍🌾 🍁 

We recently drove out to the Washington County Fair from downtown Albany. Between the cow fields and the corn dogs, we had a revelation: Wow, we really should get out here more often. It’s so charming!

This weekend, we’ve got another excellent excuse to make a pilgrimage to the pastures.

The County Bounty Tour is back—bigger and better—on Saturday and Sunday. Formerly known as the Washington County Cheese Tour, the reimagined self-guided adventure now celebrates the full smorgasbord of local agriculture: wine, cheese, brisket, produce, pumpkins, cider, flowers, maple everything—you name it.

Founded in 2007, the free tour offers tastings, behind-the-scenes farm access, food trucks, vendors, live music, and family-friendly fun. Each location offers something unique:

• Gardenworks Farm (Salem): A gorgeous century-old family farm featuring local cheeses, meats, organic vegetables, and fresh baked goods. Also don’t miss their “Pick Your Own Healthcare” field planted with a diversity of power foods and flowers. They’ve got a full schedule of events for this tour, including yoga and a community plant-powered potluck.
  

• Hicks Orchard & Slyboro Ciderhouse (Granville): Pick-your-own apples and raspberries, cider donuts, homemade fudge, and hard cider in the historic tasting room.
  

• Rathbun’s Maple Sugar House (Granville): Hot cider, pumpkin & apple-cider pancakes, horse-drawn carriages, pumpkins & gourds—and maple syrup, of course!
  

• South Dominion Vineyard (Cambridge): Family-run winery opened in 2016 offering a variety of crisp whites and robust reds made from grapes that thrive in upstate New York. Come for the free kids treasure hunt, stay for the good sipping.
  

• The Farm Store at Tiashoke (Easton): A fourth-generation family farm with a charming country store offering local meats, sweets, antiques and other farm treats. They have a brand-new kitchen serving incredible cheese and brisket. Hot tip: Keep their locally raised turkeys in mind come Thanksgiving.
  

• Victory View Vineyard (Easton): A family-run vineyard specializing in cold-hardy grapes that produce dry wines that pair best with food. They also produce a semi-sweet white wine, as well as one sweeter port-style wine.

"Washington County is equivalent to California's Napa Valley with amazing food and wine produced all around us,” says Jessica Chittenden Ziehm of Tiashoke Farm. “Whether you've been on the tour before, or this is your first time, the drive alone is worth the trip. The cheese, wine, brisket, maple, produce, pumpkins, flowers and more are a mere bonus. We welcome everyone to visit our farm, meet us, know where and how your food is grown, and enjoy a true taste of country living!"

Each farm holds stories, flavors, and views that will get you in the mood for early autumn in upstate New York. And even if you don’t make it out this weekend, keep these farms in mind for all of the fall feels—hot cider, maple, pumpkins, hay rides, etc.

👩‍🌾 Plan your route at countybountytour.com. Be sure to check out the schedule of events for each farm.
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At Circus, we empower individuals to unlock their creative potential through hands-on printmaking education and resources, while providing a vibrant community hub for artists, entrepreneurs, and local businesses.

Whether you’re an artist or business owner in need of custom printed products, a printmaker or photographer looking for a studio, or a curious novice who wants to learn the craft of printmaking, you can count on us.

Catch us the Albany Institute of History & Art on First Friday, or check out another one of our upcoming events, and join the Circus Family!

🐎 Ten horses needed to be put down as a result of racing or training-related injuries during the 2025 meet at the Saratoa Race Course. In 2024, there was only one racing-related fatality and one training-related death. [Times Union]

🦹‍♂️ The Guilderland Public Library will host its first-ever fan convention on Sept. 13. Greufus Con will feature a Mario Kart 8 tournament, Pokemon Puzzle Along, cosplay for all ages, and more. [News10]

🍁 After a five-year hiatus, the legendary Delaware & Ulster Railroad has reopened, just in time for leaf-peeping season. This fall, foliage excursions through the Catskills will run Thursdays through Sundays from Sept. 18 to Oct. 12, with an extra weekend of rides Oct. 15–17. [Time Out NY]

🪪 The ongoing renovation of The Fireside in Schenectady recently uncovered a faded ID card… and a story. Turns out, the ID belongs to a former local who now works as a political reporter for The Washington Post. [Nippertown]

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

No wonder 10K+ everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

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⭐️ 🥳 First Friday Albany returns this weekend! Check out the full schedule of events. Some highlights:

• The first of three consecutive beer gardens at Opalka Gallery, with Super 400 and Buggy Jive performing.

• The printmaking collab with the Albany Institute of History & Art and Circus, the community print shop in Arbor Hill.

• Swing dancing with Annie & the Fur Trappers at the Elks Lodge.

⭐️ ⛴️ Celebrate our maritime heritage at the Waterford Tugboat Roundup, featuring a tug parade, tug tours, boat rides, tug talks, competitions, fireworks, children's activities, vendors, food, and more. Fri-Sun, free.

⭐️ 🎷 Groove to jazz greats and emerging talents at the Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival, at Jennings Landing. Featured performers include Hot Club of Saratoga, Becca Stevens, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra, Moon Hooch, and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Sat, 12-8p, free.

⭐️ 🇮🇹 It’s the 20th year for Schenectady’s Little Italy StreetFest. Sat, 12-9p, free. It also happens to be the 49th annual Greek Festival this weekend at the Hellenic Center in Schenectady. Fri-Sun, free.

⭐️ 👩‍🌾 As you just read, the refreshed County Bounty Tour has expanded its offerings beyond cheese to reflect the new stops, products, and farms added for 2025! Get in the mood for autumn in upstate New York on Sat & Sun, 10a-4p, free.

🎟️ MORE WEEKEND EVENTS

🐴 On Friday and Saturday, Burnt Hills United Methodist Church hosts its 75th annual Lord’s Acre Fair, with free pony rides, reptile shows, and other free family-friendly activities.

TODAY

Meet the Noel and get an artist guided tour of the current exhibit at UAlbany Art Museum’s Noel W Anderson: Black Excellence, with meet and greet reception to follow. Today, 5p, free.

🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic and Proud presents Karaoke in the Park, an evening of music, fun and community in Washington Park.

FRIDAY

🧸 Check out Ritz Carlton's Game Show & Garage Sale at Hangar on the Hudson.

🎸 Get to Irwin Farm for Eastbound Throwdown 2025 (although it looks like it’s sold out).

⛷️ It’s the last Electric City Water Ski show of the season at Jumpin’ Jacks in Scotia.

SATURDAY

🖼️ The Stockade Villagers' 74th annual Outdoor Art Show in Schenectady.

🚒 Bring the kids to the 36th annual Malta Community Day at Shenantaha Creek Park.

🏃‍♂️The Malta 5k kicks off the Capital Region's fall racing season

🐾 Ever wanted to learn how to track animals in the woods? Join Mohawk Hudson Land Conservatory for this free wildlife tracking session at Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary

🍺 Wolf Hollow Brewing Co. hosts its all-day Oktoberfest. Camp chairs are recommended!

🤠 Frog Alley Brewing Co. invites you to its Froggy Tonk Late Night Line Dancing.

SUNDAY

🦐 The Downtown Troy Restaurant Week kicks off on Sunday and runs through Sept. 14. Running nearly concurrently is the Lake George Restaurant Week.

🥬 The Loop in Clifton Park invites you to their grand re-opening. Get to their new spot, just two doors down from their original location, for smoothies, smoothie bowls, and savory toasts.

🎙️ Get a behind-the-scenes look at how radio stories are produced at the Hudson Mohawk Magazine Community Radio Day.

🌕️ The Blood Moon lunar eclipse is occurring on Sunday night. Grab a telescope and get ready to howl at a total lunar eclipse cloaked in deep crimson.

🖼️ Starting this Sunday, the Tang Museum at Skidmore is offering free guided tours of the museum and its current exhibitions every Sunday.

COMING UP

🍁 Stitch & Time in Albany invites you to get ready for the fall at their Design Your Own Autumn Wreath workshop on Sept. 9.

🥧 June Farms is putting on their first-ever Pie Picnic on Sept. 13. This event is expected to sell out!

🎸 The first annual Women Are Making Music (WAMM) Fest on Sept. 14 celebrates women artists from the Capital Region music scene with an all-day concert at The Hangar on Hudson.

🎸 GO TO THE LIST

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website.

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