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Top 5 Weekend: Schenectady Soup Stroll, Chili Bowl, 2000s Party!

January 29, 2026

In partnership with

Happy Thursday evening, friends. Daytime temps are expected to drop into the low teens this weekend. Not great for your National Grid bill, but excellent weather for a soup stroll or a chili cookoff—both happening this Saturday. Plus, we’ve rounded up a couple of cool parties in our Top 5 Weekend picks. Bundle up and go make the most of this Arctic freeze 🥶 

Btw, we’ve added more than 1,200 new subscribers in the last month—welcome all!

🚫🧊 This Friday, many local businesses will be shutting their doors to observe the nationwide economic protest against ICE. Don’t be surprised if your favorite restaurant or shop is closed for the day, like Stacks Espresso. Be sure to patronize these small businesses when they do open up and understand that some cannot afford to shut down even for a day. We stand against ICE ✊ 

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

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Temps will be in the teens for the Schenectady Soup Stroll—perfect weather for a pipin’ hot bowl of goodness 📷️ Phat X. Chiem

⭐️ 🥣 The 13th annual Saratoga Clay Arts Chili Bowl fundraiser features some of the area’s best eateries, including Noah’s Restaurant, Thorn + Roots (last year’s winner), and Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro. Unlike other tasting events, guests enjoy their chili served in handmade ceramic bowls created by regional artists, which they take home. Sat, 11a-2p, $32.80. (You must register for a time slot to enter the event.)

⭐️ 🥄 The super popular Schenectady Soup Stroll will be competing for hungry visitors at the same time as the Chili Bowl. Since multi-year winner Simone’s Kitchen has taken themselves out of the competition, the field is wide open this year to crown a new soup champion. See a map of the participating restaurants here. Sat, 11a-4p, $1 per 3 oz sample.

⭐️ 🎻 Formed in 2000 to showcase music that might have been heard in early Albany, Musicians of Ma’alwyck has since expanded to play contemporary work and operas. This Friday, get to the historic Gardner Earl Chapel at Oakwood Cemetery in Saratoga to hear the dramatic side of Scottish music at a special performance of Tam o’ Shanter: A Musical Tale. There will be music, poetry, and storytelling! Friday, 5p, $25. Get tix here.

⭐️🍺 Flannels and winter fits are highly encouraged at the Cabin Fever Party at Troy’s Bootleggers on Broadway. Expect cold drinks, hot food, and cozy vibes all night long. Btw, Bootleggers is known for its large selection of craft beers. Sat, starts at 6p, free.

⭐️ 🪩 It’s a 2000’s Party is your chance to celebrate the early aughts at Empire Live. Dig through your closet for your best Y2K outfit and come out to hear the decade's biggest hits across pop, hip-hop, and rock! This is an 18+ show. Friday, 8p, $25. Friends in the 518 is also meeting up here for this dance night, so join the fun if you’re in your 20s or 30s.

Love the 2000s, but don’t feel like hitting the dance floor? Get to Brown’s Brewing Co. in Troy for their 2000s Trivia Night, on Friday.

THURSDAY

🍸️ Undrunk Club presents its first event of the year at Best Fitness in Schenectady. Choose your own adventure: Take a spin or dance class! Related: Undrunk Club is making sobriety the life of the party.

🥃 Smiths Public House in Cohoes hosts a Customer Appreciation Night featuring an hour-long open bar for everyone!

FRIDAY

🖼️ Brave the cold for Troy Night Out. Don’t worry, you can always duck into the Arts Center of the Capital Region for the opening reception of Susan Hoffer’s “Conversations” exhibition.

🎨 While you’re there, don’t miss the artist reception for Kim Tateo at Troy’s Context Collective.

🎭️ Schenectady Civic Playhouse presents “In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play,” a comedy about marriage, intimacy, and the dawn of electricity. Set in the 1880s, Dr. Givings, a scientist, unknowingly revolutionizes treatment for “hysteria” with his new invention—the vibrator. Through Feb. 8.

☠️ Schism: Tool Tribute with Rush tribute The Goldman Boys at Putnum Place is touted as “the world’s first and longest national touring tribute to Tool”—now that’s saying something!

🎷 Get to the Zankel Music Center for the Skidmore Jazz Faculty Concert—it’s free!

🧊 Max 410 at the Waters Edge in Glenville is hosting an Ice Bar and Winterfest Weekend, Fri-Sun.

🎭️ Cohoes Music Hall presents “Lifespan of a Fact,” a romp through the world of magazine fact-checking. Through Sunday.

SATURDAY

🧶 Troy, NY-based Canadian textile artist Barbara Todd’s first extensive regional solo exhibition, “Undoings,” is currently showing at Opalka Gallery. Join Terry Conrad & Barbara Todd in conversation.

🎵 The rescheduled Albany Record Riot is taking place this evening at the Polish Community Center.

🍕Get to Forno Bistro for their Pizza Masterclass and leave knowing how to sling an excellent pie. Also in February, City Beer Hall is hosting a Pizza & Dough Making Class (it’s cheaper and comes with a seasonal cocktail).

🐟️ Sadly, this event is SOLD OUT: Ted’s Fish Fry hosts its first-ever Reel Love: A Daddy–Daughter Date Night.

🧊 Hot toddies for everyone! The Lagoon Ice Bar is kicking off this weekend in Lake George.

🌕️ Get out for a frigid but beautiful stroll at Mabee Farm during their Full Moon Wolf Walk.

SUNDAY

👰 Planning for the big day? Get to the Capital Region's Premier Wedding Show in Saratoga (free with registration).

LOOKING AHEAD

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