ELLEN’S PICKS
Monday, June 4
Naked – “…brainchild of songwriter Julia Nichols, is a hot mix of soulful, sultry sounds, with lyrics that give the listener something to think about while the rhythms make their booty shake.” – A Monday Showcase offering – No cover – Information atwww.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – 8 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
Tuesday, June 5
Trixie Starr hosts Match Game, the Hudson version of the 60s/70s television show – Prizes and frivolity – Information at 301-4398 – 7 to 9 pm – (pm) Wine Bar, 119 Warren Street
A Full Moon Walk and Paddle to View the Transit of Venus – Venus, the brightest of planets, will pass in front of the sun, staging one of the rarest of astronomical phenomena. The next Transit of Venus will not take place until the next century, on December 11, 2117. This special astronomical event occurs at sunset on the East Coast, so participants should arrive at 8 pm – Solar shades, required for safety reasons, will be supplied by Columbia Land Conservancy, the host of the event – CLC invites people with their own canoe or kayak and personal flotation devices, to go for a paddle on the 35-acre Sutherland Pond (limited to 10.) Landlubbers will be led by staff on a hike around the trails of the Pond – Bring a flashlight – Registration and information at 392-5252, ext. 207 or e-mailHeidi@clctrust.org – 8 pm – Main Parking Lot, Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond, 480 Rock City Road, Chatham
Wednesday, June 6
Kria Brekkan and Muck – Kria Brekkan is the solo moniker of Kristin Anna Valtysdottir – Read all about her atwww.TheSpottyDog.com – Information at 671-6006 – 7 pm – Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren Street
Victor Wooten Band – Victor Lemonte Wooten “…began learning to play music at the tender age of two. He started performing in nightclubs and theaters as the bassist with the family band at age five, and at age six, was on tour with his brothers opening shows for legendary soul artist Curtis Mayfield….Wooten, now a five-time Grammy winner, hit the worldwide scene in 1990 as a founding member of the super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones….” – Information at www.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – 8 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
Thursday, June 7
A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Levon Helm – Performances by The Felice Brothers, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Ambrosia Parsley and the Elegant Too, A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers, Diamond Doves, and other guests – Information atwww.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – 8 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10
Mac-Haydn Theatre presents Oliver!, Lionel Bart’s popular musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist – Information, schedule and reservations at 392-9292 or www.machaydntheatre.org – Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1925 Route 203, Chatham
Films at TSL:
> The Loving Story – “…the definitive account of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage….”
> Payback: Debt & the Shadow Side of Wealth – Margaret Atwood’s visionary work…is the basis for this riveting and poetic documentary on ‘debt’ in its various forms—societal, personal, environmental, spiritual, criminal, and of course, economic….”
>Schedule at 822-8100 or www.timeandspace.org – Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia Street
Friday, June 8
The GTOs perform as part of the Music at Sunset concert series – Information at 828-4656 – 7 pm – Greenport Town Park, Joslen Boulevard, Greenport
Swing Night at Helsinki – Dance workshops in the lindy hop and blues from 7 to 8:30 pm; beginner lesson from 8:30 to 9 pm; dancing, with live music by The Josh Fialkoff Trio, from 9 pm to midnight – Information at www.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
D. Charles Speer and Trummors perform – “Singer, songwriter, and guitarist D. Charles Speer is the adopted moniker of Dave Shuford, a member of the infamous No-Neck Blues Band from Brooklyn, NY. He writes roots Americana songs from the weird side of American life…” – Trummors is a duo formed by Anne Cunningham and David Lerner – Information at 671-6006 orwww.TheSpottyDog.com – 8 pm – Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren Street
Balloon Land: Thinner Than Air – Screening of three balloon films and Q&A with filmmakers Benny and Josh Safdie and curator Jake Perlin – Films are The Black Balloon (2011) by Benny & Josh Safdie, The Red Balloon (1956) by Albert Lamorisse, and The Balloonatic (1923) a Buster Keaton film – Information at www.basilicahudson.com – 8 pm – Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street
The Wiyos “The group brings exuberance and intensity to these vintage styles, and its performances are layered with vaudevillian stage antics”
—The New Yorker – Listen at www.thewiyos.com – Information at www.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – 9 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
Friday-Saturday, June 8-9
Hudson-Athens Ferry Service – Information at www.hudsoncruises.com or 822-1014 – Departs Hudson on the hour and Athens on the half-hour – 5 to 11:30 pm – Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, over the railroad bridge at the intersection of Front and Allen Streets
Saturday, June 9
Guided hike to Sunset Rock and Catskill Mountain House – Part of the Art Trail Hikes program – Guided hikes to the nearby places that inspired Thomas Cole and other artists of the Hudson River School – Hikes range from easy walks to moderately vigorous climbs – Reservations at 943-7465, ext 5 – 9 am – Cedar Grove, Thomas Cole National Historic Site, 218 Spring Street, Catskill
Three races hosted by the Kinderhook Runners: OK 5K at 9 am, the l mile run for kids 4 through 12 at 8:15 am, and the Kinderhook Library Reading Ramble for those under 5 at 8:40 am – Information at www.ok5krace.org – The Village Square, Kinderhook
Hudson Farmers’ Market – To find out what’s available at the market or to view the calendar of events, go towww.hudsonfarmersmarketny.com – 9 am to 1 pm – Corner of Sixth and Columbia Streets
Opening Day of Kinderhook Village Farmers’ Market – Every Saturday through mid-October – 9 am to 1 pm – Village Green, Kinderhook
Hudson Elks Lodge Annual Flag Day Parade and festivities – Hudson’s biggest parade, followed by activities at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park including carnival rides, parachute jumps at 7:45-8 pm (weather permitting), food vendors, the Olde News Band, Donny Elvis (the impersonator), and fireworks at dusk – This year the parade includes a flyover of U.S. Air Force C-130 planes at 2:15 – The parade, with nearly 70 units including fire companies, bands, organizations, businesses, agencies, and government officials is led by grand marshals drawn from the world of local television – Information at 821-0510 – Parade steps off at 2 pm and moves from the intersection at Green and State Street, moves across Park Place, down Warren Street and south on Front Street to the waterfront
Craftsman Cristobal Morales teaches how to make “ever-blooms” out of found objects – The third in a series of flower-related events called Spring in Bloom – Information at 697-0909 – 2:30 pm – TK Home & Garden, 441 Warren Street
Taconic Hills Jazz Ensemble performs, plus a picnic supper to benefit the Philmont Public Library – Information atwww.philmont.org/events - 5:30 pm – Claverack Town Park, 91 Church Street, Mellenville
Treasures of Hudson Valley’s Night Sky: Astrophotography – Photographs of nebulas, galaxies, and other treasures by amateur astrophotographer Scott Nammacher, taken from his observatory built in 2008 – Presented with extensive educational materials – Exhibition runs through July 8 – Information at www.hudsonoperahouse.org or 822-1438 – 6 to 8 pm – Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street
A Southern Journey – The Columbia County Historical Society’s spring benefit – Reggie’s Red Hot Feetwarmers provide dance music – Information and reservations at www.cchsny.org or 758-9265 – 6 to 9 pm – Vanderpoel House of History, 16 Broad Street, Kinderhook
Spirit of Hudson dockside bar and lounge – Open for Flag Day fireworks viewing – Information at www.hudsoncruises.com or 822-1014 – 6 to 11 pm – City dock, behind the gazebo, Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, over the railroad bridge at the intersection of Allen & Front Streets
Hudson River Classics presents a staged reading of Seeking Flight, a new play by Joan Broadman – Winner of the annual Hedrick Playwriting Award – Reading is free; suggested donation for reception afterward with playwright, director, and actors – Reservations at 799-3230 – Information at 851-3617 or www.hrc-showcasetheatre.com – 7:30 pm – Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia Street
Cathy Grier, NYC Subway Girl – New York City based singer-songwriter and activist, Grier “combines rhythmic guitar and gutsy vocals, and has an infectious energy….” – Has performed at Avery Fisher Hall and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning – Information at www.hudsonoperahouse.org or 822-1438 – 8 pm – Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street
Kath Bloom and Last Good Tooth – Read all about this double bill at www.TheSpottyDog.com – Information at 671-6006 – 8 pm – Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren Street
Dirty Bourbon Rhythm Band (www.dirtybourbonrivershow.com/) – Information at 672-7346 – 8 pm – Main Street Public House, 12 Main Street, Philmont
Freak Flag Day – Woods (a lo-fi indie folk-pop band from Brooklyn), , Black Pus (Brian Chippendale, known for his fast-paced, frantic drumming), DJ Bunnybrains, and special guests – Presented by Jean Deux Books and Records, Basilica Hudson, and community radio station WGXC 90.7FM – Information at www.basilicahudson.com – 8 pm – Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street
Jonathan Richman – “His deceptively straightforward songs embody timeless qualities of humanity, optimism, emotional insight and a boundless sense of humor, untainted by cynicism or transient notions of hipness….” – Featuring Tommy Larkins on drums – Information at www.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – 9 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
Sunday, June 10
Garden Conservancy Open Day – Visit the gardens of Kevin Lee Jacobs in Valatie, Jim Joseph and Scott Frankel in Livingston, Peter Bevacqua and Stephen King in Claverack, Owen Davidson and Mark Prezorski in Livingston, and Jeffrey Ruzich and Scott Canning in Germantown – 10 am to 4 pm – Information and directions at www.gardenconservancy.org
Sightseeing Open Cruise – Information and reservations at 822-1014 or www.hudsoncruises.com – 1 to 2:30 pm – Little Spirit, City dock (behind the gazebo), Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, over the railroad bridge at the intersection of Allen and Front Streets
Monday, June 11
The Chase Brothers playing blues-rock – A Monday Showcase offering – No cover – Information at www.helsinkihudson.com or 828-4800 – 8 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
OPEN MICS
Tuesdays
Helsinki Open Mic – Try out new material on the big Helsinki stage – Hosted by Stephen Bluhm, Ryder Cooley, and guest MCs – Information at 828-4800 or www.helsinkihudson.com – Sign-up begins at 7 pm – Performance from 8 to11 pm – Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street
Wednesdays
Open Mic Night – Broadcast live on WGXC 90.7 FM – Hosted by Rob Johanson – Information at 469-7489 or rcj837@gmail.com – Sign up at 8 pm – Performance from 8:30 pm to 11 pm – Red Dot, 319 Warren Street
Acoustic Open Mic with host and guitar expert Al Sire – Information at 822-1234 or www.americanglory.com – 8 pm – American Glory, 342 Warren Street
Thursdays
Thursday Night Performance Circle – Any performance style from comedy to music is welcome – Open to all ages – Hosted by Jackie and Marilyn – Information at 828-2210 or e-mail parloropenmic@gmail.com – 7 to 9 pm – Parlor Coffee & Tea House, 742 Warren Street
First Saturdays
The People’s Open Mic – Sign up by e-mail at flaminy@fairpoint.net – Information at 392-2337 – 7:30 pm on – Peint O Gwrw Pub, 36 Main Street, Chatham
All phone numbers are in area code 518 unless otherwise indicated.
All addresses are in Hudson, unless otherwise indicated.
For more information on Columbia County events, visit www.columbiacountytourism.org
All content herein copyright c 2012, printed with permission
