Around Town with Amy Modesti

10/15/2026

If you are an official subscriber to The The Greenwich Journal and Salem Press, you might have seen a new update on their Facebook and SubStack page today!!

A Journal & Press subscriber told my editor in a written note that the newspaper is “a real breath of fresh air.” as they re-subscribed to the paper.

What’s also included in today’s newsletter post on SubStack is the preview of Marty Wendell and Laura Leigh’s special show at Caffe Lena, happening this upcoming Friday!!

If you have not done so already, please become a subscriber to Journal & Press to keep up on the latest local news and support local news media.

And if you haven’t done so already, please read my preview of Marty and Laura’s upcoming show in Journal & Press (and Around Town with Amy Modesti)!!

Thank you so much for your support of local news, local music, & historic music venues!!

-Amy (10/14/26)

A Note From a Subscriber -- and Take Our Political Mailer Poll!

10/11/2026

https://aroundtownwithamymodesti.substack.com/p/bridging-together-yesterday-and-todays?r=2u0jzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Two musicians from two opposite generations will soon bring their songs and Americana sounds to a historic stage.

Musicians, Marty Wendell and Laura Leigh will bring their songs and sounds to Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY Friday, Oct. 16, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

General admission tickets are $27.11, $23.36 for Caffe Lena members, and $13.56 for a child or student. For those who aren't able to attend the concert but want to watch the live streaming can do so on Cafe Lena TV, with the cost ranging from $5.00 - $8.00.

This will be Laura Leigh's first performance at Caffe Lena.

From first meeting at a concert at Hillview Farm and performing together at Hubbard Hall in Cambridge, the musicians will next perform together at Caffe Lena. For the upcoming show, each musician will perform their original songs and then, come together on stage to perform some additional songs.

More information about the show and how to obtain tickets can be found on Caffe Lena's website, as well as on Around Town With Amy Modesti via SubStack and Journal & Press.

Please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to Around Town With Amy Modesti to further support a local and independently owned news site and keep updated on the latest news.

Thank you so much to Darren Johnson of Journal & Press for asking me to write the concert preview, and thank you to Marty, Laura, and the Caffe Lena staff for their insights and contributions. Go and see these talented musicians perform live this upcoming Friday!

✏️ - Article written by Amy Modesti of Around Town With Amy Modesti/ Journal & Press

📸 - Photos of Marty Wendell and his band at Caffe Lena, and the solo photo of Laura Leigh in Albany taken by Amy Modesti of ALM Fine Art & Photography . Event poster and photo contributed by Marty Wendell

Laura Leigh and Marty Wendell will bring their songs and sounds to the historic Caffe Lena stage Friday, Oct. 16.

10/11/2026

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Two musicians from two opposite generations will soon bring their songs and Americana sounds to a historic stage. Valley Falls resident, Marty Wendell, and Cambridge native, Laura Leigh, will bring their songs and sounds to Caffe Lena (located at 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) Friday, Oct. 16, 8:00pm, with doors opening at 7:30pm.

“We are looking forward to having Marty Wendell back on our stage and getting to welcome Laura Leigh for the very first time. Folks are in for a great night of music!” Hannah Stirzaker, Booking Manager of Caffe Lena said in a statement. “As a mainstay of the Capital Region music scene, Marty has played here several times over the years in different formats; his last performance here was actually his 60th anniversary retrospective, which is an amazing milestone and was an honor to be a part of.”

From meeting each other at Hillview Farm and performing at Hubbard Hall, Leigh and Wendell will perform their original music, with a hint of a few covers, on the historic Caffe Lena stage. To learn more about this one of a kind show and how to purchase tickets, head over to Journal & Press and Around Town With Amy Modesti on their respective SubStack pages to read this story first hand, or buy a copy of The Journal of Upstate New York at selected Washington County,NY locations. Purchase tickets for the show on Caffe Lena’s website. Thank you so much to Marty, Laura, and Caffe Lena for the opportunity to preview the upcoming show for Around Town & Journal and Press.

(✒️: Article Written by Amy Modesti for The Journal of Upstate New York and Around Town With Amy Modesti.📸: Photos of Marty Wendell & Sean Wendell & Marty Wendell Band at Caffe Lena taken by Amy Modesti Amy Modesti. 🖼️: Poster Art and photo of Marty and Laura at Proctors provided courtesy of Marty Wendell) , , , , CaffeLena, Journal & Press , Caffè Lena , Laura Leigh , Laura Leigh ,

10/05/2026

Saturday, Oct. 3, “Around Town” was on location at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (S**C) where the Caffe Lena @ S**C Music Festival 2026 was being held outdoors.

This year’s live entertainment was put on by Bad Penny Pleasure Makers, The Cody Sisters, Alla Boara, Addison Agen, and Vanessa Collier. Additional activities happening at the festival included a kid’s station that included face painting, rock painting and drawing, bubble making, a selfie station, and merchandise and food vendors, including Ben & Jerry’s and Stinky’s Coffee Co.

“Around Town” also took their time during the Cody Sisters performance & festival to catch up with friends and event attendees who were also attending the free show.

With beautiful weather and clear skies, it was a nice afternoon to catch some live music!!

Thank you so much to Around Town’s friend, Tim Reidy (Tim Reidy Productions) for the event invite, and also a special thank you to Joanne Brown of Caffe Lena for not only informing “Around Town” about the event, but also treating to a delicious pumpkin spiced coffee from Stinky’s Coffee Co and for the fun hangout!

Stay tuned for more additional photos to come from the event & future stories to arrive from “Around Town”!!

📸: Photos by Amy L. Modesti of Around Town With Amy Modesti, Apple IPhone 13 Pro, 10/3/2026. ©️Amy L. Modesti,2026.

09/16/2026

https://aroundtownwithamymodesti.substack.com/p/preview-harbinger-theatre-to-debut?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

ALBANY, NY - Harbinger Theatre will present its 21st Capital Region premiere with Meghan Kennedy’s Off-Broadway play, The Counter. The play will debut at the Albany Barn (located at 56 Second Street, Albany, NY 12210) with a FREE preview tonight, Wednesday, September 16, at 7:30pm.

Its official opening will be Thursday, Sept. 17 (7:30pm) and it will run through Sept.26. The Counter features George Filieau (Paul, a retired firefighter), Lisa Bryk (Katie, a waitress), and Joyce Reynolds (Paul’s former high school sweetheart).

The Counter centers around an unlikely friendship that develops between Katie and Paul at a small town diner in Upstate New York. Their casual morning conversations evolve into a deep, life-affirming bond as they share their secrets. Paul makes a request to Katie and together, both confront their grief and find hope through human connection.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online on Harbinger’s website or at the door on the day of the show.

Read more about The Counter directly on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack website.

Be sure to subscribe to Around Town With Amy Modesti to keep up on the latest news.

Thank you so much to Patrick White and to News10ABC’s Morning Anchor, Giuliana Bruno, for their contributions for the preview and for allowing “Around Town” to preview the play!!

✒️: Preview written by Amy Modesti
📸: Press photos by Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward
📸: Photo of Giuliana Bruno with the cast & crew of “A Distant Country Called Youth” at Mopco Theatre by Amy Modesti
🎨: Poster Art by Marc Christopher

Meghan Kennedy’s 2024 Off-Broadway play explores the need to open one’s heart during one’s time of need; play opens Sept. 17.

09/16/2026

ALBANY, NY - Harbinger Theatre will present its 21st Capital Region premiere of Meghan Kennedy’s 2024 Off-Broadway play, The Counter, with a free preview Wednesday, September 16, at Albany Barn, beginning at 7:30pm. Its official opening is Thursday, Sept. 17 (7:30pm). The Counter, running through Sept. 26, centers around an unlikely friendship between Paul, a retired firefighter, and Katie, a lonely waitress in Upstate New York. The play features George Filieau (Paul), Lisa Bryk (Katie) and Joyce Reynolds (Peg). The Counter will have two Talkback Friday sessions on 9/18 with Giuliana Bruno and 9/25 with Rosemary Armao. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Harbinger’s website or on the day of the show. More info about The Counter can be found directly on SubStack via Around Town With Amy Modesti.

Like & Follow Around Town With Amy Modesti to keep up on the latest news and events and support local independent news sites. Thank you so much Patrick White for having Around Town preview “The Counter”!!

✒️: Article by Amy Modesti
📸: Press Photos by Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward
🎨: Poster Art by Marc Christopher
📸: Photo of Giuliana Bruno with cast & crew of “A Distant Country Called Youth” taken by Amy L. Modesti Amy Modesti

, , , , , Andrew Elder , Albany Barn , Giuliana Bruno , Harbinger Theatre, Mopco Improv Theatre , George Filieau

09/09/2026

Additional photos that Around Town With Amy Modesti captured of PJ Ferguson & The Tennessee Strange’s debut concert at The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, NY, Friday, September 5,2025.

📸 & 🤳: Photos taken by Amy L. Modesti of ALM Fine Art & Photography and Around Town With Amy Modesti. ©️Amy L. Modesti, 2025.

09/09/2026

09/07/2026

https://aroundtownwithamymodesti.substack.com/p/life-liberty-and-agriculture-the?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

SCHAGHTICOKE, NY - “Life, Liberty, & Agriculture” is at the heart of the 207th Annual Schaghticoke Fair.

Since 1819, the Rensselaer County fair continues to bring agriculture, entertainment, and community together for a week of fun. And the Schaghticoke Fair is no exception to meeting that agenda.

The fair opened Wednesday, September 2, and runs through today, Monday, September 7. The fair opened its 207th year with two-dollar day and two-dollar food selections at selected food stations.

The fair is open TODAY, Monday, Sept. 7 through 10pm. Fair goers can check out plenty of activities and events ranging from a pie eating contest, entertainment from Michael Frances McCarthy & Larger Than Life, Circus Murica, among others.

Tickets for the fair are $15 per person and free for children ages 13 years old and under. More information about the fair can be found directly on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack website and the Schaghticoke Fair website.

Thank you again to Tracy Christopher and Carly Reyna for having “Around Town” attend Media Day (Opening Day) last Wednesday & to cover the fair this year!!

📸 and ✒️: Photos and article by Amy L. Modesti, September 2026.

Rensselaer County fair continues to run through Labor Day.

09/04/2026

https://substack.com//note/p-213872930?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

SCHAGHTICOKE, NY - Around Town With Amy Modesti was on location at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds for the start of the 207th Annual Schaghticoke Fair on Wednesday, September 2.

Not only was it the fair’s opening day, it was also Two Dollar Day and Media Day. Media outlets had the opportunity to take a tour of the fairgrounds alongside Fair Director, Carly Reyna, to see what’s happening this year and check out some events, including the 4-H Horse Competition Showing, as seen in this SubStack live video, food sampling from Jeanette’s, and took a ride on the fair’s newest ride, Artificial Intelligence.

Be sure to give the live stream video a look on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page and stay tuned to view more content about this year’s Schaghticoke Fair!!

Thank you again to Carly Reyna & Tracy Christopher for inviting “Around Town” to attend and cover this year’s fair!!

🎥: Video taken by Amy L. Modesti of Around Town With Amy Modesti, 9/2/2026 through the SubStack app. 🎥

The Schaghticoke Fair

Around Town with Amy Modesti’s Opening Day of the 207th Annual Schaghticoke Fair Coverage