Around Town with Amy Modesti

02/02/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/last-call-to-watch-rur-this-weekend?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

If you’re looking for something fun to do on Groundhog’s Day and want to check out some community theater, Around Town With Amy Modesti has the solution for you!

Classic Theater Guild (CTG) has well been underway with their production of R.U.R., a 1920 play written by Czech playwright, Karel Capek. The production will close on Sunday, February 2, 2025 with a matinee show starting at 3 p.m.

Once R.U.R. ends, CTG will soon be gearing up in preparation for their next show, Lend Me A Tenor. The play will begin on Feb. 27 at Congregation Beth Israel in Schenectady, NY, and will run through March 9,2025.

To learn more about R.U.R. and CTG, and how to purchase tickets, go to Around Town With Amy Modesti via SubStack, as well as Classic Theater Guild’s website and page.

(✏️: Story written by Amy Modesti, with photographs submitted by Doug Gladstone and taken by Jackie Amilivia)

Classic Theater Guild puts on production, R.U.R. Science-fiction play to end Sunday.

02/02/2025

What are your plans for Groundhog’s Day? Interested in watching a local theater show? The Classic Theater Guild is well underway in their production of R.U.R. and the show will shortly be coming to an end.. Classic Theater Guild (CTG) will present R.U.R. one final time at Congregation Beth Israel in Schenectady, NY, Sunday, February 2. The afternoon matinee show will begin at 3p.m. R.U.R. is based on the 1920 play written by Czech playwright, Karel Capek. Capek introduced readers and the entire world with the debut of the word, robot. The modern adaptation of R.U.R. Is directed by Michael Silvia. CTG’s upcoming show will be Lend Me A Tenor, which will make its debut Feb. 27. To learn more about R.U.R. & CTG, and where you can go to get tickets, head over to Around Town With Amy Modesti to read the story or on Classic Theater Guild’s website and page. (📸: Photos taken by Jackie Amiliva and sent in by Doug Gladstone) , , , , , , , , , , , .gladstone.7 , , , , ,

01/30/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/remembering-jennifer-mann?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

The Town of Brunswick and the Rensselaer County community is mourning the loss of Brunswick resident and community advocate, Jennifer Mann.

Jennifer Mann passed away Sunday, Jan. 26 from ovarian cancer. She was 50-years-old. She leaves behind her husband Jonathan and their two daughters Delphine and Tallulah, family members, and friends.

Jennifer Mann was involved in many things in the Town of Brunswick including volunteering at the Brunswick Community Library, spending time at the Brunswick Elks Lodge & at Laughing Earth. She was also a member of the Brunswick Democratic Commitee and even ran for Brunswick Town Council several times.

The Mann Family and the Brunswick Community Library has invited the public to help pot seedlings on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6-9pm. The plants will later be planted at the Brunswick Community Library on Saturday, May 31 inside the Jennifer Mann Memorial Garden.

To learn more about Jennifer Mann and her legacy, go to the Bryce Funeral Home’s website as well as Around Town With Amy Modesti via SubStack.

(✒️ Story written by Amy Modesti, with additional photos by Amy L. Modesti and Adriano Bongiorno.)

Brunswick resident and community advocate dies Jan. 26 from Ovarian Cancer

01/30/2025

The Town of Brunswick community is mourning the loss of Brunswick resident and community advocate, Jennifer Mann. Jennifer passed away Sunday, January 26,2025 from ovarian cancer. She was 50-years-old. She leaves behind her husband, Jonathan, and their two daughters Delphine and Tallulah, family members, and friends. Jennifer spent time giving back to the Brunswick community by volunteering at the Brunswick Community Library and Brunswick Elks Lodge. She was also a member of several political committees including the Brunswick Democratic Committee, and even ran several times for Brunswick Town Council. Jennifer was a kind soul who took the time to inform others about community happenings through social media and email, and was present to lend a helping hand to those in need of assistance. The Brunswick Community Library and the Mann family are teaming up to hold a community seedling pot planting event to be held at the library Tuesday, February 4, 6-9pm. The public is invited. In May, a public memorial service will be held Saturday, May 31 at 10am at a location yet to be determined, followed by the planting of the seedlings at the Jennifer Mann Memorial Garden on the property of the Brunswick Community Library. To learn more about Jennifer Mann and her legacy, go to the Bryce Funeral Home’s website as well as on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page. Thank you so much, Jenn, for being an amazing friend and community member in the Town of Brunswick! You are deeply missed & loved!! -Amy (📸- Photo credit of Jennifer Mann with Amy Modesti: Adriano Bongiorno. Photo of Jennifer Mann on Garden Day-Amy L. Modesti) , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

01/25/2025

Petersburg, NY resident, singer-songwriter, and musician, Deb Cavanaugh, is in need of financial assistance. Friday, Nov. 29,2024, Cavanaugh fell through an open trap at her Petersburg residence, causing her to break her sternum and 12 ribs. She was rushed to Albany Medical Center where she was treated for her injuries. Cavanaugh won’t be able to make a full-time living as a musician at the moment until she makes a full recovery and gets the clearance from the doctors. Capital Region musician, Niki Kaos is organizing a benefit event for her friend, Deb, to be held Sunday, Jan. 26, at The Hangar on The Hudson in Troy, NY. Doors will open at 2p.m. with music to begin at 2:30p.m. There will be a $20 suggested donation at the door. For those who wish to help Deb pay her medical bills and her living expenses at this time can also make a contribution to her GoFundMe page. The donation link is listed in the event preview on SubStack. To learn more about Deb’s event and how you can help her out, please go to Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack & read the story. Please share the story with those who want to help Deb out. Thank you so much. (✒️ Story written by Amy L. Modesti and event poster submitted by Deb Cavanaugh) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

01/25/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/musicians-to-the-rescue?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Petersburg, NY resident and singer-songwriter Deb Cavanaugh, is in need of financial assistance.

On Nov. 2024, Deb fell through a trap door at her home and broke her ribs. She was rushed to Albany Medical Center to be treated for her injuries.

Due to her injuries, she won’t be able to work as a musician or teach her classes until she is completely healed and cleared by her doctors.

A benefit event will be held for Deb Cavanaugh Sunday, January 26,2025 at the Hangar on The Hudson in Troy, NY. Doors opening at 2:00 p.m. with music to begin at 2:30p.m. There will be a $20 suggested donation at the door.

Please be sure to support Deb during her time of need. If you are not able to attend the show but wish to help Deb out, a GoFundMe page has been setup and the link can be viewed in this story on Around Town With Amy Modesti via SubStack.

To learn more about Deb and hear her music, check out her work online!

Thank you again to Deb and Niki for our chat and thank you Niki for helping to put this event on for Deb!!

Please share this story and help Deb out in paying her bills during this trying time. She has done amazing things for the Capital Region community with her musical expertise and it is time that we help her back!

Thank you so much!!

-Amy (1/25/2025)

Musicians organize a fundraising event for Deb Cavanaugh to be held at The Hangar on the Hudson, Sunday.

01/15/2025

Hello Around Town With Amy Modesti followers! I have an update to share with you!

Tonight, I joined Bluesky Social!! Please add me under the username: almfineartphoto !

Thank you for your time! Have a great night!

-Amy (1/14/2025)

01/11/2025

https://linktr.ee/aroundtownwithamymodesti

Hello Around Town With Amy Modesti friends!! I got another update for you to share!

Around Town With Amy Modesti is now on Linktr.ee!! Feel free to use this site to keep up with the latest arts and entertainment news, and also, view my writing portfolio of my past (and present) writing pieces and photo galleries.

ALM Fine Art & Photography is also on Linktr.ee as well under ALM Fine Art & Photography.

Please feel free to add and follow Around Town With Amy Modesti and ALM Fine Art & Photography on Linktr.ee! Thank you so much!

-Amy (1/11/2025)

01/10/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/looking-for-something-fun-to-do-2025?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

“Guess What’s Back?! Back again (in 2025)?!”

In case you’re in the need of an event to attend but don’t know where to go, Around Town With Amy Modesti has your solution!

The “Looking For Something Fun to Do?!” weekly event listings are back!! If you get the chance, check out this week’s event listings and find something fun to do!!

Events happening for the remainder of the week and weekend include The Lustre Kings’ Elvis Presley Birthday Bash at Rustic Barn Pub (1/10/25), “Herstory: 50 Years of Women in Music” at Lost & Found Albany (1/10/25), Out of Office with opening act, POGO.duo at Frog Alley Brewing (1/11/25), and Moochie The Dumpster Kat Musical at Charles R. Wood Theater (1/12/25).

Don’t forget to like & subscribe to Around Town With Amy Modesti on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Substack to keep up on the current news. Become either a free subscriber or a PAID subscriber on Substack.

Thank you so much for your readership and support! Please feel free to share the post with those who might be interested in attending events this weekend! Thanks.

-Amy

Around Town With Amy Modesti Weekly Events from January 6-January 12, 2025

12/31/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Around Town With Amy Modesti followers!! I hope that you had a great holiday week last week! Enjoy your New Year’s Eve tomorrow and have a Happy New Year!

I’m enjoying my holiday week with family members, friends, and my boyfriend. Last week, I spent some quality time with relatives and a close friend who was in town for the week with her son. I spent Christmas Eve with my boyfriend and his family in Scotia enjoying an evening of dinner, dessert, present unwrapping, movies, and checked out holiday lights in Scotia and Glenville.

Christmas Day, I spent the holiday at home with my parents and pets, and later on, my boyfriend came over for dinner, movies, and additional gift unwrapping.

The day after Christmas, I spent quality time with my friend Amanda. We got manicures and went out to eat for lunch, shopping, and spent quality time with her son and parents for dinner.

The remainder of the weekend, I dog sat a relative’s dog while they were away in PA to visit their other son and his family.

In addition to that, I spent some time making some homemade holiday artwork. A week before Christmas, my dad was able to get my bedroom renovation completed! It has been 13 years since the devastating effects of Hurricane Irene that my room was in disrepair and needed to be remodeled. I’m thankful and blessed that my father was able to renovate my bedroom for me within several months and that I have a place to sleep, rest, have a work space, and have some privacy as well!!

I’m thankful to have spent this holiday week with family, friends and my boyfriend!

I hope that you have a Happy Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

-Amy (12/30/2024)

11/30/2024

Happy “Black Friday” and Happy Thanksgiving to all of the Around Town With Amy Modesti followers! I hope that everyone had a nice shopping day today and that you had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday.

My parents, boyfriend and I celebrated Thanksgiving at home. I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving before Brendan came to the house. We ate a homemade meal and holiday desserts, and watched TV shows and movies on TV. We all had a nice relaxing day.

I hope that you have a nice weekend and a nice Holiday Season to come! Thank you!

(📸: Photos taken by Amy L. Modesti on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28,2024. ©️Amy L. Modesti,2024.)

11/23/2024

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/a-weekand-year-of-bad-luck?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Hello everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve posted on Around Town With Amy Modesti. I have some personal news to share with you.

The past several weeks have not been easy for my parents and I and things were certainly not in our control at best.

On Nov. 1, my Uncle Roger Blanchard (my Mom’s brother) passed away from lung cancer. He was 79 years old. He was a nice, kind man who is missed.

On Nov.10, our home furnance stopped working completely and within the week, had to be replaced. Later on that week on Nov. 15, my oldest cat Smoky, the mother to our cats Peanut and Molly, died from old age. Smoky was an amazing, sweet cat that we were fortunate to have for 12 years and she is missed.

Not all things within November were all bad. My bedroom is being renovated by my Dad, my boyfriend and I celebrated nine official months of dating, and I recently photographed the “Raise The Roof” gala for the Albany County Historical Association in early November.

To read more as to what I’ve been up to this month, please head over to Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack to read my new post.
You can also become a free subscriber or a paid subscriber to financially support Around Town With Amy Modesti as well.

Thank you for your understanding and support. I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving and holiday season!

Amy L. Modesti (11/23/2024)

Smoky the Cat Died Nov. 15, plus a broken furnace, an uncle's passing, and five months of being laid off. When will things improve?!

11/11/2024

Congratulations to Around Town With Amy Modesti for being recognized as one of Lucid Street’s top fans on Facebook! 🎉

Around Town with Amy Modesti recently worked alongside the Colonie, N.Y. based band in reporting on their new music single, “Potential Redemption”. The story about the band’s debut single can be read on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack and on the Mirth Films website.

Thank you Lucid Street for collaborating with Around Town With Amy Modesti and thank you for sharing your musical talents with all of us!! Keep on rocking out there friends!!

-Amy (11/10/2024)

11/06/2024

Albany, N.Y. based band, Lucid Street, has released a brand new single. The band recently held a single release party for their song, “Potential Redemption”, at Lost & Found in Albany, N.Y. Saturday, Nov.2. The single was released on that same day nationally. “Potential Redemption” was written by Billy Buono, Mike Ilyadis, and Cait Tizzone. The song was mastered and recorded by Nick Relation Recording. This upcoming Friday night, Lucid Street will perform as part of the “Femininomenon” event opposite Sydney Worthley at Lost & Found. To learn more about Lucid Street and their new single, head to Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack NOW. Become a paid subscriber to financially support Around Town With Amy Modesti or even a free subscriber to receive the latest content. Most importantly, follow both Lucid Street & Around Town With Amy Modesti on its socials for the latest news. Thank you. (📸: Photo of Lucid Street by Rich Krissel. Poster provided by Cait Tizzone of Lucid Street.) , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11/06/2024

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/potential-redemption-for-lucid-street?r=2u0jzr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Albany, N.Y. based band, Lucid Street, released their first musical, nationally, on November 2. The band recently held a single release party for their new song, "Potential Redemption", at Lost & Found.

The single was written by band members, Cait Tizzone, Billy Buono, and Mike Ilyadis. The band recorded and mastered the song alongside Nick Relation Recording.

Lucid Street will be performing this upcoming Friday, Nov. 8 as part of No One You Know Presents' event, "Femininomenon" at Lark Hall. They will also take part in the Mirth Films' "It's A Gala" event Dec. 14.

To learn more about Lucid Street and their new single, read the story on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page NOW.

Become a paid subscriber and help support Around Town With Amy Modesti in serving the creative community with the latest news.

Like Around Town With Amy Modesti on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads to keep up with the updates. Thank you.

Story & Photos by Amy L. Modesti

Band debuts new single November 2 and discusses plans for a debut album

10/24/2024

https://mirth-films.com/2024/10/20/wext-radio-releases-quarter-1-quarter-2-and-quarter-3-local-518-music-more-reports/

WEXT Radio personality, Andy Gregory, released the 2024 Local 518 Music & More Quarter 3 report Thursday, October 17. This new report covers the months of July 1 to Sept. 30, 2024.

Andy Gregory has been the radio host of the Local 518 show for a decade. He also recently won the award for DJ of the year in the 2024 Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards (The Eddie’s).

Read more about the quarterly reports and Andy’s career in my story, now posted on Mirth Films.

✏️ Story and photos by Amy L. Modesti.

From his middle and high school days performing in local bands to watching his friends’ bands perform at music clubs, music not only became a passion, but also a career, in the form of a radio DJ and a blog contributor.

10/19/2024

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/andy-gregory-the-man-behind-the-reports?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Meet WEXT Radio personality Andy Gregory.

Gregory is known as the host of the Local 518 Show on WEXT Radio, and this year, he won Radio DJ of the Year in the 2024 Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards (The Eddie’s).

Did you know that Gregory is the one who is responsible for putting together the Local 518 Music & More Reports?!

The 2024 Quarter 3 Local 518 Music & More Report was published Thursday, October 17. The reports covers the time period of July 1 to Sept. 30.

Musicians and artists can NOW view a free PDF of the quarterly report on WEXT Radio’s website: www.wextradio.com .

To learn more about Andy Gregory and the Local 518 Music & More reports, read the post on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page.

Subscribe directly to Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack to receive the latest news! Become a subscriber! Become a pledger! Follow Around Town With Amy Modesti on Threads, Instagram, and Facebook!

(✏️: Story written by Amy L. Modesti. ©️ Amy L. Modesti,2024.)

WEXT Radio DJ releases Quarterly Local 518 Music & More Reports

10/09/2024

Around Town With Amy Modesti celebrated its 1st year anniversary on Facebook early this week!! Thank you for your continuing support and readership. I could never have made it without you. 🙏🤗🎉

If you like Around Town With Amy Modesti and want to follow it even more on its socials, follow Around Town With Amy Modesti on Instagram, Threads, and subscribe to the blog on SubStack!!

Thank you so much!!

-Amy (10/8/2024)