American Express once ran with the marketing slogan, “membership has its privileges,” often voiced over moving pictures of people enjoying exotic vacations abroad.
This weekend, vacationers can hop aboard a plane and dip their toes into the azure blue waters of the Caribbean all they want. We’ll take Schenectady, thank you.
This time of year, as kids and adults both lament over the passing of summer, a weekend comes around where Schenectady bubbles over with pride in heritage, food, arts, food, dance, food, food and food.
Three festivals with an aggregate age of more than 100 years block of city streets and party like neighborhoods used to do. The youngest of the trio being the Italian StreetFest just north of City Hall, where Little Italy celebrates its tenth year organizing the festival. Meanwhile, a few blocks away on Clinton Street, is the St. George Greek Orthodox Church will host its 40th annual Greek Festival. Each of the two starts this Friday, Sept. 11, and run the span of the entire weekend.
And the oldest of the three is the Stockade Villager’s 64th Annual Outdoor Art Show, a one-day event taking place Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Schenectady is a pretty cool place,” said Karen Johnson, board member of the Stockage Villager’s Art Show. She said one trait that makes the city stand out from others is the ability for its people to network and help one another. “We’re a pretty scrappy people.”
The outdoor art show, showcasing the work of locals, originated from Stockade residents looking to partake in inexpensive activities together. It’s now an annual event drawing people throughout the Capital District to showcase drawings, paintings, graphics, sculptures and photography of local artists.
“If you’re looking to start an art collection,” said Johnson, “the art show allows you to find artwork from local artists, and gives you the chance to talk to them.”
The archway on North Jay Street welcomes you to Schenectady’s Little Italy neighborhood, where Maria Papa of Perreca’s has teamed local storeowners together.
“When we started 10 years ago,” said Papa, “it seemed like a dream, that our Little Italy neighborhood would be gentrified and established, flourish and here we are. We’re doing it. We’re doing it.”
The festa includes authentic Italian food from zuppa to arancini; music on two stages, wine, Italian beer, Italian novelties, a homemade wine contest, children’s activities, Italian cultural exhibits, and an array of craft vendors.
Live music from Grand Central Station, Happy Daze, Crush, Ed the Human Jukebox, and John DiFillippo and Friends will be featured. Joe Tullio will play the accordion at More Perreca’s and DJ Dee will set up near Union Street. But, nothing defines the Little Italy Street Fest like food.
“This festival is special because it is very family orientated,” said Papa. “It’s kind of like a Lark Fest with really, really, really good food. … You will get authentic Italian street food you can’t get anywhere else but Italy.”
Seven restaurants have a collective hand in this year’s event, including Babcia’s Kitchen at JoJo’s with its sausage and peppers, hot dogs and hamburgers. Perreca’s Bakery’s famous Italian bread, panini, cupcakes and tomato pie will be up for purchase. Civitello’s will serve its famous Italian lemon-ice – a recipe that has remained a secret for nearly a century. Cornell’s calamari, minestra, and rigatoni Bolognese will be on hand. Saw Mill Tavern will have its bar menu available. And, Hunter’s on Jay will give patrons a touch of the Irish and its pub fare.
New to the festival this year will be a partnership between More Perreca’s Italian Kitchen and Schenectady Home Furnishing, Inc.’s “People Helping People” program. More Perreca’s will offer a new Wine Bar Lounge Tent at the corner of North Jay and Warren streets serving imported wines and beers in a setting furnished with furniture for sale by HOME. The proceeds from the sold furniture go to Home Furnishings to support programs helping those in need in Schenectady County.
A few blocks away stands the Hellenic Center on Liberty Street, where the St. George Greek Orthodox Church hosts the Greek Festival.
“I grew up in this church and the festival has been here since I was a baby,” said Evan Euripidou, the festival’s chairman.“It transcends being a festival. It’s like a big, family party.”
The 40th Annual Greek Festival starts Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The three-day event will feature live music, ethnic Greek food and pastries, folk dancing, arts and crafts, church tours and raffles.
Prometheus will perform live starting at 5 p.m. on Friday. The Fotia Hellenic Society, a professional dance troupe, will perform folk dances in traditional Greek costumes. During the course of the three-day festival, the dancers will perform 45 different dances representing seven regions of Greece and Cyprus. The Youth Dancers of St. George, with dancers aged between 4 and 13-years old, will perform throughout the festival.
“Dance tells a wonderful story about the Greek heritage,” said Euripidou, who is also the director of the Fotia Hellenic Society. The 31-year-old has studied traditional Greek dance since he was a teenager, and has passed the steps down to his students. “[Dance] tells the story of living in the village, war times, or times of celebration. … You’re not just having fun, you’re living your history and culture. … There’s this energy about it that’s hard to explain.”
The Agora Marketplace will sell arts and crafts and religious items as well as Greek food specialty items such as olive oil, grape leaves and Kalamata olives.
“The most important thing that everyone will get from the festival is not tangible,” said Euripidou. “I hope what people will get is the warmth, the friendly, inviting nature of our people and our community. I hope they have the feeling of coming into our home and joining our big, family party.”
