A Toast to Mayor-Elect Kathy Sheehan! Tuesday, 12/17

On Tuesday, December 17, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., the University Club Foundation will host “A Toast to Mayor-Elect Kathy Sheehan” at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street.

The reception will feature light fare and a tasting of sparkling wines selected for your holiday gathering by Mark Brogna, University Club board member and proprietor of Capital Wine & Spirits on Lark Street. Join us at 6:30 p.m. as we lift a glass to Mayor-Elect Kathy Sheehan, and hear a preview of her vision for the neighborhood, the city and the region.

Wines featured in the tasting will include: Saint-Hilaire Brut, France’s oldest sparkling wine; LaMarca Prosecco, rated Year’s Best & Best Buy from Wine & Spirits Magazine, August 2013; Mumm Brut Rosé, awarded 90 points by Wine Spectator, and Mumm Brut Prestige from California’s famed Napa Valley winery.

These wines and others will be available by the glass following the tasting.

The cost for the reception is $20, and one need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online using PayPal. You can even pay in advance. Don't have a PayPal account? Just choose "Pay By Credit Card." Guests are invited to stay for dinner following the reception.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

A Very Retro Holiday with Off the Record - Friday, 12/6

Make plans to join us on Friday, December 6, as we welcome back one of our favorite bands, Off The Record! OTR is Albany’s own rock n’ roll lounge band that helps to transform the Club’s Grille Room into a swinging cocktail party! The Futurist Trio performs songs from the 60s as well as modern tunes influenced by that memorable era – and this month, they’ll include some of your favorite holiday songs as well!

• Joanna Palladino uses her background in theatre to deliver memorable performances. She breathes life into each song, letting the song tell its own story. She spends hours before each show to transform herself into a 1960s gal! 
• Bob Resnick lays down a solid beat using the djembe while adding textures from his customized drum setup. Bob is a mainstay of the local music scene, playing roots rock with The Backburners, funk rock with the Rumdummies, and percussion with a number of other bands. 
• Lou Sansivero brings diverse influences to his guitar sound, including Rock n’Roll, Blues, Soul, Funk and Country. He has played and recorded with a number of local bands, including Group Therapy, Blues Shaker, The Kleins, and Big Blue Dot.

Dinner will be served until 9:00 p.m., please call 518-463-1151 for reservations. The performance is free and open to the public as part of the University Club’s participation in 1st Friday, the downtown arts walk that showcases the lively art scene in downtown Albany.

Here's a preview ... Goin' to a GoGo!

Trolley History Lunch - 12/18

The University Club Foundation Presents 

Transit in the City of Albany 1862-1946: A Lunch Presentation by City Historian Tony Opalka  

Did you know that you can still see one of two surviving overhead wire poles from Albany’s trolley system on Hamilton Street near Lark?  

The city of Albany has a rich history of innovation and leadership in moving people from one place to another, and City Historian Tony Opalka will discuss “Transit in the City of Albany: 1862-1946” at a luncheon at the University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street, on Wednesday, December 18 from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. 

The cost for the luncheon is $20, which may be paid at the door. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., with the program commencing at 12:30. Reservations for the December 18 luncheon are required by Monday, December 16 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151 or by sending an e-mail to ellen@universityclubalbany.com. 

Tony is well known for his popular and informative walking tours of Albany’s historic neighborhoods. Currently, he is employed as a historic preservation program analyst for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. His presentation will feature slides with historic images of transit in Albany, as well as trolley and transit artifacts.

If you wish to start your holiday celebrating a bit early, try an Albany Street Car – the U. Club’s spin on the classic Sidecar cocktail. It’s made with Quackenbush Still House Original Albany Rum (from the Albany Distilling Company), Cointreau and sour mix – and guaranteed to ring your bell!

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. One need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T. 

Duck Dinner + Support the Regional Food Bank - Friday, 11/15

An old tradition gets a new wrinkle ... 

105 years ago a group of University Club members got together and came up with the idea of holding an Annual Duck Dinner. The first one was held in November 1908 and right from the start it was a "roaring good time."

The Albany Evening Journal reported that there was something doing "from sunset and evening star till the last schooner slipped over the bar." Guests joined in a night of good-natured fun with singing, story-telling, games of pool and bridge, and the occasional dance number thrown in.

Duck Dinner traditions have evolved over the years. These days it's a chance to get together for a great meal, spend time with friends and, if you are very lucky, win yourself a frozen turkey - or three. It's quite a competition! Be sure to bring cash to buy chances for the turkey drawings and the 50/50!

This year, help us launch a new tradition - let's share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need! You will have the option of donating your frozen turkey prizes to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York!  

The University Club will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to "Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York" in the days leading up to the Duck Dinner and at the event. Foods in high demand include protein items (tuna, canned meat, peanut butter), prepared foods (canned stews, chili, ravioli, hearty soups) and cereal. 

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. with drinks (sign or cash) steamed clams and hors d'oeuvres (complimentary) and at 7 p.m. dinner (choice of Roast Duck or Prime Rib - Baked Scrod is available by prior request) and the renowned turkey raffles.

The cost for the Duck Dinner is $24.95 (beverages additional). Guests are welcome! Reservations by 11/13 please. Call the club at 518-463-1151 or email ellen@universityclubalbany.com . Please provide: Name, Phone Number, # in your party, and entree choice (duck, beef or fish). 

We'll hope to see you there!

1st Friday with Russ Kennedy - 11/1!

It's almost November! Charge up your batteries before the holiday season gets into full swing with singer-songwriter Russ Kennedy.

Back by popular demand, Russ has been entertaining for over 30 years, playing to audiences in many pubs, restaurants and country clubs in the Capital District and beyond. Russ's rich vocals and strong guitar playing make up his trademark sound.

Russ has performed alongside “The Wanderer” Dion Dimucci, Don McLean, Aztec Two Step and Mick Avory of the Kinks. He brings his own style and sound to many of your favorite songs.

Since March, 2009, on the first Friday of the month, the University Club has been pleased to celebrate the arts and culture in Albany by serving as a 1st Friday venue, with free live music from 8 - 10 p.m. One need not be a member to enjoy music, dinner and dancing in the Grille Room, dress is casual, and cash and major credit cards are accepted. Call 518-463-1151 to reserve a table for dinner, served until 9 p.m.

An Evening with NYT Bestselling Author Steve Berry - Fri. 10/25

Reception and book signing will launch the University Club's “Raise the Roof” capital campaign

Steve Berry, a master of thrillers with a historic twist, will discuss his latest book, The King’s Deception (Random House LLC, June 11, 2013), at a reception to benefit the University Club of Albany Foundation. The reception is slated for Friday, October 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue. One need not be a member of the University Club to attend.

Berry is an author and philanthropist whose foundation, History Matters, raises funds for a wide variety of historic preservation projects around the world. He is a fixture on the New York Times bestseller lists with 15 million books in print in 40 languages in 51 countries.

Kirkus Reviews writes of The King’s Deception, “Berry mixes Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and terrorists into Cotton Malone’s eighth adventure… A Dan Brown-ian secular conspiracy about The Virgin Queen driving nonstop international intrigue.” Barnes & Noble Reviews calls it “A suspenseful novel that begs to be a movie.”

The evening will include a Meet the Author reception at 6:00 p.m. with open bar and hors d’oeuvres followed by a talk featuring Berry’s well-known wit and historical insight at 7:00 p.m. Books will be available for signing courtesy of The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. Tickets are $75 per person for the Meet the Author reception, or $30 for the talk followed by book signing and cash bar. A limited number of Honorary Committee tickets are still available for $100 per person, which include both of the above plus an exclusive chat and sparkling wine toast with Steve and Liz Berry at 5:30 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151. Tickets - and books - may also be reserved online with a PayPal account or a credit or bank card.

The event marks the start of the public phase of a bold and historic effort:  the “Raise the Roof” capital campaign to repair and preserve the National Register-listed University Club. The goal of the campaign is $150,000.

“The U. Club is making great strides with a small but enthusiastic membership roster, and has already secured contributions of more than $50,000 to the University Club Foundation since the quiet phase of the campaign was launched in July,” said Colleen Ryan, the Club’s president. “We are so grateful that Steve Berry, through History Matters, is leveraging the popularity of his books, and his obvious love of history, to foster support for our historic preservation project.”

The University Club is one of the four component buildings of one of Albany’s most architecturally compatible and imposing intersections. The red brick building in the Colonial Revival style was the last major commission of prolific Albany architect Albert Fuller, and was built in 1924-25. The main interior spaces on the first floor are large, formal and elegant, and largely unchanged from the date of construction. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May, 2009.

Steve Berry and his wife, Elizabeth, have traveled the world researching Steve’s many books, and saw the effects of dwindling funds dedicated to preserving our heritage. They launched History Matters to assist communities around the world with historic restoration and preservation. The foundation supports the cost of their travel and he accepts no appearance fee.

The University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation, was established in 2009 to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property.

Media Inquiries:
Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.
JeriAnn M. Geller | jeriann@mediamuscle.com
203-226-0199

Celebrate 1st Friday at the U. Club with TN3 - Friday 10/4

Join us as we welcome our friend and neighbor, Todd Nelson, and his band, TN3, back to the University Club.

TN3 mixes elements of jazz, rock and electronics, playing original songs and new arrangements of unusual covers, including pop, folk and gospel and any other genre signified by the muse.

The music of TN3 is improvisational but not noise; exploratory in texture and sound but melodic; arranged but open-ended; structured while embracing the random; aware of the past without repeating it; unafraid of space, subtlety or beauty, and it rocks!

According to musician and critic David Malachowski, TN3 features "exquisite chord melody playing and a smorgasbord of genres, all with a jazzy undercurrent, and (Todd's) formidable technique."

On the first Friday of each month, the University Club celebrates the arts and culture in Albany by serving as a 1st Friday venue. One need not be a member to enjoy live music, dinner and dancing in the Grille Room, dress is casual, and cash and major credit cards are accepted. Call 518-463-1151 to reserve a table for dinner.

Banned Books READ OUT - Tuesday, September 24

New York Civil Liberties Union, University Club Foundation Present READ OUT!

The Public is Invited to Celebrate the Freedom to Read on 9/24

Banned Books Week (Sept. 22 – 28, 2013) highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship. For a third time, the University Club of Albany Foundation and the New York Civil Liberties Union, Capital Region Chapter will co-present ReadOut! on Tuesday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street. 

Local actors, writers, poets, and community leaders will read brief excerpts from books that have been banned or challenged in America. In 2012, the most frequently challenged books included: the Captain Underpants children’s novel series by Dav Pilkey; Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James; and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This event is free and open to the public, light fare will be served, and drinks will be available. 

Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

An additional ReadOut! program is slated for Market Block Books at 290 River Street in Troy on Friday, September 27 at 6 p.m. 

According to Joanna Palladino, a member of the NYCLU and an organizer of the event, “As Noam Chomsky said, ‘If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.’ Banned Books Week stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of diverse points of view for all who wish to read and access them.” 

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; the Freedom to Read Foundation; National Coalition Against Censorship; National Council of Teachers of English; National Association of College Stores; and the PEN American Center. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Project Censored.

The University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc. is presenting this event with the New York Civil Liberties Union, and one need not be a member of either organization attend. For more information, call the University Club at 518-463-1151. 

The University Club Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, was formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. 

1st Friday with Jeff Strange - Sept. 6

On Friday, September 6, Jeff Strange returns to the University Club as part of our 1st Friday Concert Series!

A founding member of internationally known Irish folk band Donnybrook Fair and longtime member of The Fabulous Newports, Jeff is known for his on-stage patter and energetic performances incorporating a broad selection of Irish, rock and original music.

Jeff will play in the Grille Room from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. The performance is free and dinner will be served until 9:00 p.m., please call 518-463-1151 for reservations.

On the first Friday of each month, as part of the University Club’s celebration of 1st Friday, one need not be a member to enjoy live music, dinner and dancing in the Grille Room, dress is casual, and cash and major credit cards are accepted. Come be a part of the downtown arts walk that showcases Albany's thriving and lively art scene!

Uncork Autumn! Friday, 9/27

"Of autumn’s wine now drink your fill; 
the frost’s on the pumpkin, the snow’s on the hill."

Harvest Buffet, Wine Tasting, Wine Pull, and Raffle
Friday, September 27 ~ 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

• $30 Buffet & Tasting 
• $20 per pull 
• $5 Raffle Tickets

Celebrate the bounty of the harvest and support the University Club Foundation with dinner, a wine pull, or both!

The University Club Foundation will host Uncork Autumn! on Friday, September 27 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Mark Brogna of Capital Wine & Spirits on Lark Street in Albany is lining up a Tasting featuring wines that were recently added to the U. Club's Fall & Winter Wine List. The tasting is included in the price of the Harvest Buffet.

• At the Wine Pull station, everyone’s a winner – for a $20 ticket, guests will pull a bottle valued between $20 and $100.
• Raffle tickets will also be available during the evening for $5 each, and guests may enter drawings for collectible wines and other seasonal prizes.

Uncork Autumn! is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, and one need not be a member of the Club to attend. The cost for the Buffet and Tasting is $30 and includes tax and gratuity, beverages are additional. The Tasting will be held from 5:30 – 6:30, the Buffet from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., and the Wine Pull and Raffle will take place at 8:30 p.m.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151. You may also purchase your tickets and wine pull chances online using PayPal. Don't have a PayPal account? You can use a credit card or bank card when you log in as "Guest."

A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation. The Foundation was formed in 2009 to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the National Register-listed University Club building, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901.

Time Flies When You're Having RUM - 8/16

At the University Club’s first Pinkster Celebration on June 13, 2011, Justin DiVirgilio read from an article he wrote titled “Rum Punch and Cultural Revolution.” He detailed the archeological dig that took place prior to construction of the Quackenbush Square Parking Facility where discoveries included a 17th century brickyard and brickmaker’s house and an 18th century rum distillery.

On Friday, August 16, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., the University Club Foundation will host a tasting of spirits from the Albany Distilling Company at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street.

The Albany Distilling Company is a modest operation, producing craft spirits one small batch at a time. Its headquarters are located in downtown Albany, not far from the site of the city’s original 18th century distillery. Owners John Curtin and Matthew Jager are proud to be a part of New York State’s rich heritage of spirit production.

Photo by Don Rittner

In addition to the tasting, Justin DiVirgilio, President of Hartgen Archeological Associates, will give a presentation about the archeology and history of the 18th-century distillery through its half-century long operation. He was a member of the team that excavated the original Quackenbush Distillery in 2001. Guests may also enter a raffle to win a copy of Beneath the City: An Archaeological Perspective of Albany by Charles L. Fisher, published by the New York State Museum, which features information on the rum vats that are now on display in the museum’s West Hall.

“Our Original Albany rum pays homage to Albany’s first distillery,” said Matthew Jager, who co-owns the company with John Curtin. “The Quackenbush Still House produced an unaged rum from Caribbean molasses and Hudson River water, fermented with wild yeasts in huge, open wooden vessels. We use modern equipment, better yeast, and a more suitable water supply, but we follow the same recipe and use the methods of our predecessors.”

Bright tropical notes shine through the rich, earthy flavor of the Caribbean cane, giving way to a long, creamy, butterscotch finish. Original Albany rum is excellent neat or on the rocks, but also brings an exciting layer of character to cocktails. Original Albany rum will be featured in the signature cocktail for the event, U. Club Rum Punch.

There is no cost for the tasting, hosted by the Club’s Food & Beverage Committee, but reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or by emailing ellen@universityclubalbany.com . Guests are invited to stay and order dinner from the new menu.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. One need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

Hops and History: Albany's Brewing Tradition - 8/20

“Beer built the city of Albany.” That’s the case that Craig Gravina, historian, beer blogger, home brewer and craft beer aficionado, is trying to make.

Gravina will discuss Hops and History: Albany’s Brewing Tradition at a reception at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street, on Tuesday, August 20 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

In addition to the presentation, the evening will feature a tasting of what Gravina calls “The Magnificent Seven” – the beers that shaped the New York beer scene – accompanied by light fare.

The cost for the reception and tasting is $20. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online.

The University Club will also unveil a new collection of archival prints in the Grille Room from the collection of the Albany Institute of History and Art. The works were selected to highlight local history, and include iconic travel posters from the New York Central Railroad, advertisements and broadsides from Albany’s famed breweries, and depictions of the city’s iconic architecture.

The Albany Institute museum shop offers a selection of fine-art prints in a variety of sizes. Each fine-art reproduction is printed using the highest quality archival inks. Each image is digitally reproduced and color balanced to match the original art. The fine-art reproductions offered in the museum shop represent some of the most popular paintings, prints, and maps from the Albany Institute’s extensive collections, and are priced according to size, with costs ranging from $44.95 to $79.95. Contact the museum shop directly for more information about cards, postcards,or additional size reproductions of AIHA's images, at 518-463-4478, ext. 459 or by email  .

Expert framing was completed by Brian Shea, proprietor of Alacrity Frame Workshop on Lark Street.

“The University Club has a deep connection to Albany’s beer-making tradition, as when moved to our present location in April, 1907, we purchased the home of brewer George Amsdell,”said Colleen Ryan, the Club’s president. “We are looking forward to celebrating the past, present and future of Albany, and showcasing the history that makes our city special.”

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. One need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

SPAMALOT! Park Playhouse Night 7/19

$30 table seating - it's very civilized! 

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary Season of Park Playhouse with this 2005 Broadway hit lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. SPAMALOT retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French taunters!

Meet at the U. Club at 5:30 for cash bar and light fare, depart the Club at 7:15 for exclusive cabaret seating with (cash) cocktail service at the Park Playhouse - the show begins at 8:00 p.m. Or, join us for a drink or dinner before the show and bring a blanket for free seating on the hill.

Please RSVP by calling the Club at 518-463-1151!

Here's a great review from the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Steve Barnes of the Times Union calls Spamalot "Riotous Fun!"

The Hudson River School - Lunch, Lecture, Guided Tour - 7/10

Lake Winnepesaukee, Thomas Cole

Many know that the Hudson River School of landscape painting is recognized as America’s first distinctive school of art – but few know about the effort involved in storing, conserving and selecting a collection of drawings, paintings and ephemera for an exhibit.

The Albany Institute of History & Art’s Curator of History and Material Culture, Doug McCombs, Ph.D. will discuss the process of curating the exhibit titled The Making of the Hudson River School: More than the Eye Beholds at a luncheon at the University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street, on Wednesday, July 10 from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

Following the presentation, McCombs will lead a guided tour of the exhibit at the Albany Institute, across the street from the Club. Following the tour, participants may explore the other exhibits until closing time. The cost for the luncheon is $20, and admission to the museum is $10. Members of the Albany Institute will be admitted to the museum for free – new members may join on the spot and the admission fee will be waived. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online.

The Hudson River School of landscape painting emerged, evolved, and declined during a fifty-year period between 1825 and about 1875. Although not a formal school, the Hudson River School consisted of a group of closely connected artists who lived and worked in the Hudson Valley and who turned to the American landscape as a source of inspiration and subject matter.

The exhibition More than the Eye Beholds examines the American landscape and the making of the Hudson River School through selected topics that bring together significant paintings and drawings from such well-known artists as Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Asher B. Durand, and others. More than the Eye Beholds includes works from the Albany Institute’s collection of Hudson River School paintings and drawings along with works from several private collections that have not been shown before in a public exhibition.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. One need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

3rd Annual Pinkster Celebration - Friday, June 7

University Club of Albany Foundation Hosts Third Annual Pinkster Celebration

In the spring of 1811, the Albany Common Council banned Pinkster Day celebrations because of “rioting and drunkenness.” Two centuries later, in an effort to revive a tradition from Albany’s past, members of the University Club petitioned the Common Council to repeal the prohibition. The Pinkster ban was lifted on May 16, 2011.

Print a PDF of the Invitation with RSVP Clip-Off - Please mail by Friday, 5/31!

The Club’s first Pinkster Celebration featured readings from four centuries of scholarly and popular publications documenting the people and places of New York’s capital city. In 2012, the University Club Foundation was delighted to welcome Albany’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning author, William Kennedy.

On Friday, June 7 the Club will honor Tom Clingan, Albany County Clerk at the 3rd annual Pinkster Celebration at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany.

Clingan has served as County Clerk for nearly a quarter century, and recently announced that he will not seek a seventh term. During his tenure, he led efforts to modernize records storage and access with state-of-the-art technology, and to protect and conserve historic documents dating back four centuries.

The featured speaker for the Pinkster Celebration will be community historian Stefan Bielinski. Bielinski is the director of the Colonial Albany Social History Project. The Colonial Albany Social History Project is a model community history program of the New York State Museum, an agency of the State Education Department through its Office of Cultural Education. It was launched in 1981 to understand pre-industrial community life by studying the contributions of the individuals who lived in the city of Albany during its formative years.

The Pinkster Celebration will feature a cocktail reception with light fare and open bar from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation by Bielinski titled An Evening with the People of Colonial Albany. When the reception wraps up at 8:00 p.m., Pinkster revelers are invited to head downstairs for an after-party in the Grille Room with vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Geo Doody, who serves up a versatile mix of classic rock, R&B, and Irish Pub standards. On the first Friday of each month, the University Club serves as a venue for 1st Friday, the downtown arts walk that showcases Albany’s thriving and lively art scene.

Honorary Committee Tickets are available for $100 per person, and corporate sponsorships are also available. Supporter tickets for the Pinkster Celebration are $50 per person. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Proceeds from the event benefit the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 corporation, and one need not be a member of the University Club to attend. The Foundation was formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the National Register-listed University Club building, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901.

Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

Register Now!

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Poetry Luncheon - Wednesday, April 17

Celebrate Spring with Readings from Trees

ALBANY, NY – April 12, 2013 – The University Club of Albany Foundation continues its efforts to promote the work of University Club members by hosting a luncheon and poetry reading on Wednesday, April 17 from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Following a hot and cold buffet lunch, Albany poet and University Club member Sylvia Barnard will read from her book of poems, Trees, published in 2012 by Troy Book Makers. Sylvia taught the classics and Latin literature in Latin and in translation at the University at Albany for 40 years and has been active in the peace community since coming to Albany. She has been the featured poet at Poets in the Park, Third Thursday Poetry Night at the Social Justice Center, and at the Readings Against the End of the World hosted by Tom Nattell. She is also a regular face at many of the Albany area open mics and the Albany Word Fest.

The cost for the luncheon and reading is $20. The event is open to the public and one need not be a member of the University Club to attend. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151.

Earlier this year, historian, electrical engineer and University Club board member David Hochfelder discussed and signed his book The Telegraph in America, 1832–1920 (2012, The Johns Hopkins University Press) at a reception. In the autumn of 2012, University Club board member Tim Varney of Troy Web Consulting demonstrated the “Albany: Then & Now” smartphone app which he developed for Historic Albany Foundation.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the historic and architectural significance of the University Club building, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

April in Paris - Friday, 4/19

Spring Buffet, Wine Tasting, Wine Pull and Raffle

Celebrate spring and support the University Club Foundation with a scrumptious spring buffet, a wine pull, or both!

The University Club Foundation will host April in Paris on Friday, April 19 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Mark Brogna of Capital Wine & Spirits on Lark Street in Albany is lining up a tasting featuring fine French wines – reds, whites and rosés. The tasting is included in the price of the spring buffet.

At the Wine Pull station, everyone’s a winner – for a $20 ticket, guests will pull a bottle valued between $20 and $120. Raffle tickets will also be available during the evening for $5 each, and guests may enter drawings for collectible wines and other seasonal prizes.

April in Paris is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, and one need not be a member of the Club to attend. The cost for the spring buffet and tasting is $30 and includes tax and gratuity, beverages are additional. The tasting will be held from 5:30 – 6:30, the buffet from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., and the wine pull and raffle will take place at 8:30 p.m.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151. Tickets may also be purchased online. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation. The Foundation was formed in 2009 to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the National Register-listed University Club building and property, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901.

Irish & Oldies with Jeff Strange!

On Friday, March 1, Jeff Strange returns to the University Club as part of our 1st Friday Concert Series!

A founding member of internationally known Irish folk band Donnybrook Fair and longtime member of The Newports, Jeff is known for his on-stage patter and energetic performances incorporating a broad selection of Irish, rock and original music.

Jeff will play in the Grille Room from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. The performance is free and dinner will be served until 9:00 p.m., please call 518-463-1151 for reservations.

On the first Friday of each month, as part of the University Club’s celebration of 1st Friday, one need not be a member to enjoy live music, dinner and dancing in the Grille Room, dress is casual, and cash and major credit cards are accepted. Come be a part of the downtown arts walk that showcases Albany's thriving and lively art scene!

The Telegraph in America - Book Signing 2/26

Long before we carried smart phones in our pockets, the telegraph offered a revolutionary advancement in our ability to communicate over vast distances.

Historian, electrical engineer and University Club board member David Hochfelder will discuss and sign his book The Telegraph in America, 1832–1920 (2012, The Johns Hopkins University Press) at a reception at the University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street, on Tuesday, February 26 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Dr. Hochfelder offers readers a comprehensive history of this groundbreaking technology, which employs breaks in an electrical current to send code along miles of wire. He examines the correlation between technological innovation and social change and shows how this transformative relationship helps us to understand and perhaps define modernity.

The telegraph revolutionized the spread of information — speeding personal messages, news of public events, and details of stock fluctuations. During the Civil War, telegraphed intelligence and high-level directives gave the Union war effort a critical advantage. Afterward, the telegraph helped build and break fortunes and, along with the railroad, altered the way Americans thought about time and space. Hochfelder thus supplies readers with an introduction to the early stirrings of the information age.

The reception is free and open to the public, but reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com.

An assistant professor at the University at Albany, Hochfelder specializes in the history of U.S. business and technology. He also helps administer UAlbany’s public history program. Before joining UAlbany, Hochfelder served as a research historian at the Thomas Edison Papers. He is currently working on a social history of savings and investment. He has appeared in two episodes of the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” series.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. Support for educational programming presented by the University Club Foundation is provided by AT&T.

1st Friday with Alien Folklife - 2/1/13

Help us welcome a new duo to 1st Friday at the U. Club!

ALIEN FOLKLIFE presents a quirky blend of offbeat humorous pieces and heart-rending story songs, or "wrist-slitters and side-splitters." A shared passion for contemporary and traditional folk music brought Canadian Paul Mercer and New Yorker Joan Kosby together.

Joan's warm contralto and Paul's clear tenor combine to produce a vocal blend reminiscent of sibling duos. Their fingerstyle guitar work is crafted to support the lyrics without overshadowing them. Joan adds textural variety to Alien Folklife's sound with English concertina and percussion.

ALIEN FOLKLIFE will play in the Grille Room from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. The performance is free and dinner will be served until 9:00 p.m., please call 518-463-1151 for reservations. On the first Friday of each month, as part of the University Club’s celebration of 1st Friday, one need not be a member to enjoy live music, dinner and dancing in the Grille Room, dress is casual, and cash and major credit cards are accepted.

Come be a part of the downtown arts walk that showcases Albany's thriving and lively art scene!