1st Friday with Russ Kennedy - Jan. 2, 2015

Pick up a copy of Russ' new CD "You Only Have to Be..."
- just $5 while they last!

Whew! We made it to 2015! Join us on 1st Friday to recharge your batteries 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, the University Club has helped 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.

U Club Introduces 2nd "Artist in Residence" - 1/2/15

Channing Lefebvre to Exhibit Work from January - April

“Sunrise, Lake Champlain”, 14” x 18”, oil on canvas, 2007

In addition to paintings by Jonathan Bradley Morse and Walter Launt Palmer and sculpture by Terri Boor, the Living Room, Lobby and Dining Room of the University Club of Albany have long featured works from a variety of renowned artists. 

From January through April, the University Club will present a solo exhibition of the works of Channing Lefebvre, who will serve as the Club’s second Artist in Residence.

The exhibition will open with a Meet the Artist Reception on Friday, January 2, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club at 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street. The reception is free and open to the public as part of the University Club’s participation in 1st Friday, the arts walk that showcases the lively art scene in downtown Albany. Guests are invited to stay on after the reception for live music in the Grille Room with singer/songwriter Russ Kennedy from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

RSVP HERE - IT'S FREE

Scheduled to run through Monday, April 27, the exhibition will be on view during public and special events at the Club, and by appointment with the artist, who will receive an honorary membership in the University Club for the duration of the show.

Lefebvre follows Ken Ragsdale as Artist in Residence. Ragsdale’s work spanned many artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, sculpture, paper-craft, theatre lighting, and photographs.

The Artist in Residence program furthers the University Club and Foundation’s commitment to promote the use of the historic Clubhouse as a venue for performing and visual arts as well as cultural events. It builds on the success of the October, 2011 Athletic Annex Exhibition curated by local artist Chip Fasciana. For 9 days, the University Club’s former fitness annex was transformed into a “pop up art gallery” with an exhibition featuring some 20 local and regional artists. The Athletic Annex Exhibition was part of MoHu – the Mohawk Hudson Art Festival featuring theatre, dance, music, visual and random acts of art throughout the region.

Channing Lefebvre’s paintings are about color and the evocative nature of light. The paintings incline toward an Eastern sensibility, balancing color, form, and line.

“The process of painting to me is like meditation in which I convey a sense of time and place with nuances of light and atmosphere,” said Lefebvre. “Nature is the vehicle I use to explore the character of line and color. My drawings and paintings are subjective, intuitive interpretations of nature. The paintings evolve from the drawings.”

“Inner Landscape”, 18” x 19”, pastel, 2005

“Pastel has the immediacy of drawing and the lusciousness of color,” he continued. “There is a direct and expressive quality about the medium. In exploring the relationship between abstraction and representation, I try to evoke a mood - a harmony - a balance. I pare down Nature’s compositions, looking for essential form and not analytical detail. I’m attracted to an indistinct space, a dimension without depth. Color is the seducer. Line is the intuitive response.”

Channing Lefebvre, who resides in Latham, holds a BFA with Great Distinction in Painting from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California; and attended the Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and the Graduate Program in Printmaking at the State University of New York at Albany.

He has exhibited in many galleries, museums and arts venues, including: Albany Center Gallery; Lauren Clark Fine Art, Great Barrington, Massachusetts; Pendle Print Biennial, Lancashire, United Kingdom; Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, Connecticut; Sanford Gallery at Zea Mays Printmaking, Florence, Massachusetts; Bendheim Gallery, Greenwich, Connecticut;  Opalka Gallery, Albany; Evergreen Arts Center, Evergreen, Colorado; School of Visual Concepts, Seattle, Washington; Randolph County Community Arts Center, Elkins, West Virginia; Asheville Book Works, Asheville, North Carolina; and Open Book, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., and one need not be a member of the University Club to attend. The 501c3 Foundation which was formed in 2009 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. For more information contact the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online at www.universityclubalbany.com.

A Very Retro Holiday - Off the Record on Friday, 12/5

Make plans to join us on Friday, December 5, from 8:00 - 10:00 pm 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

NYSHM #10 - Hands on History - Researching 98 Acres in Albany - 11/25

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

On Tuesday, November 25, the University Club will welcome 

Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, who will discuss archival and online reference tools used while researching “98 Acres in Albany.” Ann, an independent historian, and Dave, a professor at the University at Albany, recently embarked on an effort to document the people displaced and the structures demolished to make way for the Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza. Stacy Sewell, a professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College, is also part of the 98 Acres in Albany project.

The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue, and will include a presentation of dozens of photographs of buildings and the people who lived in them uncovered in their research. Ann and Dave will also share research strategies with those who may be interested in finding out more about their own homes or neighborhoods. 

The presentation is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area. 

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

There is no cost for the program but reservations are required. Reservations for the November 25 program are required by Friday, November 21 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #9 -Tom Carroll on NY's Silicon Valley of the 19th Century - 11/24

New York's Tradition of Innovation

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

On Monday, November 24, the University Club of Albany will welcome P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, who will discuss “The Hudson-Mohawk Region: Silicon Valley of the Nineteenth Century.” Carroll is an American Cultural Historian specializing in the history of American science and technology.

“The area around the Rensselaer Institute of the 1800s behaved very much like the Silicon Valley of the 20th century. Today’s Silicon Valley and its many would-be clones … are pivotal to the transition from an urban-industrial, modernist culture to a post-industrial, postmodern entity.” said Carroll. “In the Troy area’s Silicon Valley of the 19th century, the transition was from rural agrarian lifestyles to the urban-industrial, modernist cultural system. First and foremost, in both Silicon Valley now and in Greater Troy then, we see a deliberate, coordinated attempt to make cutting-edge technological innovation the focus for regional economic prosperity.”

The luncheon is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area.

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support for this event is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

The cost for the luncheon is $25 and reservations are required. The University Club will serve a hot and cold buffet from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. The presentation will begin at 12:30 p.m. and last one hour, ending at 1:30. Reservations for the November 24 luncheon are required by Friday, November 21 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #8 - History Hunt Party - 11/21

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 



On Friday, November 21, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the University Club of Albany will host a party for participants in the 3-week long History Hunt. 

Players download a free app for their mobile device, and complete tasks based on clues about local history. Tasks include taking pictures, scanning QR codes, checking in at specific locations, and answering questions about Albany’s history, architecture, industry, and residents. 

The app, called Scavify, may be downloaded through iTunes or GooglePlay. Players use the app to complete tasks, get points and earn rewards. Players can see where they rank in the hunt by viewing a real-time leaderboard within the hunt screen, and as players upload photos, they are displayed in a scrollable photostream that everyone in the hunt can view, “Like,” and comment on.


The History Hunt is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area. 

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support for this event is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

There is no cost for the party but reservations are required. Reservations for the November 21 event are required by Wednesday, November 19 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #7 - Mark Schroeder on the Impeachment of Gov. Sulzer - 11/19

Achievement and Betrayal at the NYS Capitol in 1913

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

On Wednesday, November 19, the University Club will welcome former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder to discuss the New York’s 39th Governor, William Sulzer – the only Governor of the Empire State to be impeached. Schroeder served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 2004 until he was elected Comptroller of the City of Buffalo in November 2011. The event will be held at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street.

William Sulzer (1863–1941) served in the State Assembly and for eight terms in the United States House of Representatives. Sulzer was elected governor in November of 1912 with the support of Tammany Hall, but Sulzer soon angered Tammany’s leader, Charles F. Murphy, by supporting primary elections. Sulzer was convicted by a special court and removed from office on October 17, 1913. As a result, the lieutenant governor, Martin H. Glynn of Albany, became governor. 

The luncheon is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area. 


THIS JUST IN - A well-known Albany collector of political memorabilia will share Sulzer-related materials from his collection including framed posters. 

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support for this event is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

The cost for the luncheon is $25 and reservations are required. 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 November 19 luncheon are required by Monday, November 17 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Copies of the book The Impeachment of Governor Sulzer: A Story of American Politics by the late Matt Lifflander will be available courtesy of SUNY Press.

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #6 - Book Launch with Barbara Smith - 11/18

Building Modern Social Justice Movements

On Tuesday, November 18, the University Club will present a panel discussion of Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith (State University of New York Press - November 1, 2014). As an organizer, writer, publisher, scholar-activist, and elected official, Albany resident Barbara Smith has played key roles in multiple social justice movements, including Civil Rights, feminism, lesbian and gay liberation, anti-racism, and Black feminism.

The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue, and will include a book-launch reception from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., followed by the panel discussion and book signing. Books will be available for purchase.

The panel will include Barbara Smith and Virginia Eubanks, Associate Professor, Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University at Albany. Dr. Eubanks, who co-edited the book with Alethia Jones, is the author of Digital Dead End: Fighting for Justice in the Information Age (MIT Press, 2011) and currently holds a New America Fellowship in Washington, DC. The panel will be moderated by Elaine Houston, anchor of WNYT NewsChannel 13 Live at 5:30 and “Today’s Woman” reporter.

The panel discussion is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area.

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

There is no cost for the program but reservations are required. Reservations for the November 18 program are required by Friday, November 14 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #5 - Haunted History in the North Country - 11/14

The Legend of Duncan Campbell of the Black Watch

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

On Friday, November 14, the University Club will mark the 164th birthday of the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson with Troy storyteller Duncan Crary. Crary will spin a candle-lit account of the legend of Major Duncan Campbell of the Black Watch, a Scottish highlander who met his eerie fate during the failed British attack on Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga) in upstate New York, July 1758. According to legend, a ghost foretold of the major’s death many years prior at his home in Inverawe, Scotland.

The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue, and will include a tasting of Single Malt Whisky from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., followed by the presentation. 

Robert Louis Stevenson made the story of Major Duncan Campbell world famous in his 1887 poem, Ticonderoga. Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 13, 1850. He was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. His most famous works are Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The presentation is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area. 

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

There is no cost for the program but reservations are required. Reservations for the November 14 program are required by Wednesday, November 12 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM#4 - 106th Annual Duck Dinner - Thursday 11/13

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

On Thursday, November 13, the University Club will welcome guests to one of its longest-standing traditions: the annual Duck Dinner. 106 years ago a group of University Club members got together and came up with the idea of holding an Annual Duck Dinner. The Albany Evening Journal once reported that there was something doing “from sunset and evening star till the last schooner slipped over the bar.” 

The event will be held at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with complimentary steamed clams and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. Prior to 1935, wild duck was provided by University Club member Dr. Martin Van Loan, but these days, diners have their choice of farm-raised Roast Duck or Prime Rib - Baked Scrod is available by request.

The cost for the dinner is $30 – drinks additional – and reservations are required. Reservations for the November 13 Duck Dinner are required by Monday, November 10 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online at www.uclubevents.blogspot.com .

Duck Dinner traditions have evolved over the years, but you’re still certain to see people in “fowl” attire and hear the sound of turkey calls echoing down the Club’s historic corridors. Guests may purchase chances to win a frozen turkey - or three. In 2013, the Club established a partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and a number of turkeys were donated to local families. 

The Duck Dinner is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, 

evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area. 

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #3 - An Evening with Vernon Benjamin - 11/10

Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the HudsonAuthor Vernon Benjamin Discusses
The History of the Hudson River Valley

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

On Monday, November 10, the University Club will welcome author Vernon Benjamin as he discusses his book The History of the Hudson River Valley: From Wilderness to the Civil War (Overlook Hardcover, June 4, 2014). Vernon Benjamin has lectured on the history of the Hudson Valley at Marist College and Bard College since 2003. He holds a Masters in Literature from Long Island University and a Bachelors degree in Sociology from Siena College. A former editor of the New Saugerties Times, he has written extensively on the Hudson Valley for various publications and has appeared on C-SPAN. He lives in Saugerties, New York.

The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue, and will include a meet the author reception from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., followed by the presentation and book signing. Books will be available for purchase. 

As historian Benjamin chronicles, the Hudson River Valley has been a place of contradictions since its first settlement by Europeans. Discovered by an Englishman who claimed it for the Dutch, the region soon became home to the most vibrant trading outpost for the New World colonies—the Island of Manhattan—even as the rest of the valley retained the native beauty that would inspire artists from James Fenimore Cooper to Thomas Cole. 

The presentation is one of a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area. 

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

There is no cost for the program but reservations are required. Reservations for the November 10 program are required by Friday, November 7 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online.


Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food. 

New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #2 - Len Tantillo Reception 11-7

A Celebration of New York State History Month
Honoring the Artist Len Tantillo 

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

ALBANY, NY – October 12, 2014 – The signature event of the University Club’s Celebration of New York State History Month, a cocktail reception honoring the artist Len Tantillo, will be held on Friday, November 7 at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue.

At the reception, Len Tantillo will be presented the inaugural University Club Award for Achievement in History and Culture. Tantillo was born and raised in upstate New York and attended Rhode Island School of Design. He worked as an architectural designer and architectural illustrator. In 1980, Tantillo was commissioned to depict a series of 19th century structures from archeological artifacts and historic documents, and in 1984 began the full-time pursuit of fine art. As he went on to study, envision and illustrate the early built environment of New York State, his artwork has garnered high acclaim and engaged audiences around the world.

The reception is one in a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area.

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

The cost for the reception, which includes light fare and open bar, is $50 and reservations are required. A meet-the-artist reception will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. with the program commencing at 7:00. Reservations for the November 7 reception are required by Wednesday, November 5 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online with PayPal or a credit card.

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food.
New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

NYSHM #1 - Mayor's Lunch - 11/3

Albany: Our History, Our FutureMayor’s Luncheon Kicks Off NYS History Month

New York State History Month was established by an act of the Legislature in 1997. But for many years, people have been lamenting the lack of programming to mark History Month, including New York State Historian Robert Weible who asked in a blog post, “Is New York State History Month Dead?” With a tip of the hat to Mark Twain, we’d like to say that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. 

The University Club will kick off its celebration of New York State History Month with a luncheon with Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who will discuss Albany’s rich history and the role of heritage tourism in the city’s future. The event will be held on Monday, November 3, at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue.

The luncheon is the first in a series of 10 events comprising a Celebration of New York State History Month in November, 2014. Presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, the events will be open to the public. The month-long celebration will include luncheons, evening lectures – even a digital photo scavenger hunt – featuring experts in a variety of disciplines discussing the history of New York State and the Albany area.

New York State History Month at the University Club is sponsored by AT&T, which has long supported the Foundation’s educational programming. Media sponsor is the Times Union. Additional support for this event is provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; the New York State Academy of Family Physicians; TD Bank; and Capital Wine & Spirits.

The cost for the luncheon is $25 and reservations are required. 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 November 3 luncheon are required by Friday, October 31 and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to ellen@universityclubalbany.com; or online with PayPal or a credit card.

Guests are encouraged to share the warmth of the season with our neighbors in need by making a contribution to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The University Club will have a large collection box on display in the lobby, and will accept donations of non-perishable food items and checks made payable to “Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York” throughout the month of November. For every $1 donated, the Regional Food Bank can distribute $10 worth of food.
New York State History Month programs at the U Club are:

• Monday, November 3 - Mayor’s Luncheon - Albany: Our History, Our Future; 
• Friday, November 7 - Reception - A Celebration of New York State History Month – Honoring the artist Len Tantillo;
• Monday, November 10 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Art, Literature, Industry and Conflict on the Hudson with author Vernon Benjamin;
• Thursday, November 13 - Dinner - Sharing a U Club Tradition: The 106th Annual Duck Dinner;
• Friday, November 14 - 6 p.m. - Presentation - Haunted History in the North Country: The Legend of Major Duncan Campbell with Duncan Crary;
• Tuesday, November 18 - 6 p.m. - Panel Discussion - Building Modern Social Justice Movements with Barbara Smith and Dr. Virginia Eubanks, moderated by Elaine Houston of WNYT;
• Wednesday, November 19 - Luncheon - Achievement and Betrayal at the New York State  Capitol - 1913 - a discussion of Gov. Sulzer with former Assemblyman Mark J. F. Schroeder;
• Friday, November 21 - 6 p.m. - Reception - History Hunt Wrap-Up Party; 
• Monday, November 24 - Luncheon - New York’s Tradition of Innovation with P. Thomas Carroll, Senior Scholar and Treasurer, Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway; and
• Tuesday, November 25 - 6 p.m.  - Presentation - Hands On History with Ann Pfau and Dave Hochfelder, founders of the “98 Acres in Albany” project, a study of buildings demolished and families uprooted for the construction of the Empire State Plaza.

New York State History Month programming is presented by 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.

For more information about the University Club’s celebration of New York State History Month, including program updates, please visit www.universityclubalbany.com .

"The Language of Houses" with author Alison Lurie - Mon. 10/20

Buildings have a story to tell us if we know how to listen, says Alison Lurie, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and author of THE LANGUAGE OF HOUSES: How Buildings Speak to Us (Delphinium Books; August 19, 2014).

Lurie, the 2012-2014 New York State Author, will discuss her latest book at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street, on Monday, October 20. The evening will begin with a meet-the-author reception at 6:00 p.m., and a discussion of the book at 7:00 p.m. followed by a book signing. After the presentation, attendees are invited to stay for dinner, with cash or credit cards accepted.

The event is open to the public and presented by the University Club Foundation with the Preservation League of New York State; Historic Albany Foundation; and the Society of Architectural Historians, Turpin Bannister Chapter. Admission to the reception and presentation, which includes light fare and cash bar, is $20 for the general public, $15 for members of the presenting organizations. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the University Club at 518-463-1151 or reserve online with a credit card.

In her entertaining and fascinating exploration of the secret language of architecture, Alison Lurie acts as interpreter and at times biographer for the structures all around us. She explains why your house is as shameless as a tabloid, revealing all about the family living within it. We also learn what the public buildings that surround our lives say—and sometimes shout—about what goes on inside them and the human beings they are meant to serve.

While there are many books on architecture and shelter design, THE LANGUAGE OF HOUSES goes beneath the surface to explore the psychological, social and emotional meanings of homes, schools, churches, government buildings, museums, prisons, hospitals, restaurants and so much more. Lurie explains why museums by their design announce whether we’ve entered a classical temple, a palace of learning or a science laboratory. She shows how hospitals, prisons and retirement communities are designed to isolate their inhabitants from daily life, and explores how our shopping environments scream, “SAVE!” when they mean “SPEND!”

In 1981 Lurie’s The Language of Clothes investigated costume and fashion as an expression of history, social status, and individual psychology.  Amusing, enlightening, and full of literary allusion, the book was highly praised and widely anthologized.  THE LANGUAGE OF HOUSES continues in the same vein, enlightening us about the structures we’ve built and how they both reflect and affect us.

Alison Lurie is the author of 10 novels, including Foreign Affairs (Pulitzer Prize, 1985) and The Truth About Lorin Jones (Prix Femina Etranger, 1989). Her most recent novel, Truth and Consequences, appeared in 2005. She has received numerous honors including Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundation grants, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Fiction, and a D. Litt. from Oxford University. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Lurie has taught literature, folklore, humor, and writing at Cornell University since 1969 and is now the Frederic J. Whiton Professor of American Literature emerita.

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.

1st Friday with MotherJudge - 10/3!

Americana alt-folk diva Caroline MotherJudge and friends are coming back to the U. Club! Here's what Mother Judge had to say about a previous appearance ...

"Join us in one of our favorite rooms for 'Songs to Make you Want to Sing & Dance.' Great food & fellowship at the historic University Club, the jewel in the midtown Albany crown. Support First Friday! Get out, get some culture, see old friends and enjoy the season with something a bit more relaxing. See you there!"

On the first Friday of each month, the University Club celebrates 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.

Uncork Autumn! Friday, 9/26

Autumn Harvest Buffet, Tasting, Wine Pull and Raffle

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

The University Club Foundation will host Uncork Autumn! on Friday, September 26 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 choose from a “grab bag” of bottles, choice of red or white. Many of the bottles will be valued at more than $20, and all of the bottles in the Wine Pull have been carefully chosen to please! Raffle tickets will also be available during the evening for $5 each, and participants 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 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., and the Wine Pull and Raffle will take place at 8:30 p.m.

The Harvest Buffet will include the freshest foods rich with the flavors of autumn, including:

• Butternut Squash & Ginger Soup; 
• Rosemary Roasted Game Hen; 
• Sliced Beef Tenderloin; 
• Sweet Potato Encrusted Salmon; 
• Garlic & Parmesan Fingerlings and 
• Seasonal Vegetables

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 with PayPal or a credit card.

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.

1st Friday with Jeff Strange - 9/5!

On Friday, September 5, Jeff Strange returns to the University Club as we re-boot our 1st Friday Concert Series after its summer hiatus!

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!

*MAKE A NIGHT OF IT* and join us at 6:00 p.m. for a Meet the Artist Reception with Ken Ragsdale, the U Club's first Artist in Residence. He'll have a solo show in the Club's living room and lobby through December, and this is the public's first chance to see it! Please RSVP through Eventbrite, by calling the Club at 518-463-1151 or by email.

U Club Launches "Artist in Residence" Program

Ken Ragsdale to Exhibit Work from September – December

In addition to paintings by Jonathan Bradley Morse and Walter Launt Palmer and sculpture by Terri Boor, the Living Room, Lobby and Dining Room of the University Club of Albany have long featured works from a variety of local artists.

This fall, the University Club will present a solo exhibition of the works of Ken Ragsdale, who has been selected as the Club’s first Artist in Residence. The exhibition will include pieces from the artist’s collection as well as works from several private collections that have not been shown before in a public exhibition.

The exhibition will open with a Meet the Artist Reception on Friday, September 5, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club at 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street. The reception is free and open to the public as part of the University Club’s participation in 1st Friday, the arts walk that showcases the lively art scene in downtown Albany.

Reservations are requested and may be made using the link below or by calling 518-463-1151.

Online Ticketing for U Club Artist in Residence Reception powered by Eventbrite

Guests are invited to stay on after the reception for live music in the Grille Room with founding member of Irish folk band Donnybrook Fair and longtime member of The Fabulous Newports, Jeff Strange, from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Scheduled to run through Monday, December 22, the exhibition will be on view during public and special events at the Club, and by appointment with the artist, who will receive an honorary membership in the University Club for the duration of the show.

The Artist in Residence program furthers the University Club and Foundation’s commitment to promote the use of the historic Clubhouse as a venue for performing and visual arts as well as cultural events. It builds on the success of the October, 2011 Athletic Annex Exhibition curated by local artist Chip Fasciana. For 9 days, the University Club’s former fitness annex was transformed into a “pop up art gallery” with an exhibition featuring some 20 local and regional artists. The Athletic Annex Exhibition was part of MoHu – the Mohawk Hudson Art Festival featuring theatre, dance, music, visual and random acts of art throughout the region.

Pacific Northwest native Kenneth Ragsdale is an Albany-based artist and Lecturer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. His work, derived from personal memories; is process driven, focused on narrative, and involves a mixture of many artistic disciplines: drawing, painting, sculpture, paper-craft, theatre lighting, and photographs. His recent work deals specifically with his own childhood narrative and its metaphorical relationship with that of the growth of America as a nation.

“I associate reality with transience, and to the building up of memories, rather than with the concreteness of my present existence,” said Ragsdale. “What I think I remember is in a constant state of flux, the organization and arrangement of particulars controlled and altered by every new experience, to the point where even the mundane can be reformed into the epic.”

He has exhibited in many galleries, museums and arts venues, including: Cypriana Majernika Gallery, Bratislava, Slovakia; The High Line, New York; Siena College, Loudonville; Albany International Airport; Amrose Sable Gallery, Albany, NY; Johnson Memorial Art Gallery, Middlebury College, VT; Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy; Sicyon Gallery, Walla Walla, WA; Rochester Contemporary Arts Center; Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR; Rockingham Arts & Museum Project, Bellows Falls, VT; Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Portland, OR; and Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.

This event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation, Inc., and one need not be a member of the University Club to attend. The 501c3 Foundation which was formed in 2009 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. For more information contact the University Club at 518-463-1151 or online at www.universityclubalbany.com.