Oktoberfest in New York

Ah, Fall is here now! My favorite time of the year. One of my daughter's birthdays is in October. A change in the weather; cooler days and nights. And during the Fall comes Oktoberfest. One of my favorite festivals which includes Bier, Dirndls, Lederhosen, Ompah music, German music, and did I mention Bier?

Surprisingly Oktoberfest in Munich begins in September and not in October. The fest begins this Saturday actually and ends on 07 October. Approximately six million attendees will pass through the gates.

King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. Citizens of Munich were invited to attend the celebration which was held in a field which became known as Theresienwiese or "Theresa's Meadow" in honor of the Princess. The following year it was decided to resume the festivities which have become an annual event.

For those who enjoy the above mentioned features of Oktoberfest; below is a short list of Oktoberfest celebrations in New York. Check at least one of them out!

New York Oktoberfest

Pier 15, NYC

Friday, 21 September – Sunday, 14 October 2018

Mountain Brauhaus Oktoberfest

430 Winter Clove Road, Round Top, NY

Saturday, 22 September 2018

Hunter Mountain Oktoberfest

Hunter Mountain, NY

Every weekend, 22 September through 14 October 2018

Oktoberfest at Renaissance Albany Hotel

144 State Street, Albany, NY

Saturday, 22 September 2018 at 6 pm

Whiteface Oktoberfest

Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington, NY

Saturday, 22 September & Sunday, 23 September 2018

Glenville Oktoberfest

Maalwyck Park, Scotia, NY

Saturday, 29 September 2018

Wolff’s Biergarten Oktoberfest

Broadway, North Albany

Saturday, 29 September 2018

Lake George Oktoberfest

Canada Street, Lake George, NY

Friday 05 October – Sunday 07 October 2018

Amsterdam Oktoberfest

Bridge Street, Amsterdam, NY

Saturday, 06 October 2018

Oktoberfest at the German-American Club of Albany

32 Cherry Street, Albany, NY

Sunday, 14 October 2018

Halloween Tours at the NYS Capitol

Capitol Hauntings October 2018

With the Fall upon us now the annual Capitol Hauntings Halloween Tours at the New York State Capitol will be beginning soon. These tours highlight ghost stories and reported ghostly sightings connected to the New York State Capitol. Learn about the watchman who died in the 1911 Capitol fire and about the demon carving in stone artwork.

All tours are FREE.

Weekday tours begin at the Tour Desk in the State Street lobby of the Capitol.

Weekend tours begin at at the Plaza Visitor Center & Gift Shop located in the North Concourse of the Empire State Plaza.

Click here for online Capitol Hauntings Tour registration.

Sand Lake Oral History Project

The following article comes to us via this week's Rensselaer County Advertiser newspaper.

Sand Lake Oral History Project: Our Stories Matter
"Stories are a lens through which we can better understand ourselves, stories speak to and through our humanity." What is Sand Lake's story? What makes this place unique? What is it about this place that we care about and what do we want to preserve?

You are invited to tell your Sand Lake story. Did you work at Faith Mills? Did you teach Sand Lake's children? What was Sand Lake like 50 years ago? Do you have stories from generations past in town?

Starting in October we will be recording Sand Lake stories starting October 11th and then the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 in the Historian's office. Talk to your friends and family about your recollections and bring a story. Keep Sand Lake history alive by sharing your past for our future.

Call Bob Moore, Town Historian, to reserve your spot.
518-674-2026, ext. 120

Foodie Friday : Wurstsalat

For a limited time, blogs on old family recipes and those of my own food creations will post every Friday. The recipes are mainly German and Irish.

Hey, we all need to eat. So, eat good and eat often, I always say. We will begin this series with an easy one.

Wurstsalat

Knockwurst               1 lb pealed, evenly sliced, & quartered

Dill Pickles                 2 diced

Onions                        1 diced

Olive Oil                     2 tbs

Red Wine Vinegar    ¼ cup (2 oz)

Dijon Mustard           1 tbs

Salt                              to taste

Pepper                        to taste

Nutmeg                       to taste

Parsley                        topped with fresh chopped

Method

1.      Prepare knockwurst, Dill pickles, & onions.  Combine & set aside.

2.      Combine & stir olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, & nutmeg.

3.      Pour liquid solution over knockwurst mixture, toss, top with Parsley, refrigerate for two hours.

Benefit for the Restoration of the Slingerland Family Burial Vault

An interesting email was sent to me today regarding a benefit for the restoration of the Slingerland Family Burial Vault located behind the former Mangia's restaurant in Slingerlands.

The Garden Bistro 24 in Slingerlands will donate 15% of all food and beverage to the Slingerland Family Burial Vault restoration efforts, the following two Tuesdays, September 18, and 25. Please consider bringing family and friends and enjoy a meal at a great local restaurant. Starting at 3pm any dine in or take out qualifies. A special $24 Three-Course Meal has been planned for this (see below), but you may also order from the main menu.


Restoration of Slingerland Family Burial Vault

•  Who are the Friends of the Slingerland Family Vault?

In the fall of 2017, Town Historian Susan Leath gathered a small committee to facilitate the preservation and maintenance of the Slingerland Family Burial Vault, and to raise money to make the restoration possible. The Friends include:
Frank Slingerland (Bethlehem Town resident and Slingerlanddescendant), Bob Mullens (Slingerland descendant), Joan Roy (Slingerland descendant), Sue Virgilio (Slingerland descendant), Susan Leath, (Bethlehem Town Historian), Kathleen Bragle (neighbor), Georgia Fishburn (neighbor), Ana Webb (neighbor) 

• Our Project 

The Slingerland Family Burial Vault, the sacred resting place of the family for which the village of Slingerlands is named, is located in the Historic District of Slingerlands, NY. Vandalism to the front face and interior of the vault occurred prior to 1980. As a way to protect the vault, the Town of Bethlehem was deeded the property in 1991 by descendants of the Slingerland family, along with a right of way to access it. After many years of neglect and unsuccessful restoration attempts, we now have some hope. Our new Town administration is actively involved and committed to restore the vault, as are all the Friends.

Please see their website at www.SlingerlandVault.org

Restoration of Slingerland Family Burial Vault Benefit

$24 Three Course Menu

15% of Proceeds benefit the restoration of the Slingerland Family Burial Vault

Course 1

Seasonal Soup: Roasted Red Pepper Bisque with Toasted Almonds and Citrus Crème Fraiche

Seasonal Salad: Mixed Greens, Maple Pecans, Roasted Squash, Blueberries, Goat Cheese, Maple Mustard Vinaigrette

Course 2

The Slingerland Vault Restoration Burger: Smoked Gouda, Crispy Onions, Fresh Arugula, Russian Aioli

P.E.I. Mussels: Shredded Brussel Sprouts, House Cured Bacon, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Fresh Parsley

Autumn Pasta: Fresh Pasta with Roasted Seasonal Vegetables in a Sage, Chardonnay & Butter Sauce, topped with Fresh Herbs and Toasted Walnuts

Course 3

Warm Apple Crisp: Locally Sourced Apples, House Made Granola Crumble with Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream

Chocolate Mousse: Rich and Airy Semi-Sweet Chocolate with Fresh Whipped Cream, Berries, and Toasted Walnuts

Greenbush Historical Society Presentation

Greenbush Historical Society Presents: Kelly Grimaldi, Author

On Sunday, 14 October 2018, 2 pm, at the East Greenbush Community Library the Greenbush Historical Society will host a presentation by Kelly Grimaldi, St. Agnes Cemetery, Historian.

Kelly will present "Walk Through History." Her program will feature and highlight early cemeteries including St. Agnes and Albany Rural Cemeteries.

For more information on the Greenbush Historical Society, please see their web page at : http://www.greenbushhistoricalsociety.org/

The East Greenbush Community Library is located at
10 Community Way
East Greenbush, NY 12061
518.477.7476

Autumn Tours at Albany Rural Cemetery

Albany Rural Cemetery is hosting eight upcoming tours each with its own theme. Dates and details are below:

September 15
As part of this year's Hudson River Valley Ramble weekend, Albany Rural Cemetery will be holding a walking tour to graves reflecting the area's Dutch heritage, including some of the Cemetery's oldest and most historic points of interests such as the Dutch Reformed lot with headstones dating back to the early 18th century. There will be refreshments and more in the Chapel as well.

There will also be a limited number of free Hudson River Valley Ramble t-shirts available at the event on a first-come basis.

Tickets are $10 each.

Registration and tickets are available exclusively through Eventbrite.

DUTCH HERITAGE WALKING TOUR TICKETS

Please note that this is a walking tour that will involve hills and unpaved paths. Dress accordingly and wear appropriate shoes. Bug spray is recommended. In the event of rain, there will a presentation in the Cemetery Chapel.

Please use the Main Gate. Tour will begin at the Chapel at 10:00 a.m.


September 22
Join the Audubon Society of the Capital District and the Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery for an autumn morning bird walk. The spring bird walk was a popular event for bird enthusiasts with about thirty species birds - from brown creepers to red tail hawks - observed.

$10 per person. Register by calling or emailing the Cemetery office. Tour will begin at the Chapel.

518-463-7017
albanyruralcemetery@biznycap.rr.com



September 29
The Cemetery will again welcome the Albany Death Cafe to the Chapel at 1:00 p.m.. This popular event is a chance for people to get together and discuss all aspects of death and dying in a comfortable setting with tea and baked goods.

The event is free and open to all. Please bring your own mug.

For more information: check Death Cafe Albany on Facebook


October 5
The annual wreath-laying will take place at the grave of Chester Allen Arthur. The annual ceremony, which honors the 21st President on his birthday, will take place at 11:00 a.m.. It is free and no advance registration is needed.


October 13
A joint ceremony with the 125th Regimental Association will be held to dedicate a new military headstone for the grave of Civil War veteran Private Philip Troy. The dedication will begin at 11 a.m. in Section 112. Additional details to be announced.


October 14
A special garden party will celebrate architect Marcus T. Reynolds and his contributions to the historic landscape of A.R.C. and begin the capital campaign to restore the former superintendent’s residence, now called the 1899 Reynolds House.

October 20
Birthplace of the Iron Industry Tour in partnership with the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway. A walk along the Wynantskill to the site of two of the most important iron production sites prior to the Civil War, followed by a visit to the graves of industrialists Henry Burden, Erastus Corning, and John Flack Winslow at Albany Rural Cemetery.

Please contact Hudson Mohawk Gateway for details and tickets.

518-274-5267
info@hudsonmohawkgateway.org


October 27
A "Haunted History" Walking Tour just in time for Halloween - watch for details!