The Beat

Rochester, N.Y. - The official PEACE LOVE BEER & Music Festival schedule has just been announced and is available on the  Think NY Drink NY website. The three-day, virtual celebration of New York craft beer and the extended community of musicians is hosted by the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) on August 14-16, 2020 - the 51st anniversary weekend of the original Woodstock event. The official schedule includes 19 hours of programmed, live-streamed music taking place from breweries across the state to raise funds for the NYSBA. In addition, festival attendees will have access to virtual brewery tours, craft beer edutainment, industry folklore and special performances by Chris Trapper and five BMI recording artists - Kyshona Armstrong, Brian Sutherland, Crys Matthews, Alex Rohan and Jessica Jenks.

New audio play written by Damian Lanigan, directed by Marcus Dean Fuller and featuring recordings by The Philadelphia Orchestra is a portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven at a time of personal crisis 

The performance will be available online for just two days on August 22^nd -23^rd in conjunction with Beethoven 2020, SPAC’s celebration of the 250^th anniversary of the composer's birth

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – On August 22^nd, Saratoga Shakespeare Company (SSC) will premiere the audio performance of Testament, written by Damian Lanigan and co-produced with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in association with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Commissioned by Saratoga Shakespeare Company to be premiered during SPAC’s Beethoven 2020 Festival, Testament is a portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven in a moment of crisis – grappling with the loss of his hearing, and emerging from his suffering to write one of the greatest symphonies of all time. The production features recordings from The Philadelphia Orchestra, recreations of period instrumentation, and appearances by professional actors including several students and alumni from Skidmore College. In keeping with SSC’s commitment to presenting free and accessible professional productions, the performance will be available to stream online for free on both SSC and SPACBeethoven.org from August 22 at 8p.m. until 11:59p.m. on August 23.  …

Hudson, N.Y.  –  Hudson Hall is proud to partner with the Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC), to promote literacy and safe outdoor fun with Warren Street’s own ‘StoryWalk’. From Friday, August 14 and into the fall, families can discover the joys of local author Hudson Talbott’s 2009 book River of Dreams: The Story of the Hudson River as they take a leisurely stroll down Hudson’s historic center. StoryWalk begins at the Little Free Library at The First Presbyterian Church (369 Warren Street) going towards the river and at The Artisan Shop at Camphill Hudson (360 Warren Street) in the other direction. Visit clctrust.org/storywalk for more information and to view an interactive map of StoryWalk sites.

Seneca Falls, NY— Women’s Rights National Historical Park (NHP) is pleased to announce Equality Weekend- Seneca Falls, a series of online programs being held August 22-23 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 19^th Amendment’s ratification. 

On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment became part of the U.S. Constitution and the right to vote in the U.S. could no longer be denied on the basis of sex. The fight for women’s suffrage was a watershed moment in the fight for equality, but it was complex and interwoven with issues of civil and political inequalities for some Americans. …

A new selection of photographs in the History of Photography Gallery examines how the medium has helped shape perceptions of women and feminist movements since the mid-1800s 

Rochester, N.Y., August 10, 2020—The George Eastman Museum has recently opened a new rotation in its History of Photography Gallery commemorating the centennial of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. The amendment was intended to prohibit states and the federal government from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex. While this is celebrated as granting American women the right to vote, many women continued to be prevented from exercising that right. The installation, which opened on July 26 when the museum reopened to the public, will remain on view through January 3, 2021. For those who cannot visit the museum in person, the gallery is also available to view virtually with a 3D tour at eastman.org.

Deadline for Submission: August 28, 2020

Waterford, N.Y. - Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is calling for entries for its 15^th annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest. Images should convey the unique character of New York’s canals and canal communities. Entries must be postmarked by August 28, 2020. Winning photos will be featured in the 2021 Erie Canalway calendar.

Images will be judged in four contest categories: On the Water, Along the Trail, Canal Communities, and Classic Canal. Judges will select first, second, and third place winning images in each category, as well as 12 honorable mentions.

Updates to Amenities Will Help Campground Continue to Attract Visitors of All Abilities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the completion of improvements to the Kenneth L. Wilson Campground and Day Use Area in Ulster County. Updates to the campground's shower house and three comfort stations, which include several accessible features to make camping fun for people of all abilities, will help connect more New Yorkers to the outdoors and reduce the facility’s environmental footprint.

Prepare for Arduous Conditions; Pack out your Trash; Avoid Sensitive Ecology; Respect Fellow Visitors and Those Working to Protect Our Wild Places

With the recent increase in outdoor recreation leading to record numbers of visitors to areas of the Adirondack and Catskill Parks and issues with trash and unprepared hikers causing impacts to natural resources, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminded hikers and other visitors to the High Peaks Wilderness to follow the common-sense rules and recommendations in place to protect public safety and the sensitive plants and wildlife. These measures are in place to promote a shared respect for the resources, as well as respect for other visitors and the workers and volunteers tasked with protecting the Adirondacks, Catskills, and the forests, trails, lakes, and rivers throughout the State.

Bridge Ahead Initiative assists museums adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

Rochester, N.Y., August 6, 2020—The George Eastman Museum has received two grant awards, of $35,000 each, from Art Bridges. The grant awards are funded through the Bridge Ahead Initiative—a nearly $6 million commitment from Art Bridges to assist its partner museums that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The George Eastman Museum is very grateful to Art Bridges for its quick and generous response to the adverse impact that the pandemic is having on museums around the country,” said Bruce Barnes, PhD, Ron and Donna Fielding Director, George Eastman Museum. “The grant funding we’ve received through the Bridge Ahead Initiative has undoubtedly helped us reach our goals of successfully engaging our community remotely and reopening our museum to the public.”…

Syracuse, NY (August 6, 2020) – On August 7, 2020, the Canyon Climb ropes course and Laser Tag at WonderWorks will be opening to the public. This is following a 5-month closure due to COVID-19. Though these two attractions have been given clearance to open, the rest of the WonderWorks facility will not be open at this time.

Canyon Climb Adventure is a three-story ropes course that features over 80 obstacles, including swinging steps, lily pads, a tremor bridge, and more. Participants must be at least 42" tall to participate. Closed shoes are required, and no skirts or dresses are permitted.