Downtown Albany BIDAlbany, NY --  The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announces the return of two free event series this summer: State Street Yoga, and Tunesday. State Street Yoga is an outdoor yoga class for all experience levels taking place on the lawn at SUNY Plaza near Broadway and State Street. Tunesday is a free lunchtime concert series featuring a variety of musical talent every Tuesday afternoon in Jim DiNapoli Park at Broadway and Pine Street. Both outdoor event series are free and open to residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Albany.

State Street Yoga

Now entering its fourth year, State Street Yoga will take place every Saturday in June and July, offering free one-hour yoga classes beginning at 10:00 AM in SUNY Plaza near Broadway and State Street in Albany. Classes are designed to be accessible for beginners as well as experienced yogis, and led by certified instructors from OMNI Fitness Center and The Hot Yoga Spot.

Georgette Steffens, Executive Director of the Downtown Albany BID said: "This program continues to attract a diverse group of participants from across the region to the core of our city, to take part in a healthy activity while enjoying one of Downtown's most iconic sites, the beautiful and historic SUNY Plaza. Over 400 individuals participated in a State Street Yoga class in 2023, and we're already seeing registration numbers for this year's classes jumping ahead of last year. We are immensely proud of the positive impact and following these classes are generating, as well as the social connections, wellness benefits, and added vibrancy they bring to the neighborhood and businesses in the area.

Registration is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be done using the registration link at downtownalbany.org/yoga. Pre-registered guests will receive email updates and notifications if a class is moved indoors due to inclement weather. Walk-up guests may also register for free on-site on the day of class. Participants should bring their own yoga mats, water, and sunscreen.

On rainy days, classes will be held inside OMNI Fitness Center at capacity, located at 54 State Street, just a few steps from SUNY Plaza. 

Tunesday

Launched in 2022, the Tunesday live music series features one-hour musical performances by different performers each week, every Tuesday at noon, July 9-August 27. This year, the series is held in Jim DiNapoli Park at Broadway and Pine Street and celebrates a multitude of genres and styles, from classical to jazz, folk rock to soul, and almost everything in between. Tunesday is made possible with support from Community Bank. 

Dimitar Karaivanov, CEO and President of Community Bank said: "Community Bank is proud to support the Tunesday concert series in downtown Albany. More than just a great way to spend a lunch break, this is a wonderful opportunity for all those who work and live in downtown Albany to get a glimpse into the creative culture that makes the area such a unique place to live and do business in."

July 9 | Ryan Leddick
A queer folk/rock artist whose music is rooted in a childhood listening to classic rock and the folk music of his native Adirondacks—as well as anything else he could get to work on his parents’ sound system.

July 16 | Art D'echo Trio
The Art D'echo Trio is a jazz piano trio enjoyed by listeners of all ages. In the classic tradition of groups such as the Bill Evans Trio and Oscar Peterson Trio, The Art D'echo Trio displays musicianship exciting to both lifelong jazz fans and audience members unfamiliar with the genre.

July 23 | Lucia and Levi
Levi, a native Virginian, linked up with native New Yorker Lucia 28 years ago in Hollywood and they've been together ever since. They cover an extensive variety of musical styles from jazz standards to blues, reggae, and popular classics and their original numbers are equally enjoyable for all ages.

July 30 | The Lammly Duo
Anna (Wiegandt) Lammly is an Upstate New York-based harpist maintaining an active presence as a performer and instructor. She frequently performs with the Syracuse Symphoria and has played with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and Cordancia Chamber Orchestra. She and her husband Andrew, who is an active music educator and saxophonist, as well as a founding member of the award-winning Eos Sextet, perform as a duo.

August 6 | Albany Symphony Duo
A duo of musicians from the Albany Symphony Orchestra will perform classical pieces. Stay tuned for more details!

August 13 | Onkor
Onkor is a three-piece band that plays classic tunes, oldies, and rock n' roll from the 50s to the present! Onkor has been together for many years playing at resorts, clubs, and halls in the greater Catskill area.

August 20 | Carmen & Life's Guilty Pleasures
Carmen and Life's Guilty Pleasures play an eclectic mix of jazz, soul, and blues. Carmen is best known for her pure vocals and captivating stage presence. She is accompanied by Joseph Carrick on guitar. They write and perform songs similar to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Norah Jones, and Linda Ronstadt.

August 27 | Kit Pettit Trio
We are three seasoned, local musicians who became friends through music. We play classic songs from the 50s through the 80s, and our influences come from everything we listen to and like. We’re all about having fun and sharing our music with everyone!

Performances by Art D'echo Trio, Lucia and Levi, The Lammly Duo, Onkor, Carmen & Life's Guilty Pleasures, and Kit Pettit Trio are brought to you by a grant from the Music Performance Trust Fund, arranged by Albany Musician's Association Local 14 of the American Federation of Musicians. The Downtown Albany BID thanks the Albany Musician's Association for its support of the Tunesday concert series.

For full event details and updates, go to downtownalbany.org/tunesday, RSVP to the Facebook event, and follow the BID's social media channels. All outdoor concerts are weather-dependent, so check back regularly for the latest information on upcoming Tunesday performances.

More events in downtown Albany:

Additional events in downtown Albany this spring and summer include the Alice Moore Black Arts & Cultural Center's Juneteenth Freedom Festival on Saturday, June 15, the Albany County Farmers Market, which will take place every Sunday, July 14 to September 29, and PearlPalooza on Saturday, September 21.  Visit downtownalbany.org/events to explore more events and happenings throughout downtown Albany. 
Since 1996, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has worked to restore, promote, and maintain the character and vitality of downtown Albany and improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in, and visit New York’s Capital City. The BID is a private, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. For more information about Downtown Albany BID please visit downtownalbany.org or call 518.465.2143.  

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Contact:
Jevan Dollard
Special Events Manager
Downtown Albany BID
jdollard@downtownalbany.org
518.465.2143 x111