If you take a stroll down Main Street in Cooperstown, and you happen to hear what sounds like live music coming from somewhere, be sure to make your way to Pioneer Park at the intersection of Main and Pioneer streets. Local musicians have been known to set up and play just for the fun of it.
On Monday, August 1, we caught Tim and Friends playing a few of your favorite tunes, including covers of the Beatles, R.E.M., Sting, Grateful Dead and others.
All concerts are free. Musicians who would like to perform are invited to notify the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce to be added to the schedule. Visit the chamber’s website at wearecooperstown.com to sign up, to learn when the next Music on Main is scheduled, and for other Otsego County events.
CONTRADANCE RETURNS – 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Rejoin your friends for a fun social dance with the Otsego Dance Society. Will feature music by Erik House & Friends and Peter Blue will be the caller. Suggested donation, $8/adult. New location at Cornfield Hall, 655 Co. Rd. 26, Fly Creek. Visit otsegodancesociety.weebly.com
CONCERT – 7:30 p.m. The Cooperstown Concert Series presents Alex Torres y su Orquesta featuring the bands unique blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bomba, Plena and Latin Jazz. Tickets, $20/person. The Otesaga, Cooperstown. 607-547-1812 or visit cooperstownconcertseries.org/alex-torres-y-su-orquesta-friday-april-22-2022-2/
BLOOD DRIVE – Noon – 6 p.m. Elm Park Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 1-800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org
CONCERT – 7:30 p.m. The Cooperstown Concert Series presents a rare duo performance with guitar masters Sonny Landreth & Cindy Cashdollar performing a mix of original songs, contemporary, traditional blues and roots music. Tickets, $20/person. The Otesaga, Cooperstown. 607-547-1812 or visit cooperstownconcertseries.org
I took a drive out to Springfield Center this weekend and stopped in at a cozy little café there. It’s a homey spot with indoor and outdoor seating and a sunflower theme in the decorations and the food.
They serve locally sourced breakfast and lunch, or brunch, which is what I had. I ordered the Windy Hill Scramble, which was two scrambled eggs with goat cheese on top (locally made) and sunflower sprouts. It was served with my choice of toast (I got the rye bread but they had options for wheat or marbled as well), and a side salad with the house vinaigrette dressing.
The eggs were very light and fluffy and the cheese on top worked well with the savory flavor. The toast and salad combination were balanced with tart flavors.
I quite enjoyed it.
BENEFIT LUNCH – Noon – 2 p.m. Support Cooperstown Food Pantry at Empty Bowls Luncheon. Pick a unique bowl by a local potter to enjoy lunch of soup by local chef. Suggested donation $15. Parish Hall, Christ Church, 69 Fair St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2627 or visit cooperstownfoodpantry.org
HELICOPTER – 5:30 p.m. Army Reserve & NY Army National Guard collaborate with Cooperstown Graduate Program for military exercise featuring UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landing at Bassett. Public is welcome to observe, tour once the aircraft are shut down. Please follow direction of military personnel to ensure a safe distance from the aircraft while it is in operation. Landing will be near Bassett Helipad, across from Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown.
BALLOON FEST – 5 – 9 p.m. Enjoy vendors, performers, bounce house, rock wall, more. Then Hot Air Balloon launch at 6. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-2941 or visit www.facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
SESQUICENTENNIAL – Noon – 9 p.m. Celebrate 150th anniversary of Cooperstown-Charlotte Valley Railway with golden spike, speeches, music, celebratory train ride followed by cannon shoot, ice cream social, historical presentation, fireworks, more. Cost, $30/adult. Depart Milford Depot, 136 E. Main St., Milford. 607-432-2429 or visit www.facebook.com/cacvrr/
Oneonta’s Mark Spaziani, Rick Rogers and Ross Rogers – The Roundhouse Rockers – gave an evening of live music started this afternoon at the second annual Play It Forward event at the Oneonta Vets Club. This seven-hour jam session features live music, a chicken BBQ and raffles, with 100 percent of all funds donated to the American Legion Legacy Run. At right, Oneonta native Sandy Ross shares a kiss on the dance floor with her new husband Robb; the two married this morning. The couple, who flew up from Florida, co-created the event with Sandy’s sister Carla Balnis, and in lieu of a reception, decided to invite family and friends to attend the event and donate to the cause. Musicians from Florida, NYC, Utica and Oneonta will keep you rocking until 10 p.m. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FINE ARTS – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fine arts on the lawn features works for sale by local artists, members of CAA. Cooperstown Art Association. 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
WEST KORTRIGHT FAIR – Noon – 6 p.m. Celebrate regions agricultural bounty with afternoon of fun, music, food. Live music features PALEFACE, Richie and Rosie, The Big Takeover. Enjoy local food, group art show, silent auction, rummage sale, activities, local vendors, more. West Kortright Center, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith. 607-278-5454 or visit westkc.org/event/west-kortright-fair-2018/
The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys – Tom Wetmore, Darren Trass, Randy Miritello and Will Lunn – get the dance floor hopping as they get into their groove at the opening night of the second annual Bluegrass Americana Festival,tonight and tomorrow at Foothills. Tickets are still available for Saturday’s noon-10 p.m. performances, including the Gibson Boys as headliners at 8 p.m. Details, tickets at www.foothillspac.org (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FUN IN THE SNOW! Final day of the 50th anniversary Cooperstown Winter Carnival features snowman building, soup’n’ chili, soccer slushing in Pioneer Park, the “Fatty Bumppo” bike race ghost tours, wine tasting, a chicken wing competition, the Fire & Ice Bar at The Otesaga, Annie & The Hedonists concert, and the carnival closer. For full schedule of events, see www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com/event-schedule
3-D PRINTING – 10-11:30 a.m. Design a keepsake heart box for someone special. Fee based on weight Registration required. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Info, hmloneonta.org/calendar/
YPN NETWORKING – 6-8 p.m. Come meet young professionals from the Otsego area. The topic for this evening is community involvement. The Beverage Exchange, 73 Main St., Cooperstown. Info, www.facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsNetworkYPN/
FUNDRAISER – 7 p.m. Live music will be performed. The public may donate for the opportunity to perform. Donations go to the Cooperstown Lion’s Club fund to support area residents to lessen financial stress. Mel’s at 22, Cooperstown. Info, www.facebook.com/Melsat22/
A rainy Sunday afternoon created a good day for ducks…and teddy bears! The Oneonta Community Concert Band’s annual Teddy Bear Picnic in Wilber Park played a wide selection of music from marches to Mambos. Following tradition, a teddy bear was raffled off to a child who came to see the show. “It is most important to us to make live music accessible to young people.” said the band’s director, Rene Prins, Oneonta, on right. “We made it a rule years ago that the child has to be present to receive the bear.” This year, the winner of the bear was Ashley Buol, who was visiting from North Carolina. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
