The Beat

Corning, NY –  If the past year has revealed anything it’s that, perhaps a bit ironically, while we haven’t been able to be around people the way we have in the past, we might just rely on them more than ever. Thanks to entrepreneur Victoria Sardo, over 80 local artists and vendors are being given a chance to showcase their diverse creations while the community is also being given a place where they can come support local artists and find wonderful products handcrafted right here in the region. That place is Finger Lakes Unique, Victoria’s new shop located at 99 East Market Street in Corning (in the former Bass Store).

Presented by Museum of the Moving Image, Rooftop Films, NYSCI — kicking off with a special screening of ‘Coming 2 America’

The popular drive-in series returns for a second season to provide arts and entertainment in the borough, to bring back jobs, and to support the larger filmmaking community

Opening March 5, 2021

New York, NY (February 24, 2021) — Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI), Rooftop Films, and the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) today announced the return of the Queens Drive-In at New York City’s iconic Flushing Meadows Corona Park. A collaborative project between three non-profit organizations, the Queens Drive-In hosted over 80 sold-out events during the summer and fall of 2020, including dozens of New York and world premieres, many of which featured in-person and live-streamed appearances by filmmakers and stars. Among New York City drive-in experiences that opened in the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queens Drive-In offers one of the largest screens with a capacity of 200 cars, high-quality DCP projection, and adventurous programming.

Chatham, N.Y. -- The Crandell Theatre board of directors in Chatham, New York, announced today that it has raised $2 million of its $3 million Capital Campaign to renovate the theater and establish an endowment to sustain the theater well into the future. One million dollars has been raised towards the renovation cost of $2 million, and an initial pledge of $1 million has been received for the endowment. The theater renovation will include upgrading the audio system, expansion of the lobby and concession area, additional modernized restrooms, replacement of seats, and creation of functional staff workspace and storage.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — Six racehorses, three trainers, and one jockey account for the 10 finalists that will comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2021 Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum’s Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. The finalists are racehorses American Pharoah (first year of eligibility), Blind Luck, Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, Kona Gold, and Rags to Riches; trainers Christophe Clement, Doug O’Neill, and Todd Pletcher (first year of eligibility); and jockey Corey Nakatani.

Hall of Fame voters may select as many or as few candidates as they believe are worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. All candidates that receive 50 percent plus one vote (majority approval) from the voting panel will be elected to the Hall of Fame. All of the finalists were required to receive support from two-thirds of the 15-member Nominating Committee to qualify for the ballot.

Watkins Glen, NY – The Seneca Lake Wine Trail raises a glass and offers congratulations to the eight member wineries who won 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 honors during the New York Wine Classic hosted by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and judged by the Beverage Testing Institute.

Best in Class award winners from the Seneca Lake Wine Trail include:

·         Best Cabernet Franc - Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars 2019 T23 Unoaked Cabernet Franc

·         Best Ice Wine - Boundary Breaks 2019 Riesling Ice Wine…

Rochester, N.Y., February 24, 2021—The George Eastman Museum has recently received a donation of 20 reels, from 12 identified titles, of rare 35mm nitrate and diacetate film prints from historian John Goodman of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

“We are very grateful to Mr. Goodman for this donation of nitrate films,” said Peter Bagrov, Curator in Charge of the Moving Image Department, George Eastman Museum. The gift contains several rarities including a vintage tinted reel of Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, made in 1925. “It’s a bit of a mystery,” Bagrov added. “Chaplin himself was not fond of tinting, and all of the known release prints of this film are in black and white. Even though the print is incomplete, this beautifully tinted reel is a great discovery and adds a new dimension to our understanding of how films were presented during the silent era.”…

Seneca Falls, NY – Women's Rights National Historical Park and The Friends of Women’s Rights National Historical Park are pleased to announce the opening of Radical Optimism: The Enduring Power of the Women Who Won the Vote at the Fall Street Visitor Center. The exhibit on the second floor of the museum was commissioned by the Friends as part of the commemoration of the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920. …

"Four Divisions Formed at Fort Carillon: 1757 French Raid on Fort William Henry"

Saturday, February 27th

Presented as part of the Center for Digital History’s Digital Campaign

Ticonderoga, N.Y. – Fort Ticonderoga presents a Virtual Living History Event on February 27, 2021 as part of its Digital Campaign - an exciting virtual experience featuring interactive programming, engaging lectures series, and creative at-home educational activities and resources. 

This virtual event will highlight French Regulars and Canadians assembling at Fort Carillon, later named Ticonderoga, preparing to march across frozen Lake George to surprise the British in 1757. During 3 exciting living history demonstrations, watch as French soldiers build scaling ladders and prepare to march and encamp in winter’s deep snow to carry forward this surprise attack.

Scheduled for Saturday, February 27, 2021 from 1-2:30 PM

Utica, N.Y. – Join the Utica/Oneida County Branch NAACP to celebrate Black History Month 2021 with its annual program hosted by History Center. This virtual event will follow the 2021 national theme, The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity, which provides a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American past and present.  The program features a variety of presentations including a speech from Pastor Angela Carter, performances by Jonathan “J Easy” Brooks and Nomadic Voices, and Black History Moments with students from the Mohawk Valley Jr. Frontiers and Young Scholars. Members of the NAACP will also share information about their organization and community announcements.

Maple Sugar Tours at HHNM begin this weekend

Cornwall, NY -  Maple Sugaring Season is once again upon us in the Hudson Valley and the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum is ready with their Maple Sugar Tours! Learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees, discover sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers, and modern-day farmers, and see an evaporator in action.

Maple Sugar Tours will take place at the Nature Museum’s Outdoor Discovery Center location, 120 Muser Drive, off of Angola Road in Cornwall. They’ll  kick off on Saturday Sunday, February 21 and 22 and will continue on February 27 and 28; March 6, 7, 13 and 14 where two types of tours are offered hourly from 11am-3pm.