Jazz Fest Friday: The Good Times Are Gonna’ Roll A Day Early – From Now On
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Meet an instant classic:
The by-products of a creative collaborate effort, in which event creation and programming expansion are the components of a winning recipe, are about to come to the fore next Friday, July 22 as “Jazz Fest Friday” will literally take over the town, providing a new kickoff night to the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday. The centerpiece will be A Night on Bourbon Street at the Canfield Casino, A New Orleans-Styled Speakeasy Event beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday and running to midnight.
*** Be advised: you want to be there at the beginning, as there is a special way the organizers (The SPAC Action Council) plan to greet you – it’s a surprise, so I shall say no more, but you have been told.
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In any event, you cannot even think about being tardy for the featured performer – Bria Skonberg at 9 pm – for this is a chance to see – why mince words? – a STAR! – in an up close and personal, swanky supper club setting. That chance may not come your way again.
Equally and excellently adept on lead trumpet and vocals, indeed, it is much more likely that you will see Bria Skonberg headlining the entire Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival from the SPAC amphitheater stage in years to come. I kid not. Here’s a couple of takes of her dishing out some standards at Seattle’s KNKX Radio (Seattle) studio with verve and flair:
Ms. Skonberg’s performance is sponsored by Savory Pantry, Lifestyles and Skidmore College.
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A future Hall-of-Famer as your headliner is a great foundation to build an event upon, but we are just getting the party started. And attention to authentic detail is where The SPAC Action Council and its promotional partners are going to shine. I kid not again!
You will have a few options to gain admission to “A Night on Bourbon St., which are detailed below. Every one of them have two words involved, starting upon your arrival (via valet parking sponsored by Keeler Motor Car), that should say ‘TGIF’ to most of you: They are:
OPEN
and
BAR!
Savory Pantry invites you to enjoy one or more of the three NOLA – authentic signature cocktails: Sazerac (a New Orleans distilled Rye), Cajun Lemonade, and Bathtub Gin. Lily and the Rose will be the food provider on this evening, and I have zero doubt that Owner Kim Klopstock’s mouth is watering over the prospect of making your mouth water, and delighting you with Lily’s offerings throughout the evening.
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Whilst quaffing and snacking, you might amuse yourself at various games of chance – you will be at The Canfield Casino after all:
The NOLA admission level ($150 per person) entitles you to open bar, buffet and a stack of gaming chips as well as open tables to dine and view Ms. Skonberg’s performance.
The VIP Jazz level ($225) gains you access to the above plus:
– Entry and table seating at a VIP roped off section directly in front of Bria Skonberg’s performance – with an extra bottle of Sazerac on each table.
– Option to have food service directly to your table (expect about 99.8 percent to elect this option)
– Double the amount of gambling chips
Capacity for a Casino event is about 400, and admissions for these two levels can be secured at spac.org or by calling Seth Buono at 518-584-9330, ext. 101. In a preview conversation with Heidi West (Owner of Lifestyles) and Keeley DeSalvo (Owner of Savory Pantry), as well as SPAC Action Council President Nicole Sheeler – we learned that a third, night-of-show option (subject to availability) might become available for those who want to see Ms. Skonberg, but already have dinner plans or wish to take in the jazz-themed offerings going on around town in the early evening (which is a post in itself – that you can read HERE).
At 8:45 pm, you can “Join the Party”: see the show (with the aforementioned open bar) and enjoy a grab-and go dessert for $75. Again, subject to availability, but it appears that these ladies and their team have all the bases covered. Which is probably why they look so happy and content, even with a zillion little things to do a week before things blast off:
And their energy emboldens me to hazard a prediction: This is an inaugural event of course, but it is going to feel like it has been here all along!
In other words, an instant classic.
See you on Bourbon St.!
Arthur Gonick
June 17, 2018
