Around Town with Amy Modesti

09/16/2026

https://aroundtownwithamymodesti.substack.com/p/preview-harbinger-theatre-to-debut?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

ALBANY, NY - Harbinger Theatre will present its 21st Capital Region premiere with Meghan Kennedy’s Off-Broadway play, The Counter. The play will debut at the Albany Barn (located at 56 Second Street, Albany, NY 12210) with a FREE preview tonight, Wednesday, September 16, at 7:30pm.

Its official opening will be Thursday, Sept. 17 (7:30pm) and it will run through Sept.26. The Counter features George Filieau (Paul, a retired firefighter), Lisa Bryk (Katie, a waitress), and Joyce Reynolds (Paul’s former high school sweetheart).

The Counter centers around an unlikely friendship that develops between Katie and Paul at a small town diner in Upstate New York. Their casual morning conversations evolve into a deep, life-affirming bond as they share their secrets. Paul makes a request to Katie and together, both confront their grief and find hope through human connection.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online on Harbinger’s website or at the door on the day of the show.

Read more about The Counter directly on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack website.

Be sure to subscribe to Around Town With Amy Modesti to keep up on the latest news.

Thank you so much to Patrick White and to News10ABC’s Morning Anchor, Giuliana Bruno, for their contributions for the preview and for allowing “Around Town” to preview the play!!

✒️: Preview written by Amy Modesti
📸: Press photos by Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward
📸: Photo of Giuliana Bruno with the cast & crew of “A Distant Country Called Youth” at Mopco Theatre by Amy Modesti
🎨: Poster Art by Marc Christopher

Meghan Kennedy’s 2024 Off-Broadway play explores the need to open one’s heart during one’s time of need; play opens Sept. 17.

09/16/2026

ALBANY, NY - Harbinger Theatre will present its 21st Capital Region premiere of Meghan Kennedy’s 2024 Off-Broadway play, The Counter, with a free preview Wednesday, September 16, at Albany Barn, beginning at 7:30pm. Its official opening is Thursday, Sept. 17 (7:30pm). The Counter, running through Sept. 26, centers around an unlikely friendship between Paul, a retired firefighter, and Katie, a lonely waitress in Upstate New York. The play features George Filieau (Paul), Lisa Bryk (Katie) and Joyce Reynolds (Peg). The Counter will have two Talkback Friday sessions on 9/18 with Giuliana Bruno and 9/25 with Rosemary Armao. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Harbinger’s website or on the day of the show. More info about The Counter can be found directly on SubStack via Around Town With Amy Modesti.

Like & Follow Around Town With Amy Modesti to keep up on the latest news and events and support local independent news sites. Thank you so much Patrick White for having Around Town preview “The Counter”!!

✒️: Article by Amy Modesti
📸: Press Photos by Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward
🎨: Poster Art by Marc Christopher
📸: Photo of Giuliana Bruno with cast & crew of “A Distant Country Called Youth” taken by Amy L. Modesti Amy Modesti

, , , , , Andrew Elder , Albany Barn , Giuliana Bruno , Harbinger Theatre, Mopco Improv Theatre , George Filieau

09/09/2026

Additional photos that Around Town With Amy Modesti captured of PJ Ferguson & The Tennessee Strange’s debut concert at The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, NY, Friday, September 5,2025.

📸 & 🤳: Photos taken by Amy L. Modesti of ALM Fine Art & Photography and Around Town With Amy Modesti. ©️Amy L. Modesti, 2025.

09/09/2026

09/07/2026

https://aroundtownwithamymodesti.substack.com/p/life-liberty-and-agriculture-the?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

SCHAGHTICOKE, NY - “Life, Liberty, & Agriculture” is at the heart of the 207th Annual Schaghticoke Fair.

Since 1819, the Rensselaer County fair continues to bring agriculture, entertainment, and community together for a week of fun. And the Schaghticoke Fair is no exception to meeting that agenda.

The fair opened Wednesday, September 2, and runs through today, Monday, September 7. The fair opened its 207th year with two-dollar day and two-dollar food selections at selected food stations.

The fair is open TODAY, Monday, Sept. 7 through 10pm. Fair goers can check out plenty of activities and events ranging from a pie eating contest, entertainment from Michael Frances McCarthy & Larger Than Life, Circus Murica, among others.

Tickets for the fair are $15 per person and free for children ages 13 years old and under. More information about the fair can be found directly on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack website and the Schaghticoke Fair website.

Thank you again to Tracy Christopher and Carly Reyna for having “Around Town” attend Media Day (Opening Day) last Wednesday & to cover the fair this year!!

📸 and ✒️: Photos and article by Amy L. Modesti, September 2026.

Rensselaer County fair continues to run through Labor Day.

09/04/2026

https://substack.com//note/p-213872930?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

SCHAGHTICOKE, NY - Around Town With Amy Modesti was on location at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds for the start of the 207th Annual Schaghticoke Fair on Wednesday, September 2.

Not only was it the fair’s opening day, it was also Two Dollar Day and Media Day. Media outlets had the opportunity to take a tour of the fairgrounds alongside Fair Director, Carly Reyna, to see what’s happening this year and check out some events, including the 4-H Horse Competition Showing, as seen in this SubStack live video, food sampling from Jeanette’s, and took a ride on the fair’s newest ride, Artificial Intelligence.

Be sure to give the live stream video a look on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page and stay tuned to view more content about this year’s Schaghticoke Fair!!

Thank you again to Carly Reyna & Tracy Christopher for inviting “Around Town” to attend and cover this year’s fair!!

🎥: Video taken by Amy L. Modesti of Around Town With Amy Modesti, 9/2/2026 through the SubStack app. 🎥

The Schaghticoke Fair

Around Town with Amy Modesti’s Opening Day of the 207th Annual Schaghticoke Fair Coverage

08/21/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-modesti-a4193442b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Hi everyone! Amy here! I have an important update!

I have officially joined LinkedIn!! This will allow me to meet and connect with like-minded professionals, network and collaborate with potential clients, as well as seek employment.

As you may or may not know, in mid-November 2025, I was left go from employment by NYVT Media. And since then, I’ve been focusing on my arts businesses, as well as my collaborations with Journal & Press, Mirth Films, and the occasional pet sitting to make a livable living.

With nine months of unemployment/self-employment, I’ve been focusing my time as well in searching for employment within the Art and Arts Management fields that I studied in for college and I need to find another job that will help supplement my income.

If you have any job leads and wish to collaborate with me on a future project, please send me a message. And please connect with me on LinkedIn.

Thank you for your time. Have a great day.

Amy Modesti, business owner of ALM Fine Art and Photography and Around Town with Amy… · Experience: THE JOURNAL OF UPSTATE NEW YORK · Education: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts · Location: Cropseyville · 13 connections on LinkedIn. View Amy Modesti’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional...

08/19/2026

Hi everybody, Amy here!! For those who may or may not know, I am also a contributor to Mirth Films, as a photographer and reporter, in addition to my work at my arts businesses, Around Town With Amy Modesti and ALM Fine Art & Photography.

We at Mirth Films are seeking input from you about what you would like to see covered within the arts and entertainment scene and we would HUGELY appreciate your feedback.

How can Mirth Films further serve the arts, live music, and entertainment community? What do you wish to see more of? What do you want to see less of? What needs improvement?

Is there something new and exciting that is happening that you would like us to cover and feature?!

What are your honest thoughts and suggestions?!

Please leave a comment on this post with your suggestions and I can make certain that your suggestions go to the right hands.

Thank you so much for your time. Have a great afternoon.

-Amy (8/19/2026)

08/09/2026

Thursday, July 23,2026, Around Town With Amy Modesti was at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY. It was to attend and cover Cassandra Kubinski’s sold-out concert.

Kubinski, who’s a Saratoga Springs-based musician and a Caffe Lena board member, performed alongside musicians, Sam Zucchini (drums) and Tara Hanish (cello) for the concert.

Kubinski performed some songs off her new album, “Dance Moms Acoustic & Lyrical Solos”, to be released August 21.

Since Spring 2026, “Around Town” has been working alongside Kubinski since her Q&A session and performance alongside Dance Moms founder, Abby Lee Miller at Saratoga Arts. The ladies will be working together late this month for another event downstate.

“Around Town” extends their thanks to Cassandra, Bogdan, and the Caffe Lena staff for their hospitality and support, and for the opportunity to photograph and report on this special opportunity. Thank you for your support and new friendship!

You can view more photos from the concert exclusively on the ALM Fine Art & Photography and Cassandra Kubinski pages.

Stay tuned for what’s to come on Around Town With Amy Modesti!!

- Amy L. Modesti (8/8/26)

📸: All photos taken by Amy L. Modesti of ALM Fine Art & Photography and Around Town With Amy Modesti