Around Town with Amy Modesti

01/02/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/letter-from-the-editor?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Happy 2026 everyone!! Happy New Year! I hope that 2026 is off to a great start for you!!

For over a month, I’ve something that’s been weighing heavy on my mind. I’ve been keeping it a secret for some time, only letting certain close peers know about it, or letting people know on a need to know basis, based on my own terms.

I don’t want to begin 2026 on a sour note. However, as a part of the local media scene for quite some time, you have a right to know what I’ve been up to concerning my professional career.

Monday, Nov. 17,2025, I received a phone call from my employer at CRIM/NYVT Media who informed me the news that due to budgetary pressures within the company, I had to be let go from employment.

This means that my contributions as editor of InPlay Capital Region, as as well as my writings for the Renss Lens, have come to an end.

For the time being, I’m searching for employment in my fields of study, Art and Arts Management. I’m also open to other possible work opportunities as well.

And once the timing is right, I will once again, focus my time blogging on Around Town With Amy Modesti.

If you know of any other job opportunities or have any job leads, please send them my way! Any assistance and encouragementwpuld be hugely appreciated.

Thank you to the staff at NYVT Media and Capital Region Independent Media for providing me an opportunity to be an employee for your company and for allowing me to serve the greater community as a reporter, photographer, and editor of InPlay Capital Region.

Most importantly, thank you to the clients for allowing me to tell your stories! Thank you to the readers, followers, and subscribers for reading the InPlay news posts!! Your support and appreciation for what I’ve done to better serve the community through the power of storytelling does not go unnoticed.

To read more about this career announcement, please head to Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack.

I wish you all nothing but peace, love, happiness and prosperity in the New Year!

Thank you for your time and support at this pivotal time.

-Amy L. Modesti (1/1/2026)

InPlay Capital Region Editor reflects on her 6-month employment at NYVT Media and InPlay. Now that her employment has ended, what will Amy Modesti do next?!

12/15/2025

Happy 22 Month Dating Anniversary to my boyfriend, Brendan! Sunday, December 14,2025 we celebrate 22 months of dating!

To celebrate that moment, last night (12/13/25), we went to Lark Hall in Albany to attend the “Jingle Ball Rock” concert put on by No One You Know Presents & the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (Capital Region Chapter).

All evening, we listened to live music from Keegan James, The Story Boys, and Shannon Tehya and The Troupe. We also caught up with some friends that we hadn’t seen in a while and also met some new friends as well!!

Attending the event was a great way to celebrate our dating anniversary! Last year (12/14/24) we were at Lark Hall attending the Mirth Films Presents “It’s A Gala” Formal Party!!

Be on the lookout soon for a recap of “Jingle Bell Rock” and photos on Around Town With Amy Modesti, via the SubStack app!!

Happy 22 months Brendan! I love you very much!!

📸: Selected photos taken by Amy L. Modesti, Brendan McLaughlin, and Amanda from American Foundation for Su***de Prevention, Saturday, Dec. 13,2025.

12/10/2025

Sunday, December 7,2025 was the 43rd Annual Troy Victorian Stroll in the City of Troy, NY and once again, the Collar City put on another successful event!!

My boyfriend joined me for the outing and we had an awesome time.

We began our adventure at the soft opening of Slidin’ Dirty (located at the location of the River Street Market) where we were treated to complimentary appetizers and listened to music from Matty D.

We then ventured down to River Street where we spent our time hearing holiday tunes from Sax O’Claus and Josh the Elf, grabbed hot beverages at Jacob Alejandro, and checked out some additional places that we hadn’t been to yet, including Daisuki, a Japanese wine bar & the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market where they had live music and vendors.

To conclude our evening, we went to Bootleggers to listen to music from The Refrigerators and grabbed dinner at the Albany Buffet in Colonie.

Brendan and I had a wonderful time at the Stroll! Thank you again to the City of Troy and the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce for putting on a fun, successful event. Thank you to my boyfriend for joining me on this fun adventure this year!!

📸: Photos taken by Amy L. Modesti
🤳: Selfie of Brendan and Amy taken by Brendan McLaughlin

11/30/2025

Thank you so much to Patrick White & Chris Foster of Harbinger Theatre and Brian Sheldon, former director of SLCA, for inviting Around Town with Amy Modesti to attend and review Rebecca Gilman’s “Swing State”!! Thank you for sharing the “Around Town” review on the Harbinger page!

My boyfriend & I watched this local thought-provoking comedic dramedy that was both entertaining and suspenseful! It showcased the lives of Peg (Robin Leary), Ryan (Leo Hernandez), Sheriff Kris (Lisa Bryk), and Dani (Brooke Hutchins) in rural Wisconsin, and their own journeys into discovering what is right and what is easy.

Read more about “Swing State” exclusively on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page.

Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or free subscriber of SubStack to keep up on the local news. Thank you so much.

✒️: Review by Amy Modesti
📸: All photos by Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward

Harbinger Theatre concludes theatre season with a thought-provoking show; theater performance brought the return of former SLCA Executive Director, Brian Sheldon, to the directing stage.

11/30/2025

AVERILL PARK - Harbinger Theatre concluded their season with the local adaptation of Rebecca Gilman’s “Swing State”. From Nov.13-Nov.23, spectators watched Peg (Robin Leary), a retired teacher determined to preserve the land she has called home while she mourns over the loss of her husband, Jim. Alongside Peg are Ryan (Leo Hernandez), Sheriff Kris (Lisa Bryk), and Dani (Brooke Hutchins). Throughout the play, each character had to make a decision between what is right and what is easy. “Swing State” was an entertaining, thought-provoking, well performed comedic dramedy. Thank you again to Patrick & Chris of Harbinger Theatre, and former executive director of SLCA, Brian Sheldon, for inviting Around Town With Amy Modesti to SLCA to review the play! Read more about “Swing State” exclusively on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or a free subscriber to Around Town With Amy Modesti to keep up on the local news. Thank you so much. (📸: All photos taken by Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward ) , , , , , ,

11/29/2025

Happy “Black Friday” everyone!! How was your Thanksgiving yesterday?!

This year, I celebrated the holiday within a two-day span. Since I was going to spend quality time with my boyfriend and his family on Thanksgiving afternoon, my parents and I actually celebrated the holiday on the day before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving morning, I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and cat sat my friends’ cats while they’re on vacation. I also ate my second holiday meal with my parents before I traveled to Scotia with my boyfriend and ate our Thanksgiving meal with his family and a family friend.

It was a nice few days that were well spent with my family, boyfriend and his family. I’m thankful for the good times that were shared with them this week, as well as looking ahead into the holiday season!

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and a good shopping day today on “Black Friday”. Stay warm, stay blessed, and be thankful for all the good things that are in your life at this moment.

📸: All photos taken by Amy L. Modesti using her Apple IPhone 13 Pro, 11/26/25 and 11/27/25

11/11/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/looking-for-something-fun-to-do-november?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Happy November!! Looking for something fun to do this month, while supporting local artisans?! Head over to Around Town With Amy Modesti, via SubStack, to see what’s happening!!

There’s lots of fun activities to check out this month at arts venues; Art Omi, Arlene’s Artist Materials, Albany Institute of History and Art, to the Arts Center of the Capital Region,The Teaching Gallery at HVCC, among others.

Please give the event listings a look & don’t forget to become a free subscriber or paid subscriber of Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack to keep up on your local creative news and happenings.

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As mentioned on Around Town With Amy Modesti, I do have a few professional updates to inform you about.

1. Saturday, November 22, I’ll be vending in the “Falling For Art: A Harvest of Local Talent” art show at J&P’s Catering Company in Cohoes, NY. The event will be held from 5-9 p.m., & $10 entry at the door. Proceeds from the Falling For Art Silent Auction will benefit the Cohoes High School Art Program. Please come out to support a great cause while supporting local artists as well!! More info on the event can be found on SubStack.

2. It will be seven months this month since I’ve been at the new gig. Work has been an interesting wave of changes and experiences that are ever flowing. In mid-October, due to “budgetary pressures”, my hours have decreased from 20 hours a week to 12 hours a week.

Your support in both ALM Fine Art & Photography and Around Town With Amy Modesti is very important at this time as I ride along this wave & I’ll have to see where things take me. It’simportant for me to be transparent with you as to how things have been going professionally.

Thank you for understanding. Thank you for your continued support in what I do. It is appreciated.

Have a great evening and stay warm and safe from the snow. Happy early Veteran’s Day.

-Amy (11/10/25)

Around Town With Amy Modesti Visual Arts Event Listings for November 2025

11/09/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/looking-for-something-fun-to-do-november-5f8?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Hello everyone!! Welcome to Around Town With Amy Modesti!!

I decided to split my event listings for this month into two separate posts. Because there’s a lot of information that’s being shared in the listing, I didn’t want to overwhelm my readers and subscribers with the abundance of information all at once.

So, here’s Part 2 of this month’s event listings, which can be found directly on !!

What’s going on “Around Town”, you ask?!

11/9/25: Holiday Merchant Market at Sand Lake Merchant & Sand Lake Center for the Arts (SLCA), and the grand opening of the Lake Bound Bookstore.

11/14/25: “Swing State”, a Capital Region theatrical premiere at Sand Lake Center for the Arts (SLCA)

11/22/25: Doc Horton’s 70th Birthday Bash and Concert at the Madison Theatre

11/30/25: Kevin Richards Presents Kenny & Dolly Christmas & Hits show at the Wood Theater

To read up more on these events and other happenings, head over to Around Town With Amy Modesti on SubStack!

Please like and follow Around Town With Amy Modesti on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and SubStack to keep up on the news posts!

Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or a free subscriber on SubStack to support local, independent news media & support Around Town With Amy Modesti.

Thank you so much for your readership and support! Have a nice evening!!

-Amy (11/8/25)

Around Town With Amy Modesti's November events listings for concerts, theater events, auditions, lectures, and more.

11/08/2025

Happy November Around Town With Amy Modesti friends!! Looking for something fun to do during the month of November?! Head over to “Around Town” as it’s the place to head to and see what’s happening in the Capital Region and beyond. Want to hear some live music?! Go and see Marty Wendell and his musician friends perform live at Hubbard Hall, or go and see a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton tribute show at Hubbard Hall. Want to purchase some local art?! Go and attend the Holiday Merchant Market at Sand Lake Merchant on 11/9 & also, attend the “Falling For Art” Group Art exhibition at J&P’s Catering Company on 11/22. As for live theater? Schenectady Light Opera Company (SLOC) began their teen production of Hadestown on 11/7 & coming on 11/14, Harbinger Theatre will close their 2025 season with “Swing State” at Sand Lake Center for the Arts (SLCA). Learn more about these events & other creative happenings now on the Around Town With Amy Modesti SubStack page. Like & follow the page on Facebook, Instagram, SubStack & Threads to keep up on the local, independent news. Thank you! (📸: Photo of the Five One Art banner taken by Amy L. Modesti ) , .ndtownwithamymodesti , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

10/30/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/aroundtownwithamymodesti/p/preview-the-two-of-us-productions?r=2u0jzr&utm_medium=ios

Coming soon to Copake Grange Hall is “Pippin, The Musical”, based on the 1972 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and the book written by Roger O. Hirson.

This musical, directed by Stephen Sanborn, co-founder of The Two Of Us Productions, will open Friday, November 7, and will run for two weekends through Sunday, November 16.

The local production will feature Zachary Nayer as Pippin, Jeffrey Jene as King Charlemagne The Great, among many others.

To learn more about “Pippin, The Musical” and how to obtain advance tickets, go to Around Town with Amy Modesti via the SubStack app now!!

Please consider becoming a free or a paid subscriber to support Around Town With Amy Modesti and read local news media!

Around Town With Amy Modesti can also be found on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and SubStack.

Thank you so much!

✒️: Preview written by Amy Modesti

📸: Photo of Jeffrey Jene by Amy Modesti, Additional press photos by Stephen Sanborn of The Two of Us Productions

Broadway musical to open at Copake Grange Hall November 7.