Summer Dreams 06-17-21

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Things to do in Greater Cooperstown

Dreams Thursday, June 17, 2021

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AllOTSEGO.com

21 Railroad Avenue, Cooperstown, NY 13326 • 607-547-6103 • info@allotsego.com

B-2 Summer Dreams

Thursday, June 17, 2021

what’s fun

in Otsego County

BEST BETS

16 BeeRS on Tap! 4 miles from Cooperstown 20 minutes from Oneonta!

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Ian Austin/AllOtsego.com Mary Matis and Amy Trombecker, Sharon Springs, run with their dogs Tate, Ryker and Fonzie in the 2019 Cider Run, marked by unseasonable cold.

Run for the Susquehanna SPCA, Celebrate Juneteenth

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un to support the Susquemusic, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Brewery hanna SPCA. This year Ommegang, 656 county Route 33, the shelter is partnering near Cooperstown. Friday, June 18. with three local breweries to raise Call 607-544-1800 or visit www.omfunds for animals in need. The 0.5K megang.com/concerts-events/.

• Fun Run is a kid-friendly Get the teens out of the event beginning at 8:30 a.m., house for fun game of Fizzthe 5K at 9:15, and the 10K things ball with the Teen Center at 9. There will also be a to do! and Otsego Pride Alliance. pet parade with prizes. Cost Bring a garbage-bag smock, is $10 for ages 13+ in the goggles and get ready to 0.5K, $30 for adults in the have some fun. New play5K and 10K. Age-appropriers are welcome. At 7 p.m., ate drinks will be provided Friday, June 18. Meet at The to the runners. Winners will Skatehouse, Neahwa Park in have an adoption sponsored Oneonta. Call 607-441-3999 in their names. Starts at or visit www.facebook.com/ Brewery Ommegang, 656 Larissa Ryan oneonta.teencenter.

Co. Hwy. 33, near Cooper• stown, on Saturday, June 19.

The Oneonta Outlaws Call 607-547-8111 or visit sqspca. will host the Amsterdam Mohawks. org/fetching-brews-run-walk/.

Children 18 and under get free ad• mission, sponsored by SFCU. 7 p.m., Celebrate the liberation of the last Thursday, June 17. Damaschke Field enslaved people in the U.S. this Juneteenth. Live music, free food, art from in Oneonta. local artists, speeches, and more. 3 p.m. Neahwa park, Oneonta. Saturday, ►ON THE COVER June 19. Visit stayhappening.com/e/ The beginning of the transformajuneteenth-E2ISTOP8XG7. tion of Glimmerglass Festival’s • Hang out at Fire Pit Friday with outdoor venue. friends and enjoy The Beadle Brothers Photo by Tara Barnwell live performance of modern country

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Summer Dreams B-3

Michael Forster Rothbart

Moana, right, played by Yana King, gets caught by the crab Tamatoa, played by Claire Smith, with Dalilah Synan as the left claw and Taryn Brockway as the right claw, in a scene from ‘Moana Jr.’ Student actors practice during a dress rehearsal of Moana Jr., produced by Orpheus Theatre’s Starstruck Players at Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta on Monday, June 14. The show, which opens Friday, June 18, will be the first live performance by Orpheus in more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Curtain’s up again on live theatre in the region

By MICHAEL FORSTER ROTHBART ONEONTA — It has been a dark time for theater in Otsego County.

In 2020, the Glimmerglass Festival and Fenimore Art Museum each canceled its summer performance seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In Oneonta, Foothills Performing Arts Center went 14 months without a live show, according to Operations Manager Geoff Doyle.

High schools and both Oneonta colleges experimented with streaming virtual theater, performed live without an audience. Local troupes such as the Catskill Puppet Theater and Orpheus Theatre cancelled shows, while Stuff of Dreams Productions pre-recorded performances for later broadcast.

This summer, stage by stage, the lights are back on and theaters are reopening—albeit with some modifications for COVID safety. Theaters have been operating at 33% capacity, with mask requirements in place, but

that will change going forward, with an easing of most pandemic requirements from the state.

“The hardest part of all this has been knowing what the regulations are, being aware when they change,” Doyle said. “The local, state and federal governments have not been sending a unified message for a long time.”

Foothills had two small performances in the past month, a puppet show and a youth recital, as a way of easing back into business. The first big show starts Friday, June 19, when Orpheus Theatre opens its production of “Moana, Jr.,” on Foothills’ Bettiol Stage. The show, an hour-long musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film, will be performed

by Orpheus’ Starstruck Players, a children’s’ theater program, with a cast of twenty-five kids ages 8 to 18.

On Monday, June 14, during a full run-through of the show, there was an exuberant energy visible on stage, with moments of chaos that resolved See THEATRE, Page B4

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

Concert series to resume at Lakefront

By PATRICK DEWEY After a year of limited social gatherings in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Cooperstown Lakefront Concert Series is slated to return on Tuesday evenings in July and August.

Rich McCaffrey, who organized the shows through the Village Parks Board for 15 years, has retired and the Village Parks Board will be helped by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce and Randy Smith, a volunteer passionate about arts and music in the local community.

“We owe McCaffrey a tremendous debt of gratitude for almost single-handedly doing what will now be done by multiple people,” said Deputy Mayor Cindy Falk.

To aid success of the new partnership, Smith and Tara Burke, director of the Cooperstown Chamber, developed a survey. The quick survey asks distance from Lakefront Park, age range, group size and musical taste.

The survey is available on the Chamber website until June 21.

“We are coming together to preserve a much beloved tradition,” Burke said.

Thanks to his father and brother, Smith was passionate about music from a young age, he said.

Smith grew up in Toddsville, then moved

to California after college. He said the 22 years he spent there helped him recognize that each region has a distinct music scene.

In 2019, Smith, who had returned to Cooperstown five years prior, started the Facebook page “Live Music Cooperstown.” The page grew out of the tendency of locals to ask Smith about Cooperstown music. From school plays to operas and rock music, it’s all on the Facebook page, he said.

Falk said Smith’s page was a big part of why, when McCaffery retired, she recommended Smith.

“He had his finger on the pulse of the music scene. Who was playing, their schedules, and contact info,” she said.

Smith said the 2021 lineup will include two shows by the Cooperstown Community Band, including opening night.

In addition, the series will feature local bands who have played gigs at Red Shed Brewery and the Brewery Ommegang fire pit.

“They may be new to the Lakefront bandstand but should be familiar to locals,” Smith said.

Falk said the coming together of various generations and the picturesque setting of Lakefront Park have always been highlights of the series.

More details can be found on the Cooperstown Chamber website and Facebook page.

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Productions went virtual, but live theatre has been missing THEATre/from Page B3 into dance numbers. Even with masks on, it appeared that many of the cast members were smiling as they performed.

Afterwards, the actors tried on their villager costumes and assembled at the front of the stage for a review.

Production manager Kate Simeon took notes on needed alterations while cast members serenaded her with songs from Frozen Jr., the last show the group performed, in January 2020.

Director Sarah Lynn Serafin sat back to examine the line-up. “This is a disaster,” said Serafin, who has been director of youth programming for Orpheus since 2010 and is prone to hyperbole. “There’s too much beige.” After consultation, she decided to raid Orpheus’

costume warehouse for more colorful material.

That night, Serafin answered questions from her car after a late trip to the storage facility. “In November, when we started this process, we assumed that we would be streaming it. And it was only a month or two ago that we decided that we would go live,” she said.

“You know how people just haven’t gone anywhere. They haven’t done things for so long,” Serafin said. “When you’re sitting and watching live theater … there’s so much more excitement because audiences feed off the performers, performers feed off the audience. You know, it’s a give and take relationship when you’re in a live theater environment, that can’t be reproduced anywhere else.”

Aly Erario, 18, a senior at Oneonta High School, has been in Orpheus shows since she was 10. She played the lead role of Elsa in “Frozen” last year. In a climactic moment, she stood at the top of her ice castle. When the lights cut out, she yanked off her cape; by the time the spotlight returned, moments later, she had transformed from princess to queen.

Standing at the edge of the stage, the rest of the cast arrayed behind her, they sang “we’re never going back! The past is in the past!” And then the stage went dark.

That line now seems prophetic. Erario’s next three plays were called off. “Everyone talks about how great your senior year is, and how it’s the best year of your See THEATRE, Page B5

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

Summer Dreams B-5

Theatre experience suffered without crowds THEATRE/from Page B4 life. And you know, most of it was cancelled because of the pandemic,” she said. As things start to reopen, “honestly any social interaction that I can get, it’s amazing, because we’ve been in isolation for so long.”

Last month, Erario had a lead role in the OHS musical “Little Women.” Her parents watched it live — every cast member was allowed two guests — but the rest of the audience was virtual.

She said she’s grateful her final Orpheus show will have people watching. “It’s really nice when you have a live audience because you get the laughing and the cheering, just everything, even the littlest sounds like somebody’s bustling in their seat, you know, it’s just people being

there,” Erario said.

As the last actors left the building, many called out cheerful goodnights to the directors.

Doing theatre, Serafin said “is so much more than just putting up a show. I mean, you have to think about what are they experiencing, in school, in life and everything else. And so … you really want to make it a safe space, a home, if you will, for the children.”

“I was weeping through a lot of tonight’s rehearsal,” Serafin admitted. “Yeah, I cried on a Monday, and usually it takes me until performance until I really feel it. It means that this show is going to be amazing.”

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B-6 Summer Dreams

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Staff Picks

Our best bets for local dining

Delicious pasta, salad with salmon and a great view.

meal. Sit on a bench and soak up Larissa Ryan, Business Manager the beauty!

Lakefront Restaurant Hawkeye Bar and Grill Dine by the lake in style at the 60 Lake Street, Cooperstown Lakefront Restaurant. It’s a wonder607-544-2524 ful spot for lunch or evening dining, otesaga.com/dining/ and it has some great views of the the-hawkeye-bar-grill lake. How could it not, the name says it all. They offer a variety of seafood, including Greg Klein, Editor lobster and trout.

Cooper’s Barn However, I, being One place that something of a creaquickly gained a ture of habit, went sentimental place for a pasta dish. in my family was This time I chose Cooper’s Barn on the Chicken Breast State Route 28 in the Florentine Fettucini Spinach pasta, charwhich came with donnay creamed garlic town of Hartwick, a a side of seasonal with Wisconsin sharp mile or three south of Cooperstown. vegetables and was cheddar for sauce Locals may reserved with garlic made a filling meal at member this place bread. This fettucini the Lakefront. as The Penguin, but was made with spinthe one carryover is great ice cream. ach pasta and chardonnay creamed Two years ago, after the new ownergarlic sauce on top which made it ship rebranded the place, it seemed a bit tangy compared to an alfredo sauce but was absolutely delicious. I like a place to go for DreamsParkers. My would definitely have this again.

Lakefront Restaurant mom was pre-nurs10 Fair Street, Cooperstown ing home then and 607-547-8188 I would pick her up lakefrontcooperstown.com and take her and my son out to eat and they often wanted ice Tara Barnwell, Publisher cream, before, after, Hawkeye Bar and Grill, or sometimes instead Otesaga Resort Hotel of meals. I think this There is nothing quite like sitting on the patio at the Hawkeye Bar and was when my then 13-year old was in Grill at The Otesaga having a his, “I’ll just have delightful lunch overlooking the nachos” phase and lake. My go-to there is the my mom was in her Caesar salad with grilled salmon.

“I’ll just have a hot Not everyone knows how to cook dog” phase, so the salmon, but Chef Jim Perillo cerlimited menu worked tainly does. It’s moist and juicy and pairs well with the Caesar salad. I branched out a bit last week, and if you like pizza and mushrooms, you need to try the stone-fired thin crust 12" pizzas. The wild mushroom has tons of mushrooms, some peppers and pesto mascarpone. The combination will make you keep coming back!

Don’t forget to take a walk down to the lake after your

with their limited desires. We would sit around at the end of the extended summer days and watch the out-oftowners play corn hole. It seems like a simpler, happier time to me now.

Whatever else is on the menu, the star at Cooper’s Barn is the ice cream with what they call mix-ins, and they helpfully give you some sample mixes to make favorite combinations. I like the “I want s’more” option, which is a chocolate ice cream with graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate chip adds ins.

The apple pie, with apples, cinnamon and graham cracker is popular in my family as well.

Cooper’s Barn 4833 State Hwy 28, Cooperstown 607-282-4365 facebook.com/coopersbarnicecream/ Kevin Limiti, Reporter Indian Grill In Oneonta, the Indian Grill is right on Main Street and so convenient to everything. I

tried their Lamb Korma and it is top notch.

Unlike a lot of Indian curries, which tend to be spicy, korma is actually sweet and creamy, so if you tend to avoid Indian food because of the spices you might give this a try.

A lot of kormas tend to have raisins and nuts in them but this one didn’t, which I liked. When you mix the korma in with the rice, it makes for a very hearty meal.

The naan was also very good.

Usually you can judge an Indian restaurants quality on its naan alone and I think that they pass this test with full colors. It was cooked correctly and was nice and fluffy, as all naan should be. I highly recommend this place and would encourage everyone to try it out and help support this local business.

Indian Grill 214 Main St., Oneonta 607-433-6666 oneontaindiangrill.com

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

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Summer Dreams B-7

Local theatres reopening with shows all over Otsego

After a year of dark theatres and streaming plays, local theatre and music companies return to the stage.

Here is a list of upcoming performances: Orpheus Theatre: “Moana, Jr.” June 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., June 20 at 3 p.m. at Foothills Performing Arts Center, in Oneonta.

Go to www.orpheustheatre.org/moanajr for more information.

The Visionary: “Warriors”

►Thursday, June 17 MOBILE COACH – 1 - 7 p.m. Stop by mobile cancer screening coach for free mammograms, more for women over 40 with no insurance or underinsured.

At Damaschke Field, Neahwa Park in Oneonta. 1-888-3450225.

COMMERCE – 2 p.m.

Learn about the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce with chamber director Tara Burke.

Presented by the Cooperstown Senior Community Center, brick building behind St. Mary’s Church, 31 Elm St., Cooperstown. Go to coopseniorcenter@gmail.com.

BEAUTIFICATION – 6:30 p.m. Join the Richfield Springs Garden Club for program on the ‘Keep America Beautiful’ federal initiative. Members of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development district will discuss how the initiative will sponsor a garden in Otsego County. Trinity Christian Reformed Church, 187 East Main St. in Richfield Springs.

Call 607-547-2536.

NEW YORK HISTORY – 6:30 p.m. Learn about the Erie canal when it connected Buffalo to New York City in video ‘Where Did the Songs Go? The Musical Legacy of the Historic Erie Canal Part 2.’ Presented by the Arkell Museum, Canajoharie. Call 518-673-2314 ext. 113.

OUTDOOR CONCERT – 7 p.m. Enjoy folk/country/indierock songs performed by Ana Egge. Cost, $16/person. West

This experimental dance Musical Theatre Workshop.

Wednesdays, Thursdays and and music performance is This two week musical some Fridays at 7 p.m. one of a series of monthly theater camp is for children on Fenimore Art Museum’s shows at the collaborative ages 6 to 18. back lawn, Cooperstown. arts venue. In August, they July 5 to 18. Performances Go to www.shakewill perform an experimenJuly 16, 17 and 18. speareabridged.eventbrite. tal opera based on Ursula Go to www.orpheusthecom.

LeGuin’s anarchist sci-fi atre.org/register. novel The Dispossessed, Glimmerglass Festival: and an audience-interactive Glimmer Globe Theatre: Six different operas and comedy in September.

“The Complete Works musical theater shows perJuly 3, at 8 p.m. at The of William Shakespeare formed. The first two shows Visionary in Mount Vision. (abridged)” by Adam Long, are “Mozart’s The Magic Send calendar items info@allotsego.com Go to https://www.eventDaniel Singertoand Jess Win- Flute” and “To The World,” brite.com/e/warriors-tickets- field. This relentless farce a revue of popular musical 150987099479. combines all 37 of the bards theater hits. This summer plays (and sonnets!) into the opera is performing Orpheus Theatre: 100 minutes. outside, with tickets sold “Mary Poppins” Summer July 14 to Aug. 18: in blocks of four for social

A complete Guide to

what’s fun in OtsegO COunty _________

what’s fun in OtsegO COunty _________

Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Rd., East Meredith. Call 607-278-5454.

HOME GAME – 7 p.m.

Local baseball team Oneonta Outlaws vs Amsterdam Mohawks. At Damaschke Field in Oneonta. Call 607-432-6326.

WRITERS SALON – 7:30 p.m. Open mic followed by

by Marly Youmans, author of eight novels, two Southern fantasies, an adventure in blank verse, and four collections of poetry. Free, open to public. Presented through Zoom by the Community Arts Network of Oneonta. Call 607432-2070.

goggles. Meet at the Skate House, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. Call 607-441-3999.

FIRE PIT FRIDAYS – 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy a fun night around the fire with friends, drinks and music. This week infeatures OtsegO COunty The Beadle Brothers, performing today’s country music. Brewery Ommegang at 656 county Route 33 in Coo-

perstown. Call 607-280-2900.

THEATER – 7:30 p.m.

Orpheus Theatre’s Starstruck Players present Disney’s ‘Moana’ Jr. Admission, $10.

Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Call 607432-1800.

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►Friday, June 18 CHICKEN DINNER – 4:30-6 p.m. Enjoy a take-out Brooks chicken dinner including a half chicken, coleslaw, baked potato, and a roll. Cost is $12/dinner. Pre-orders by Wednesday encouraged. First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, 21 Elm St. in Cooperstown. Contact baptistcooperstown@gmail.com with name, number, quantity.

FIZZBALL – 7 to 10 p.m.

Join the Oneonta Teen Center and the Otsego Pride Alliance for the first Fizzball game of the season. Bring your own

what’s fun

►Saturday, June 19

distancing.

July 15 to Aug. 17, on the Glimmerglass lawn in Cooperstown. www.glimmerglass.org/ packages/ Catskill Puppet Theater: “The Villain’s Moustache.” This puppet show is a musical melodrama appropriate for children and adult audiences. Aug. 8, at West Kortwright Center in Delaware County.

Go to www.facebook. com/Catskill-Puppet-Theater-952504898118196/.

FETCHING BREWS – 8:30 a.m. Come support the Susquehanna Animal Shelter in 10k, 5k, and 0.5k run/ walks. Features pet parade with prizes, and age-appropriate drinks from the participating breweries. Begin at Brewery Ommegang, 656 county Route 33, Cooperstown. 607-547-8111.

BOOK COLLECTION – 10 a.m. to noon. Bring your gently used books for the Village Library book sale. This is the biggest fundraiser for the library. Drop off at side entrance at the Village Library, 22 Main St. in Cooperstown.

Kimberly Hawkey A delightfully fresh-voiced treat — Broadway.com

Saturday, June 26 Intro to Jazz Workshop 4 to 5 ~ No charge Cocktail hour ~ 6:30 pm Concert ~ 7:30 pm ~ $15 per person music fee Reservations are encouraged.

588 BeAveR MeAdoW RoAd, CoopeRstoWN 607-437-2862 | originscafe.org/events

B-8 Summer Dreams

Thursday, June 17, 2021