Townie: Let's hear it for the girls
Top picks March 6-13: Vigil for Nex, open mic, singer-songwriter supper club, book reading, comedy nights, raffle, beer pairing dinner, and more
Editor’s Letter
Ladies, this is our month.
We get 31 days to remember our history – like the 50 years when we had bodily autonomy, or when teachers in Missouri could support a student’s gender identity without risk of being put on a sex offender list, or when all we had to think about was making pies.
Ah, the good old days.
Women’s History Month is what it is. Recognizing women and featuring women is always a good thing, and March welcomes all to do so even more. When rounding up Townie picks this week, women-led events kept rising to the top—Oneonta got the memo.
This week features opportunities to support self-identifying women:
🩷 A group of friends is helping their female friend pay for cancer treatment by organizing a fundraiser at Autumn Cafe on Sunday, and collected donated goods and services from 30 area businesses.
🌷The Telegraph School in Cherry Valley is hosting a gathering for self-identifying women to release winter and make way for new life on Saturday.
Other top events feature additional performances, readings, and events led by women:
🎤 Singer-songwriter Khalil Jade is hustling. She’s featured in the B Side’s supper club show on Saturday and is hosting the first monthly open mic night at Muddy River on Thursday.
🎤 Comedian and Upstate native Jaye McBride is doing two shows in the area: Friday night at Foothills and Saturday night at the Bel in Stamford.
📚Author Taryn Grimes is offering a reading of her book, “Inappropriate Laughter,” at The Gatehouse on Saturday.
Women. Give them a chance. You won’t regret it.
Warmly,
Cassandra
Cassandra Miller is the editor of Townie, a publication of Culture Rally Communications. Connect with her at: 💌 townieny@gmail.com
Vigil for Nex Benedict
Wednesday, March 6, 5 p.m. | Muller Plaza, Oneonta
Otsego Pride Alliance is organizing a candlelight vigil for Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary student who was bullied for their gender identity (Nex used they/them and he/him pronouns) and died after an altercation with three female classmates in a high school girls’ bathroom in Oklahoma. OPA is one of our community’s gems and regularly organizes meaningful events like this. POST UPDATE: A helpful reader sent an email after this issue was published to explain the following: “Grouping ‘women and nonbinary people’ can be kind of harmful. Recently some of Nex's friends have shared he primarily used he/him pronouns in their friend group, in addition to using they/them pronouns. A lot of nonbinary people also identify as transmasculine and don't identify with womanhood at all. Being lumped in with women can cause gender dysphoria and distress.”
Open Mic with Khalil Jade
Thursday, March 7, 6 to 9 p.m. | Muddy River, Oneonta
Love to see Muddy River hosting events like monthly vinyl nights and community mixers. This week is the first monthly open mic with host and prolific singer-songwriter Khalil Jade. Performers are invited to share songs, poems, jokes, and stories during sets of 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the number of people who sign up.
‘Inappropriate Laughter’ Book Reading
Saturday, March 9, 1 p.m. | The Gatehouse, Morris
In this self-help memoir, Taryn Grimes — a writer, producer, and former Broadway, film, and television actress— finds the line between death and comedy unexpectedly blurred. After her mother’s passing Taryn, discovers her journal and gets lost in the tragic, humorous, and romantic stories of life during World War II. After reading from “Inappropriate Laugher,” the author will take questions and share a list of lessons learned and useful tools to lead those who may need guidance.
Red Tent: Releasing Winter
Saturday, March 9, 5:30 p.m. | The Telegraph School, Cherry Valley
Marzanna is the Slavic goddess of the inner world: winter, darkness, dreams, and death. She blankets the world with snow and gives us space to go deep inside to reflect, heal, and rest. During the Telegraph School’s monthly Red Tent potluck dinner and activity will be a ritual to release Marzanna back into the earth through fire and water and make way for new life. Red Tent events are open to all self-identified women to gather, share, celebrate, and mourn the rhythms of the life of a woman. Registration is encouraged at thetelegraphschool.org
Comedy Night at the Bel with Jaye McBride
Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m. | The Belvedere Inn, Stamford
The Bel has been keeping Stamford giggling this winter with its semi-regular comedy nights. This weekend’s features Jaye McBride (who will be headlining a show at Foothills on Friday), the first openly transgender comedian to perform at Madison Square Garden and a regular at New York City’s “Comedy Cellar." I recently saw her open for Amy Schumer and she killed. Get to the Bel early for delicious “Fancy Pants Grilled Cheese,” which will be available from 6 p.m. until sold out.
Writers Kitchen Supper Club w/ Chris Riffle, Liam Herbert, and Kahlil Jade
Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m. | B Side Ballroom, Oneonta
This new supper club concert series at B Side is brilliant. The format allows for more focused listening than a standard bar show and puts a premium on tables closer to the stage. This week features some of our area’s impressive and talented singer-songwriters: Chris Riffle, Liam Herbert, and Kahlil Jade. Chris is co-owner of The Gatehouse in Morris and regularly books live music and other events. Liam recently starred as Ja’Far in “Twisted” at Foothills. Kahlil is ramping up her performances along with hosting Muddy River’s monthly open mic. Tickets to the show start are $6-15.
Sip and Raffle Fundraiser for Cancer Treatment
Sunday, March 10, 4 to 7 p.m. | Autumn Cafe, Oneonta
Several community members have rallied together to support their friend who is undergoing cancer treatment that is not covered by her insurance. They have collected gift cards and other donations for a raffle from nearly 30 local businesses, including Dazzo’s, Muddy River, Windfall Jewelry, Underground Attic, Luxx Whitening Studio, Green Toad, Mohican Flowers, and dozens more. The suggested donation for food and wine is $10, and raffle tickets are $5.
A Night at the Oscars
Sunday, March 10, 6 p.m. | Foothills PAC, Oneonta
If I weren’t going to be out of town, I’d be zipping into a cocktail dress and going to this Oscars screening party at Foothills. Attendees get to get dressed up, walk a red carpet, have their picture taken, enjoy a themed signature cocktail, watch the 96th Academy Awards, and bet on the major categories. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $10.
Beer Pairing Dinner with Southern Tier Brewing
Monday, March 11, 6 p.m. | Autumn Cafe, Oneonta
Each ticket includes a welcome drink, a Southern Tier pint glass, and four courses paired with Southern Tier Brewery craft beers: an IPA, hazy IPA, Juice Jolt, blonde, and Irish cream stout. Chef Sean Wall and Chef de Cuisine/Owner Wayne Carrington have created a spring menu to complement the beers. Seating times are 6 p.m. or 6:15 p.m.
More to Explore
As always, there are SO MANY things happening in the area. Below are other events to check out this week. Know of an event? Email details to Townie at townieny@gmail.com.
Wintertide: Get to Know Your Neighbors
Thursday, March 7, 6 to 8 p.m. | Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury | Free
Beginner Scrapbooking Class
Thursday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. | Quality Inn, Oneonta | $10
Area Elementary School and High School Student Art Show Opening
Friday, March 8, 5 to 7 p.m. | Cooperstown Art Association | Free
‘The Addams Family Musical’ at Oneonta High School
March 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.; March 10 at 3 p.m. | Oneonta High School Auditorium
Omme-Heyyy! Ommegang’s Monthly Drag Show
Friday, March 8, 6 p.m. | Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown | $10
Stand-Up Comedy with North Country Comedy Tour w/ Jaye McBride, Mikael Gregg, and Dee Watson
Friday, March 8, 7 p.m. | Foothills PAC, Oneonta | $25
Dance Party on the Deck
Saturday, March 9, 3 to 7 p.m. | Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury
The Stoutmen Irish Quartet
Saturday, March 9, 6 p.m. | Oneonta Veterans Club, Oneonta | $20
The Ultrahumans
Saturday, March 9, 6 p.m. | Red Shed Ale House, Cherry Valley
The Nate Gross Band
Saturday, March 9, 7 p.m. | Jericho Arts Council, Bainbridge | $15
Jason Wicks Band
Saturday, March 9, 9 p.m. | Castle on the Delaware, Walton
Send your event to Townie
Know something great in the area? Send me a tip! Email me (Cassandra Miller) at townieny@gmail.com.
If you see any inaccuracies, email me the correction and I’ll update the website version of the post, even though the week’s newsletter is not emailed more than once.
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