Your Weekly Guide to What's Up in Downtown
October 14, 2021
Rediscover Downtown Schenectady

Downtown Schenectady is open for business! Now, more than ever before, it's vital to support our local retailers, restaurants, and services. Each week, we are featuring a different business to keep you connected with all that Downtown Schenectady has to offer.

Patricia's Room Antiques | 162 Jay Street
  • Specializing in vintage looks from Early American through Mid-Century Modern living, dining, and bedroom furniture, as well as decorative accents. If you are looking for unique and/or unusual merchandise, look no further than Patricia's Room in Downtown Schenectady!

The Downtown Buzz
The Nest | 512 State St. | Oct. 16, 4:45 p.m.
  • The Nest is turning one! Join the celebration of their one-year anniversary with special menus, live music, a photo booth, and more.
  • Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling 518-672-3018.

Karen B. Johnson Central Library | 99 Clinton St. | McChesney Room | Oct. 19, 6 p.m.

Call for Volunteers | The Schenectady Rotary Club is seeking volunteers for the following clean-up day:
  • Oct. 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Vale Park
  • Sign up

  • Art Classes | C.R.E.A.T.E offers a variety of art classes both in person and online. There is something for everyone!

The Makeup Curio | 137 State St. (C.R.E.A.T.E Community Studios) | Oct. 23, 10 a.m.- 5p.m.
  • SFX Makeup Intensive Course | Transform into a zombie with techniques such as cuts and bruises, hair creation, bald capping and prosthetic application. Certificate of completion provided at the end of day.
  • Register
Schenectady County Historical Society | 32 Washington Ave. | Wednesday-Saturday, Beginning October 14
  • Candlelight Tours are back! Explore the historic Stockade after dark and discover the neighborhood’s most blood-curdling ghost stories. Choose either the “Colonial Hauntings” or “Ghostly Victorian” tour.
  • Advance Tickets Required

The 8th Step | 432 State St. | Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
  • Tom Rush | Live at Proctors GE Theatre. The folk legend is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. 

Mexican Radio | 325 State St. | Sun., 12-3 p.m.
  • Sundays on the 2nd Floor | Come explore an in-house open tag-sale market. Discover a unique variety of items for sale every week, ranging from dishware to books to artwork.
  • Special Charity Auction and Raffle items available as well. Charitable contribution items for the month of October will be for animal welfare groups. 

miSci | 15 Nott Terrace Heights
  • Mark your calendar for the new exhibits coming to miSci this fall & winter.
  • The new Little Edisons program is for kids ages 3 to 5. It’s a fun way to nurture the curiosity of pint-sized future engineers, chemists, and inventors. Sessions are 45 minutes long and feature hands-on activities.
YWCA NorthEastern New York
44 Washington Avenue

YWCA NorthEastern New York is proud to host Domestic Violence Awareness Month community events. During this month, the YW is asking the community to get involved and be advocates for the victims and survivors of domestic violence. This year will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual events:

  • October 19, 12-1 p.m. | Virtual panel discussion. Service providers will give an intimate glimpse into a day in the life of a DV services provider.
  • October 21, 5:30 p.m. | Annual Take Back the Night March. The night will begin with a brief program, followed by a passionate take-to-the-streets march. 
Capital Region Chamber

October 20, 5:30-8 p.m. | Rivers Casino & Resort
The Chamber of Schenectady County, an affiliate of the Capital Region Chamber, will honor the following businesses and individuals located in Schenectady County:


Registration closes soon! Come show your support for Schenectady's businesses. | Register online
151 Bar & Restaurant | 151 Lafayette Street
  • Steve Candlen | Oct. 14, 7 p.m.
  • Cougar Candy | Oct. 15, 7 p.m.

Centre St. Pub | 308 Union St.
  • The Dude Abides | Oct. 15, 7 p.m.
  • Walrus | Oct. 16, 7 p.m.

Frog Alley Brewing | 108 State Street
  • SEAT Center Fundraiser | Oct. 14, 4 p.m.
  • Melissa Sgambelluri Trio | Oct. 14, 6 p.m.
  • Nite Train | Oct.15, 8 p.m.
  • Whiskey Creek | Oct. 16, 9 p.m.
  • Sunday Funday | October 17, 12 p.m.
Jay St. Pub | 118 Jay Street
  • Fall Fest Block Party | Oct. 16, 1 p.m. | Get your tickets now. Bands featuring Vinny Michaels Band, The E- Block & The Ill Funk Ensemble

Katie O'Byrne's | 121 Wall Street
  • Jenna Sue | Oct. 15, 7 p.m.
  • Steve Cowles | Oct. 16, 7 p.m.

  • Dashboard Anthem | Oct. 15, 8 p.m.
  • Ten Most Wanted | Oct. 16, 9 p.m.
Passport Parking is a mobile app that offers contactless payment for on-street parking and parking lots in Downtown Schenectady.

Download the app (Android, iPhone) and enjoy the convenience of paying for parking via your smartphone.
The CDPHP Cycle! bike share program is celebrating its 5th season of pedaling with more bikes, new locations and more fun for residents of Schenectady and other Capital Region locations.

Download the CDPHP Cycle! app: Google Play | Apple Store
10 North Jay Street

October 15, 8 p.m.
October 16, 8 p.m.
October 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
A rare opportunity to train with world-class celebrity actor and teacher Dion Flynn, along with Mopco's own Kat Koppett.
400 State Street
Opens October 15
The Downtown Dish

This week's recipe is a creamy, delicious vegan recipe with the perfect amount of Indian spice. Prepare it in the morning and come home to dinner!

Thanks for Choosing Downtown Schenectady!

Downtown Schenectady is proud to host a growing number of groups for conferences, TV & movie productions, technical theatre rehearsals, and more. The DSIC and Discover Schenectady are happy to recognize and thank these groups for choosing Schenectady as their host city!
Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Outdoors Around City Hall

Fresh local produce and artisan goods in a festive community atmosphere with 80+ vendors. Complimentary CDTA trolley runs 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Map & Information

Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Outdoors Around City Hall

Fresh locally-produced fruits and vegetables, natural eggs, herbs, baked goods, flowers & plants, crafts and more.
Health & Wellness in Downtown

  • Bike or walk this paved shared-use path connecting Albany and Schenectady counties, including an on-street segment through the heart of Downtown Schenectady. Click here for a PDF map of the Cohoes to Rotterdam Junction section of the trail.

  • Learn about Schenectady's historic neighborhood dating to 1661. The audio narrative is activated as you cross into nearby GPS zones and then guides you around the streets to points of interest.
2021 Hometown Heroes Banner Program

The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. and the City of Schenectady are celebrating the 7th season of our Hometown Heroes program with 53 new banners and dozens more from previous years displayed on light poles in Downtown Schenectady through Veterans Day.


Congratulations and thank you to all of our honorees, their families and our sponsors, including Hometown Heroes major sponsor SEFCU.
Browse a Map of Downtown Schenectady Businesses
Catch Up on Downtown Schenectady News
Contact the DSIC
Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation | Website