Your Weekly Guide to What's Up in Downtown
September 16, 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.

Welcome back to the Y! The Schenectady branch is currently open Monday-Friday from 6 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. In addition to their state-of-the-art fitness center, they Y offers a variety of fitness classes and personal trainers. Check their website frequently for updated information.
  • Community Give Back Day | September 18, 12-4 p.m. | Join us for the free Community Give Back Day and enjoy snack packs, bags of groceries, health screenings, health & wellness information, hand sanitizer, information about colleges and student grants, resume building tips, school supplies, senior kits with information about health & wellness, mental health information, COVID-19 on-site vaccinations, COVID -19 testing, flu shots, seminars, and more.
Jazz on Jay
Thursdays, through Sept. 23 | 12-1:30 p.m. | Jay Street Marketplace

Free Concert Series every Thursday at the corner of Jay and State streets in Downtown Schenectady:
  • TODAY: Joshua Nelson
  • September 23: Awan Rashad Quartet

Come enjoy amazing jazz artists, then stick around for lunch or a bit of downtown shopping.
27th Schenectady Kids Arts Festival
September 25, 12-4 p.m. | Jay Street Around City Hall
(Rain Location: GE Theatre at Proctors)

The first-ever fall Schenectady Kids Arts Festival will offer everything from African dance to a zone of chalk art! Other highlights include dueling saxophones, the Elite Team from Dance Me School of Character Development, Alex Torres & his Latin Orchestra leading kids in percussion, and SO MUCH MORE. The artists and art-educators are excited to work with kids of all ages on making musical instruments and letting your imagination soar with the help of butterflies, puppets, sculpture and fantasy art bikes. MiSci's art activity is focused on the entire galaxy, so there really are no limits! Be sure to bring the entire family down to this FREE event.
Capital Region Chamber

Executive Mentorship Program | Deadline: October 8
  • The Capital Region Chamber’s Tech Valley Young Professionals Network is accepting mentor and mentee applications for the 2022 Executive Mentorship Program. Designed to connect ambitious young professionals with high-level business leaders to support each other's professional and personal development.
  • To learn more about this program, sign up for one of two complimentary webinars being held on September 17 and September 29.

The Downtown Buzz
Schenectady County Historical Society | 32 Washington Ave. | Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m.

Call for Volunteers | The Schenectady Rotary Club is seeking volunteers for cleanup days in Schenectady:
  • Sept. 25, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | COCOA House, 869 Stanley Street
  • Oct. 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Vale Park
  • Sign up for one or more shifts
  • Sept. 18, 9 a.m - 2 p.m | Order online in advance. Drive-through pickup is this Saturday at the Downtown Schenectady Broadway South Parking lot directly across from Hamilton St. In case of inclement weather, pickup will be in the Broadway Parking Garage
Schenectady Civic Playhouse | 12 S. Church Street | Sept. 18-19, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Appraisers Road Show | Do you have a treasure in your attic? Are you curious to know its history or value? A team of nationally and internationally recognized experts, including former Sotheby’s and Christie’s appraisers, will be on hand to help answer all your questions about your piece.
  • COVID protocols will be in place.

C.R.E.A.T.E Community Studio | 137 State Street
  • Art Classes | Using art to promote freedom of expression, personal growth, and community connection, C.R.E.A.T.E offers a variety of art classes both in persona and on line. There is something for everyone!

Canvas Corks & Forks | 402 Union Street
  • Painting Classes | Check out their upcoming painting classes. Fun for one, couples and groups!


151 Bar & Restaurant | 151 Lafayette Street
  • Pat Decker | Sept. 16, 7 p.m.
  • DJ Spaceo | Sept. 17, 7 p.m.

Centre Street Pub | 308 Union Street
  • Just Looking Band | Sept. 18, 7 p.m.

Frog Alley Brewing | 108 State Street
  • Sirsy | Sept. 17, 8 p.m.
  • Rhythm Pilots | Sept. 18, 9 p.m..
  • Wreckless Duo | Sept. 19, 3 p.m.
Jay St. Pub | 118 Jay Street
  • Live music on the weekend | check their Facebook page for information

Katie O'Byrne's | 121 Wall Street
  • Halfway to Saint Patrick’s Day Party | Sept. 18, 7 p.m.

  • Wide Awake | Sept. 17, 8 p.m.
  • Dashboard Anthem | Sept. 18, 8 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

September 17, 8 p.m.

September 18, 9 p.m.
400 State Street
Opens September 17
The Downtown Dish

This week's recipe celebrates apple picking season. We are taking a breakfast treat and turning it into bread!
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

  • Yoga Bliss outdoor yoga classes:
  • Fridays at 5:30 p.m. | Happy Hour Yoga
  • Sundays at 8:30 a.m. | Meditation & Healthy Bliss Yoga

  • 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