After the Saranac brewery's fire disaster last Thursday the 29th. I was depressed. I was worried, I didn't know if my summer and favorite event of the summer would be canceled. I went to work and I talked to everyone but I could barely think of anything other than the brewery and the outcome of the fire. It wasn't until Friday night when I went down to Varick Street and spoke with some of the employees from the brewery that I felt relief. I had a million negative thoughts in my head. I was thinking this is the end of the brewery, kiss goodbye the moe. concerts, forget about a Saranac Thursday. It was then, my friend says "Jay we will be shipping kegs on Monday, We will be ready for Saranac Thursday this week, and there is no way we are canceling the summer concert series."

When I heard that I was so relieved, It was like a huge load had been lifted from my mind.

So knowing this I want to remind you that this week, June 5th 2008 is the second Saranac Thursday. Maybe its the first. since the first was canceled. Im happy it will be going on. Im happy that the summer fun isn't over. I don't really like the Bomb anyway. they think they are better than they are.

I think us Uticans have a great summer ahead of us and we should make the best out of it. Who cares if the beer tastes a little smokey.

The First Saranac Thursday was cancelled because the Brewery caught fire.

As people pulled up to party at Saranac Thursday, They noticed clouds of black smoke. The Brewery was on fire! Fire emergency units were there working to put out the blaze. Utica Police cleared Varick Street because of the toxic fumes/smoke blowing to the east from the fire.

It was a sad day. To see the brewery up in fire was shocking and it had upset lots of people. My friends and I went off and consoled each other at a bar and the only beer we drank was Utica Club, thinking it might be the last time I get to enjoy one.

With all the historic significance to the Utica area I pray that this isn't the end of the brewery. I have always supported the brewery and couldn't imagine the city with out it.

Most of you are at your job now. Sitting at your desks where work is waiting for you to do it, but the night is on your mind. You're thinking about your evening punch-out and what you're doing after work. Your mind is already at Saranac Thursday, your lips are wrapped around a Utica Club Beer and your eyes and ears are focused on enjoying the night with good friends.

You've waited all winter for this day. This day isn't all about the beer, or the music. It basically is the official day that summer begins! Its the day you start planning your summer camping trips and it's the day that you remember how much you love the outdoors. It is one of the first days that you are reminded how good the sun feels beating on your head.

Tonight is your night! I hope you all enjoy Saranac Thursday.

Yes, finally its here! After a what seems to be a never ending winter summer is going to land in Utica, NY. What a better way to kick off summer than Saranac Thursday. I'm pretty confident that if you're reading this than you are familiar with the event so I wont babble on with what its all about.

I will let you know that this first Saranac Thursday should be a good one. My weather report says us Saranac Thursday Party goers will experience a nice day with sun and tempiture in the mid 70's. The band that's playing is "The Bomb". Hopefully they can keep the party moving.

I will be there, so if i take your picture don't freak out just come and check it out on my blog. I might be limping though, my knee is a little wacked out.

I'll see you tomorrow at Saranac Thursday.

With the proven success from 10 years of success with Saranac Thursday Bands, the brewery has decided to offer a summer concert series. They actually started the concert series a few years back and brought in bands like Umphrees McGee and Dicky Betts. Those concerts were great and the Saranac Brewery has decided to get more bands to play and even began booking bigger named bands. Like moe., Blues Traveler and Rusted Root.

In 2008 the brewery has booked yet another bunch of bands for the Summer Concert Series and I think this is the year best yet. Check out the Concert Schedule Below.

Saranac Brewery Summer Concert Series

moe.
Friday June 13, 2008
Gates open 6 p.m., show starts 7 pm
Tickets to each show $26 in advance & $30 day of show. Get moe. tickets at either the Brewery Shop, Stanley Theater, Sound Garden or ticketmaster.com. www.moe.org

moe.
Saturday June 14, 2008
Gates open 6 p.m., show starts 7 pmmoe.
$26 in advance & $30 day of show. Get moe. tickets at either the Brewery Shop, Stanley Theater, Sound Garden or ticketmaster.com. www.moe.org

Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Friday July 18, 2008
Gates open 6 p.m., show starts 7 pm
Tickets are $22 in advance, $26 day of the show. Get Robert Randolph tickets at either the Brewery Shop, Stanley Theater, Sound Garden or ticketmaster.com. www.robertrandolph.net

Dark Star Orchestra (DSO)
Friday August 1, 2008
Gates open at 5:30 pm, show at 6:30 pm
Tickets are $22 in advance and $26 day of the show. Tickets are available at The Brewery Shop, Stanley Theater, Sound Garden & ticketmaster.com

2008 marks the 10 year anniversary for Saranac Thursdays. Thats right folks 10 years! That is quite an achievement. Usually things don't last 10 minutes here in Utica, NY to many fights, not enough support, or the businesses quits before it gets popular. I am happy this event became such a success. Enjoy it Utica, and lets make sure we keep it going!

Recent news has been a dark cloud hovering over summer fun for Saranac Thursday party goers. Officials are talking about raising the level of security at The Saranac Thursday parties held weekly at the Saranac Brewery. "They" are talking about limiting parking to available parking lots only, hand held video cameras and from what I gather a mobile air unit that can hover 30ft above the crowds to catch and zoom in on any situations that may occur.

Other than my fear of being caught drunk on camera by UPD, or being watched when unaware, I think that some of the actions may help. Emergency vehicles need access to bars if someone is in need or if a fight / riot might break out. The parking thing might end up causing issues though. If the city decides to close Varick Street and allow open containers... That would be fun for all, but I don't see that happening. I see the poeple who park on Varick getting tickets, and over crowded parking lots. For an event that averages 2000 people every Thursday I wonder if there are enough parking spots.

As you know I am a strong supporter of Saranac Thursday and I only hope that the heightened security will not spoil the fun, and it can make the event safer for all to attend.

May 29, 2008. Saranac Thursday has begun. Today is Friday, and half of Utica, NY and the Mohawk Valley is recovering from hangovers. It was a pretty good turn out for opening night of Saranac Thursday. The weather was.......?

The Bomb Played last night. The bomb is an OK party band but they didn't grab my attention like bands such as Sam Kininger or the Buhdda Hood did last year. The Bomb is a typicle cover band and definetly got the 45 year olds attendees riled up.

After Thursday night Brewery event, Varick Street was bumpin with lots of people heading to the after party at The Electric Company and all the other bars located in the brewery District. Even though there has been politicians talking about raising security at the event, I think most party goers were happy with everything minus maybe some of the parking availability.

Here are a few Pictures from Last nights events:

Finally, after weeks of searching and asking around, I got my hands on the schedule for bands at Saranac Thursday for 2008. Here it is.

2008 Saranac Thursday Line Up:

Thursday May 29 - The Bomb
Thursday June 5 - Under The Gun
Thursday June 12 - Gridley Paige
Thursday June 19 - Crazy Fools
Thursday June 26 - The Blarney Rebel Band
Thursday July 3 - The Reuben James
Thursday July 10 - Fulton Chain Gang
Thursday July 17 - The Morning After
Thursday July 24 - The Next
Thursday July 31 - The United Booty Foundation
Thursday August 7 - Dead Rose
Thursday August 14 - April Shroud
Thursday August 21 - The Retopolitans / Chokeslam
Thursday August 28 - Los Blancos
Thursday September 4 - Veil of Maya

Well most of you have either seen these bands at previous years Saranac Thursdays, or on the live music circuit in Central New York. This line-up has mostly decent bands and they should be worth the $5 admission to Saranac Thursday, after all in most cases people are there to drink and socialize, not pay close attention to the bands, they almost become background noise to your conversations in the court yard. I do notice that some people get quite involved in the music though and that is why they do it!

I have also seen that some of the bands on this list will be playing at some of the bars after to I didn't cross reference the dates yet, but you might find out you like a new band, and then get to seem them the following week at the Electric Company too. So check it out and get ready for Summer!

With Saranac Thursday season upon us, I have been digging around trying to find out who seems to have the best Parties lined up for after Saranac Thursday. Some people are just so busy scrambling to get things ready that I do not have a complete list to after party events to share with you. I don't even have a list of bands schedule to perform at the brewery yet. I hope they have a schedule, but I have been checking their website every day hoping it will be released.

I do however have a semi complete list of Bands that will be playing after the Saranac Thursday Block parties at the Electric Company on 700 Varick Street. (about a block away from FX Matts Brewery)

The Electric Companies Saranac Thursday After Party Performance Schedule:

• Thursday 6/5 - Dead Rose (rock) - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $2
• Thursday 6/12 - Reuben James - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $2
• Thursday 6/19 - Dave Hanlon’s Cookbook - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $5
• Thursday 6/26 - Zack Deputy - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $2
• Thursday 7/10 - The Retropolitians - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $2
• Thursday 7/17 - Crazy Fools - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $2
• Thursday 7/24 - Choke Slam w/ Brand New Sin - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $5
• Thursday 7/31 - The Goonies - Showtime: 8pm Cover: $3

This listing is pretty solid, and I think some of these bands will really leave you amazed. My favorite one of this List is Zack Deputy, He is a one man Band with an awesome Calypso sound, and it will be perfect for all the energy you are left with after the brewery shuts its gates.

As I mentioned above, I will post more as it unfolds but this is all I have at the moment for you Utica, NY party people.

Last night I went out to have a couple of Utica Clubs, and I got to talking to a couple of the bar owners who's places are the usual hot spots for a good Saranac Thursday after party. Even though it becomes some what of a hassle for them to manage the huge crowds, they seem to be excited about the up and coming spike in business.

I spoke with Zee from The Electric Company and he alerted me to all the great bands he has lined up for his Saranac Thursday After parties as well as the some of the bands he as selected to play after the Saranac Summer Concert Series. Lets just say this people... I was stoked! He didn't permit me to release his June schedule, because there were a few loose ends he needed to tie up but he did mention for the first Saranac Thusday he will have 2 bands playing (The Reissues & Brand New Joe) both bands are up and coming on the rock scene and will be worth the cover to see them play live on Varick Street.

There is also a new place planning to open up on Varick Street. I also talked to the owners of this bar or English Style Pub called Nail Creek Pub and Brewery. Christian Talgo and Tracy Smith told me they have been scrambling to get ready for the first Saranac Thursday, and reminded me that there is a lot of things to consider or get ready before they open their doors. Their intention is to be open for the first one though and hope everyone will like the new addition to Varick Street. I had a chance to pop my head in to the unfinished bar, and lets just say WOW! The have come a long way since they purchased the building. It's looking real good, and I'm excited to have a couple of their home made beers when its ready.

I haven't made it much further down the street, but did bump into a kid doing promotions for HolyRock this year, and he says they have their outdoor work of art set up for big parties to. Personally I haven't found the place to be to that cool of a bar yet, but it might be that the owner isn't from Utica and he's bringing in a bad New York City Vibe to the place. I went there a few time when they opened last year, bartenders were dickheads and other that the outdoor lounging areas nothing was to impressive. If he's smart he will try to follow after some of the better working models on Varick Street to make sure not to many other natives start to think like I do.

That is about it, I promise to keep you updated, so please check back again, I plan on posting the Saranac Thusday Line-Up as soon as its released, and even the Electric Company's line up for all of you live music lovers soon.

To the best of my knowledge this year is the first year ever that Saranac Thursday Starts in May. The official kick off date is May 29, 2008 I believe they always start at 5pm but usually don't get to make it there till around 5:30pm because that is when I get out of work.

Im excited to see the music line up and to see if the brewery will be doing any new things with Saranac Thursday this year. I went to their website (saranac.com), and they do not have a schedule up yet of who is playing and when, but I know the people who put this together so I'm sure you will enjoy it. Even if you don't, at least you can enjoy the beer, the people and the summer!


This year I'm going to do something different and unprecedented. Starting with the first Saranac Thursday going on this May, I am going to play the role of a critic, and I am going to write about the music, the crowd, the beer and all of the happenings for every Saranac Thursday from this point on.


Hopefully it will be fun, I plan to post pictures and get quotes from party goers, brewery employees and the traveling bands. We'll see how it pans out, but this is my goal.


I know there will be a few Thursdays when I will be out of town so hopefully I can get some trust worthy guest writers to fill in during my absence.


Why me? Your asking yourself why this guy, who is he? Why is he going to write about this, does he work for the brewery? Well heres why... No I do not and am not currently affiliated with the brewery, this is not for promotion of the brewery, Saranac Thursday, or Saranac Beer. Thats why I think you'll want to read it because it will be truthful, overbearing and ridiculous at times but I will do my best to remain honest to all that is said in this blog. Back to me, My name is Jay Sumner, a Utica NY native. I am also a brewery lover, and a Saranac Thursday Alumni, I have been going to them since it was a small scale thing, since they first created it. So I would like to assume that I am well informed as to where it started and what it has become.


Please, if you are interested subscribe to this blog, and read my Saranac Thursday Report, hopefully it will make you laugh and give you an opportunity to see something you might have missed during the nights events. Also check in for special Thursday night events and find out where the best places are to go party after the brewery closes their gates.