The 518 Newsletter

Join our next dinner on Thursday, May 21, in Albany’s Warehouse District! https://the-518.dnnr.io/ Or click the link in our Instagram bio!

Americana/ble: The Big Group Show continues w/ 🌬️Belonging to the Air w/ Author Avery Irons Sunday, May 17th, 2026 2-4pm Join us as writer Avery Irons returns to Kiddie Pool to read to us from her debut novel, Belonging to the Air, just released this year. Open your heart with the story of honest "Bird" Bennett, a young, Black girl with a hunger to learn what lies beyond the walls she shares with her family in an Illinois freedman's town. As Bird comes of age, she reckons with domestic turbulence and what it means to fall in love. Rejecting a life of self-denial, she grows into herself in Harlem, before being called home again

@vegetableproject in #Albany hosted their 8th annual Evening in the Garden at the Albany School of Humanities (ASH). It was a wonderful time touring the beautiful vegetable garden the kids have worked so hard on. 🥕 🧄🫑 So many wonderful restaurants were on hand to dish out wonderful local food. My mom @allie_bs_cozy_kitchen was there! As were @cafecapriccioalbany , @albany.high.school Culinary Program, @caffe_italia_restaurant , @doveanddeeralbany , @emacksalbany , @friendly.pizza , @honestweightfoodcoop , @kismetgrill , @paesanspizza , @pearlsalbany , @ruby_city875 , and Curry House. 😋 ✨️Special shoutout to the event photographer @almartphotography /@arou.ndtownwithamymodesti 📸 #AroundAlbany #518Foodies #AlbanyNY @iloveny @capitalsaratoga @discoveralbany @albanylocalnews @mayordorceyapplyrs @albanycommoncouncil @ginniefarrell @albanywater518 @parkalbany @albanynyevents @albanydotcom @sueb.fun @food_figured @518foodlover @food_and_hart @readthe518 @everything_in_the_518 @tastes.of.cuba @toc__media @518platesandplaces @518forfree @oasis_promotions_518 @itswhoanellie @ilianajasmine @michellahand

Great afternoon discussing art and civic culture at Americana/ble. More than 20 artists displayed work and Avery Irons read from her new book, “Belonging to the Air.” Thanks to Karley and Phat for creating “a melting pot of contemporary art & thought, right here in our corner of Upstate New York.” #albanyartists #civicengagement #morearteverywhere #belongingtotheair @averyironsink

@civitellos_italian_bakery is a gem of #Schenectady's Little Italy. An important gathering place to grab a lunch of a sandwich, soup, and salad; grab a tomato pie for dinner with the family; and enjoy the amazing desserts at any time of day. A cannoli waits for no alarm clock. 📍Civitello's is located at 42 N. Jay St. Open from 9am-5pm Tue-Sat, 10am-2pm Sun, closed Mon. #AroundSchenectady #518Foodies @iloveny @capitalsaratoga @discover_schdy @schenectadycounty @schenectadeats @schenectadymetroplex @schenectadyny518 @sueb.fun @food_figured @readthe518 @everything_in_the_518 @tastes.of.cuba @toc__media @food_and_hart @518foodlover @povfoo_d @simplyzakkai @thedailybrewreview @oasis_promotions_518 @almartphotography @arou.ndtownwithamymodesti @518platesandplaces @itswhoanellie @feedme518 @bonvivantphotographe @connect_with_coco @the.cococrumble @518forfree @518toast @thegreat_518

📻 Tune in for a lunchtime chat about the value of artistic labor in times of trouble and what it means to be an American now. ⭐️ Americana/ble Artist Panel Discussion Thursday, May 21, 2026 12—1pm followed by Q & A Zoom 🔗 in Bio: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89965642974 Moderated by Karley Sullivan @kiddie_pool_art @readthe518 with participating artists: Judith Braun @judithannbraun · Tesora Garcia @tesoragarcia · Alex Gingrow @alexgingrow · Danny Goodwin @dannygoodwinstudio · Katie Chin @katie.chin.and · Jillian McDonald @jillianmmcdonald · Michael Scoggins @michaelscogginsart · Couragee Stone @couragee.exe

🌿✨ It’s showtime! Less than 3 hours until the Annual Thacher Native Plant Sale — the best plant sale of the season! ✨🌿 This year’s theme: 🌎 Grow Biodiversity to Build Climate Resilience 🌎 Shop 3,000+ beautiful native flowers, trees & shrubs that help pollinators thrive and support healthier local ecosystems 🐝🦋🌱 What’s new this year: 🎟️ Staggered entry for a smoother shopping experience — numbered tickets available starting at 9:30am. Sale starts at 10am. 📱 Use our NEW web app to browse plants while you wait in line! You can also tap your phone on plant signs throughout the sale to explore plant specs, growing habits, planting tips, companion plants & more — and save favorite natives under “My Plants” in the app. Link in bio. 🔗 /plant-care-signs/wildones/index.html 🚚 Plated Palette Food Truck serving delicious bites while you shop & stroll 🌿 Incredible regional growers including Native Plant Trust, SUNY Cobleskill, Keystone Wildflowers & Saratoga Tree Nursery Best of all? Affordable, straight native species that have grown in our region for centuries 💚 Full plant list + sale detail links in bio: 🔗 /thacher-plant-sale/ 🔗 Native Plants for 2026 Sale - Wild Ones Capital Region NY Chapter Posting photos or videos? Tag @wildonescapitalregionny and use #ThacherNativePlantSale ✨ #GrowNative #LessLawnMoreLife #WildOnesCR #wildonesnativeplants

@upstate_halal_bros is a perfect gem in #ScotiaNY and I enjoyed a lovely lunch date with the amazing @oasis_promotions_518 . We ate delicious food and she let me get a slice of cake for dessert because she said "you're a good gnome and a cutie". 😊 🍰 📍Upstate Halal Bros is located at 102 Mohawk Ave (route 5) at the corner with route 50. Parking is around back on John St. Open 10am-11pm Mo-Th, until 1am Fr & Sa, and 11am-11pm Su. #AroundSchenectady #518Foodies #GlenvilleNY #SchenectadyCounty @iloveny @capitalsaratoga @discover_schdy @schenectadycounty @gotoscotia @sueb.fun @schenectadeats @food_figured @food_and_hart @simplyzakkai @readthe518 @everything_in_the_518 @tastes.of.cuba @toc__media @518foodlover @518platesandplaces @518forfree @feedme518 @itswhoanellie @bonvivantphotographe @povfoo_d @almartphotography @arou.ndtownwithamymodesti @tumbleweedsocial @michellahand

UPDATE: Congrats to @ashleightlh for winning our ticket giveaway! 🍏 TICKET GIVEAWAY 🍏 @ninepincider ’s 2nd annual Wild Cider Cup is SUNDAY, MAY 17, 12-3PM. Enter to win a chance at 2 tickets to this tasting event! - Follow @ninepin_tastingroom & @readthe518 - Tag someone who would love to go this event with you! Hurry—we will select and announce the winner by 3 pm this Friday, May 15th! The wild cider blind taste-test competition will feature five local land conservancies who each harvested wild apples from their lands in Fall 2025, and we made unique ciders from them. On Sunday, we get to taste the results, with a portion of the proceeds from each cider going to support the land that made it possible. 🌳 Your ticket includes a commemorative tasting glass and 4oz. samples of all five ciders. 🙌 Taste blind, rank your favorites, and help decide which conservancy earns an additional donation. Must be 21+ Thank you to all our participating conservancies 💚🍏 @columbialand @saratogaplan @hudsontaconiclands @shakerheritagesociety @agstewardshipassociation #wildcidercup #AlbanyNY #landconservancy #nycider

Have a killer time with our TOP FIVE WEEKEND!! Including: ⭐️🎨 Painting the Night at Quackenbush Square celebrates the fresh murals changing the game in downtown Albany. Watch live mural painting, roaming circus acts, and fire dancers. Albany Center Gallery and Albany Barn will be hosting popups, and DJ King Bully will be laying down the beats. @albanycentergallery @albanybarn ⭐️💀The Nightmare Market, the Capital Region’s best night market, takes over Jay Street in Schenectady. Expect 70+ alternative vendors, oddities, food trucks, themed beverages, tarot readers, live music and more. @nightmaremarketny ⭐️🎸Sing in the Streets returns to downtown Saratoga for a musical extravaganza with 23 acts across 10 stages, spanning folk, blues, jazz, country, and soul. @caffelena ⭐️🥙 The Albany Greek Festival at St. Sophia is always a delicious affair. Expect favorites like gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, moussaka, and all kinds of honey-soaked baked goods. @stsophiaalb ⭐️🍺 The Tap New York Craft Brew Festival moves to Blackthorne Resort in East Durham. With over 100,000 people attending, the two-day event is one of the largest craft brew festivals in the country. @nytapfest

@catostudios_events is #Albany's premier Latin dance studio! My bestie @leocato_kingofelegancia is a world famous dancer and teacher. He has now brought his style and elegance home to Albany. 🕺 💃 I was honored to attend a ribbon cutting as an ambassador of the @capregchamber . We had lots of fun and the space is so elegant and high-class. 🎀 ✂️ 📍Cato Studios & Events is located at 24 Aviation Rd in #Colonie, below my besties at @ayzoridgedesign . Open 9am-7pm M-F, 10am-2pm Sa & Su. #AroundAlbany #AlbanyCounty @iloveny @capitalsaratoga @discoveralbany @albanylocalnews @coloniechamber @growcolonie @sueb.fun @food_figured @food_and_hart @518foodlover @mjwxxo @simplyzakkai @readthe518 @everything_in_the_518 @tastes.of.cuba @toc__media @ilianajasmine @bonvivantphotographe @518platesandplaces @518forfree @ncphoto.518 @nusserphotography @samanthabaileyphotos @almartphotography @arou.ndtownwithamymodesti @bethany.autumn.arts.llc @michellahand

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