The Wine and Dine for the Arts Festival is a three day fundraiser that benefits not-for-profit arts in Albany, Mayor Jennings announced that the 4th annual celebration will be held at the Hotel Albany January 17-19, 2013. The weekend-long food and arts celebration markets the top restaurants, chefs, and cuisine from the Capital Region. The weekend also includes education for consumers on healthy, sustainable agriculture.
Beneficiaries of the event include The Albany Barn, The Albany Symphony Orchestra, Albany Center Gallery, The Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany Pro Musica, Capital Repertory Theatre, Irish American Heritage Museum, and Park Playhouse. The mix of art galleries, orchestras, museums, and theatres enrich the culture of Albany year round, many times working in tangent to provide a strong arts community for the Capital Region.
Over its three year existence Wine and Dine for the Arts has made a large impact on the local arts community donating $168,438 to the local arts facilities. Park Playhouse has been proof of the positive affect this event has had on its beneficiaries. Over the last several years Park Playhouse has struggled through a rough financial crisis. Help from the Wine and Dine Festival has helped the quality of life for the theatre immensely.
In 2011 Park Playhouse produced Mel Brooks’ The Producers to warm reviews and loving audiences. In what many called a return to classic Park Playhouse style, the summer stock was able to put on a professional quality production that exceeded expectations. The help from the food festival made an even larger impact in this past summer as the theatre truly came alive in the park with two great productions.
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| The Producers was possible due to help from Wine and Dine | |
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ended up breaking attendance records. None of this would have been possible without the unending help of Wine and Dine over the last few years. There’s no denying this is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the Wine and Dine committee. Want to help Park Playhouse and other arts facilities this year? Then purchase tickets to any of the weekend events to make an impact on the arts world while enjoying delicious meals.
Festivities will kick off on Thursday, January 17 with Mayor Jennings Opening celebration in the rotunda of City Hall. More than 50 chefs and 250 global wine, spirit, and craft beer companies will bring their top entrées and concoctions for the Grand Tasting on January 18. Friday festivities will also include the Slider Slam and VIP Reception and Book Signing with Celebrity Chef Suvir Saran.
Saturday, January 13 is filled with a slew of events to highlight the final day of festivities. The day kicks off with Barista Albany, a showdown between the top coffee shops from the area. Following the competition is a second helping of Grand Tasting, as well as the Adirondack Appliance Signature Chef Invitational in which 6 chefs compete for the a coveted spot on the 2014 Signature Chef team.
The weekend then winds down with the Wine and Dine for the Arts Gala where you can enjoy a six course culinary masterpiece themed “Medici’s Feast” prepared by 2013 festival signature chefs Yono Purnomo, Jamie Ortiz, Jim Rua, Dale Miller, Brian Molino, Mark Graham, Ric Orlando, AJ Jayapal, Jonathan Crean, and Dominique Brialy. The night will also feature wines from Empire Merchants North and both live and silent auctions.
Tickets for all events are on sale on the Albany Wine and Dine for the Arts website. Don’t miss out on these wonderful events to help the arts in Albany.
7 am-3pm
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Representing Korean Cuisine: Chef Jamie Ortiz, CEC Corporate Executive Chef, 677 Prime, Albany
Call the guys, grab a date, text
your friends and make plans to come to Downtown Albany for all the great upcoming
events. The month filled with fun happenings is headlined by the 8thBi-Annual Downtown Albany Restaurant Week, October 13-19, in which 14 of the
top eateries in the downtown area offer special menus for only $20.12. 
With more than 150 different entrée
choices alone one night may just not be enough! So come back and try different
restaurants during the week long culinary celebration. Throughout the week
different themed nights will be added to the restaurant week fun. 
Tuesday night, October 16 is Date
Night. Be the first of ten couples to show up at any of the participating
restaurants and receive a free rose. The following nights, October 17 & 18,
the BID will host Capital Ticket night, in which parties of four or more will
be offered a chance to win a $200 gift certificate to any Downtown business in
the Downtown Albany District. 
Ric Orlando, Chef/Restaurateur and 2x Food Network Chopped™ Champion, has
been preparing and promoting both global and local food for over 20
years. Orlando’s New World Home Cooking Co. is a Hudson Valley landmark
and the New World Bistro Bar in Albany, which he designed and manages, is a
repeat local ‘BEST OF’ winner. Orlando has cooked in the kitchens of
respected chefs Bob Kinkead, Jake Jabobus, and Emmett Fox, and developed his
unique culinary style at groundbreaking restaurants such as the Elm City Diner
in New Haven, (the original) Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Wild
Goose in Boston, and Sugar Reef in Manhattan.
Executive Chef
Mark Graham began his culinary development nearly three decades
ago in the greater Boston area as executive chef for the Seven Hills Egremont
Inn but refined his craft in Northern California, where he worked for well know
culinarians Bradley Ogden, Gary Danko and Wolfgang Puck. Chef Graham has
manned the kitchens at notable Capital Region eateries Chez Sophie, The Wine
Bar, and MezzaNotte. He was also an invited chef for the James Beard House
dinner. Graham is currently Executive Sous Chef at Max London’s in
Saratoga.
