What's Happening?
Successful second year for Porchfest
Music filled the streets around the historic GE Realty Plot for a second year, bringing neighbors and visitors together on the last weekend of summer.
"We learned so much last year where we could improve and tweak and it truly was a picture-perfect day," said Steve Weisse, one of the organizers of the event, who noted that The Schenectady Foundation's support is (pardon the pun) instrumental to the success.
For those who want to know what they missed music-wise, read this review by Michael Hochanadel.
Hochanadel provides more than a critique of the music in his reviews, which is probably why he wins so many awards for his writing. You'll also get a flavor of the day, and insight into some of the performers. Many are known to Schenectadians as they often perform locally. One newcomer is Angelina Valente, also an award-winning musician, who came down from a Queensbury gig to the Ardsley Road porch. 
Sometimes the grind of traveling for a musician can be wearing, as musicians can spend more time traveling to and from a performance than they do on a stage.
"Walking up the mum and pumpkin covered stairs to the porch I was playing on, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be," Valente said after her nearly hour-long set enthralled the crowd. "Porchfest this year was such a great reminder of why I do what I do. Attendees were so generous with their time and attention and I felt so lucky to be a part of it."
If all the world’s a stage, as Jaques says in “As You Like it,” then of course it’s no stretch to have musicians playing on front porches to the delight of their neighbors and any passersby.
Brian Patneaude has played any number of stages — including to sold-out crowds at this summer’s run of "Tina" at Proctors Theater — in his career. But Porchfest is unique.
"It's a very welcoming, very warm and comfortable setting," Patneaude said. "The crowd was receptive and the weather was perfect and it's a great way to spend a Saturday."
One aspect about Porchfest is shining a spotlight on a neighborhood and strengthening connections within it, which was Kaitlyn Fay's "favorite thing" about performing at the event.
"The accessibility to the neighborhood makes it possible for people to discover music and artists that they might not have heard otherwise," Fay said after her performance on a Stratford Road porch.
Other images captured on Saturday Sept. 21 below include:
One young fan's smile provides the stamp of approval for the second annual event.
Slightly older fans drew pictures while listening, a common practice among artists. 
The view of the audience from Kevin Carey's keyboard.
