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Acoustic music in a 110-seat coffeehouse that opened in 1960. The venue enjoys a world-wide reputation for preserving and furthering American musical traditions. Its archives are held at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. The schedule features a mix of established career musicians and nationally touring emerging artists. Emerging artists presented by Caffe Lena have included Bob Dylan, EmmyLou Harris, Don McLean, Arlo Guthrie, Ani DiFranco, G. Love and Sawyer Fredericks. A complete performer list dating back to May 21, 1960 can be viewed on the venue's website. Hospitality for concert-goers includes desserts, light fare, local craft beer, wine, coffees and teas. The venue is operated as a non-profit organization.
Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Caffè Lena is one of the oldest continually running coffee houses in the United States. Founded in 1960 by William and Lena Spencer, it claims to be the oldest folk-oriented coffee house, in the U.S., featuring acoustic concerts and cultural events showcasing folk music, traditional music, and singer-songwriters of a wide range, including artist Bob Dylan, who performed for two consecutive nights at the cafè in 1961, a year prior to the release of his debut album.
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More than 5000 attendees flock to the city for the annual Flurry Festival, which features folk dance and music, including one of the largest contra dances in the U.S.
This museum is housed in an 1870 casino. It's not a must see for everyone, but if you are a history buff, and especially if you are from New York State or elsewhere in the region, it is very interesting to visit and a good value. A guided tour of the ground floor is included in your admission and adds a lot of context and value to your visit. Allow 2 hours or so to see the rooms; the artifacts from the casino and the grand hotels that served visitors to this town in its 19th-to-early 20th-century heyday before being torn down in the 1950s; information about some very notable citizens of Saratoga including the remarkable woman who founded the Daughters of the American Revolution, replete with documentation and their personal effects; and an exhibit about the Native tribes who inhabited the area. The staff are very happy to speak with visitors and share information, even at closing time.