15th year Blueberry Festival for community spirit

July 26, 2014

I love summer in upstate NY, it's a time as a subway performer when I look forward to the many "above ground" performances and volunteering work that I do. And this weekend it's the 15th annual Blueberry Festival held on the grounds of Old Austerlitz Village, in Austerlitz, NY. The Blueberry Festival helps to fund the amazing relocation and restoration of the many gorgeous 19th Century homes found on the site. Crafters and Artisans set up booths to showcase and sell their wares in many of the 19th Century traditions. Spinners spin, Pottery and Brooms, rugs and looms, petting Zoo for the kids young and old. And lots of entertainment.

Since 2003 I have been the entertainment coordinator, sound reinforcement company, engineer, MC and basic all around grunt to ensure the entertainment is non stop and well...entertaining! I also will be performing at 1pm

here's a clip I created from 2012 to get you in the Summer Blueberry mood.

The annual Blueberry Festival is held the last Sunday of July since 1999 and starts at 9am with Blueberry Pancakes-using local ingredients, real butter, milk and maple syrup. Proceeds go to support the mission to present our community's rich history through preservation and education.

My friend Cindy noted that the event is rain or shine and over the years we've had plenty of both. She wrote "There are so many things to do in case of rain! Pancakes, gift shop, music, other activities under the tents. Maybe suggest umbrellas and raincoats--I like the motto of the Adirondack Mountain Club--"There is no bad weather, only bad equipment--that could be modified-- into something that suggests comfort and fun in the rain with your wellies and mackinaws. Bring your boat. Nice thing to do in the rain."

Summertime Blues + Berries

July 22, 2013

And this weekend it's the 14th annual Blueberry Festival held on the grounds of Old Austerlitz Village, in Austerlitz, NY. The Blueberry Festival helps to fund the amazing relocation and restoration of the many gorgeous 19th Century homes found on the site. Crafters and Artisans set up booths to showcase and sell their wares in many of the 19th Century traditions. Spinners spin, Pottery and Brooms, rugs and looms, petting Zoo for the kids young and old. and lots of entertainment.

For 7 years I have been the entertainment coordinator, sound reinforcement company, engineer, MC and basic all around grunt to ensure the entertainment is non stop and well entertaining!

Here' a clip I created from last years event. Featuring Ampersand, Andrea Nussinow + Blue Star Farms, Berkshire Ramblers, Bluebottle Jug Band, Cathy Grier (I actually sing to a dancing barn owl), Gary Green + The Big Caboose, Hudson Buskers, Moonshine Holler, Roger The Jester, Trish Marki's Birds of Prey, Wildlife Institute of Eastern NY.

The annual Blueberry Festival is held the last Sunday of July since 1999 9am-4pm with Blueberry Pancakes-using local ingredients, real butter, milk and maple syrup. Proceeds go to support the mission to present our community's rich history through preservation and education.

Summertime Blue-berries

July 27, 2012

I love summer, it's a time as a subway performer I wonder when I'll make the decision to stop performing (too Hot). I look forward to the many "above ground" performances and volunteering work that I do in the summer time. A private party in Woodstock-check, Singing at a family reunion and jamming-check, preparing for a Joe's Pub concert August 8th @ 7pm-check, excited about singing my song Comin' Back To Me with amazing Helga Davis and her band at Celebrate Brooklyn Aug 2nd-check

And this weekend it's the 13th annual Blueberry Festival held on the grounds of Old Austerlitz Village, in Austerlitz, NY. The Blueberry Festival helps to fund the amazing relocation and restoration of the many gorgeous 19th Century homes found on the site. Crafters and Artisans set up booths to showcase and sell their wares in many of the 19th Century traditions. Spinners spin, Pottery and Brooms, rugs and looms, petting Zoo for the kids young and old. and lots of entertainment.

For 6 years I have been the entertainment coordinator, sound reinforcement company, engineer, MC and basic all around grunt to ensure the entertainment is non stop and well entertaining!

Here' a clip I created from last years event.

The annual Blueberry Festival is held the last Sunday of July since 1999 and start at 9am with Blueberry Pancakes-using local ingredients, real butter, milk and maple syrup. Proceeds go to support the mission to present our community's rich history through preservation and education.

Community, connection and history

November 13, 2010

Tonight NYCSubwayGirl will come above ground for the New York Junior League's annual benefit held at Sotheby's.

One afternoon in the subway, I chatted with a member of the organization. I had heard about the Junior League but didn't know anything about what it did or stood for. I was excited to learn of their signature project 'The Playground Improvement Project' to restore NYC playgrounds, and this year will be their 20th restoration. A worthy cause. I was asked to participate in the live auction package which will include an evening of NYCSubwayGirl Cathy Grier performing: An original concert, a cocktail party with cabaret and French inspired songs, a Blues concert? A folky sing-along? A lullaby to the kids? Winner gets to choose.

NYCSubwayGirl is committed to helping out organizations that serve the community. For example, last week I performed to benefit Columbia County Habitat For Humanity to help raise needed funds to complete their 11th building in Hudson NY.

Next week I'm performing with Laurie Anderson and Joy Askew to benefit Art For Animals, an organization dedicated to not only educating children about animals, but also providing well needed medical funds to animal shelters.

Some background:

NYCSubwayGirl evolved after I was featured on the cover of AMNY one morning. Commuters rushing past as I perform may not catch my name so I thought of keywords used in searching the internet and NYCSubwayGirl was born. That's a good marketing reason, but on a more personal level, NYCSubwayGirl is a way to participate in the underground fabric of sound and be a presence in the urban environment. NYCSubwayGirl is also the part of me that loves connecting with people and seeing the powerful influence music has on all of us, whatever the genre or style. It's the sense of community I feel while performing in public spaces that really gave me the impetus to create NYCSubwayGirl.

I love singing under the elegant ceilings of Grand Central Station that captures my voice as if in a cathedral. And when I sing on the platform at Astor Place, the acoustics capture a edgier effect. Performing against the backdrop of a gorgeous mosaics wall in Times Square as multiple subway lines converge is a poetic dance of people, art, music and sounds. These places have one thing in common; the life force of this amazing city and the people who live and travel here. And of course when I get a chance to come above ground for a concert, club or benefit performance, I'm thrilled.

People often ask if I'm from New York. I was born upstate in Ogdensburg where my father was a civil engineer who helped build the bridges across the Saint Lawrence River. He also worked on the Harlem-Broadway Bridge. Three of my grandparents were born and raised here too (my mother's father arrived from Antigua in the late 1920's). One great grandfather played the piano to silent films in NYC movie houses and another worked in the garment district. When I was 20 I performed my first NYC club date at Folk City. I have been living in NYC since 1996, when I returned after living in France for many years. I love my NYC history.