GEARING UP FOR AWARD NIGHT Downtown Troy BID to host its seventh annual Party and Sammy Awards next week
TROY, N.Y. >> The Downtown Troy Business Improvement District will host its seventh annual Party and Sammy Awards at a new date and place with a Mardi Gras theme.
Community members are invited to network, dance, and celebrate downtown Troy on the evening of Monday, Feb. 25 at Revolution Hall, located at 425 River St. in Troy. Doors will open at 5 p.m. followed by the Sammy Awards presentation at 6 p.m. and networking and light fare beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Business owners, city officials, and other attendees are expected to enjoy live music from Bryan Brundige and the Piggly Wigglies, join in on a Lindy Hop performance led by Dorothy Boice & Friends of The Troy Dance Factory and enjoy Mardi Gras-inspired tapas and libations. Festive attire, including masks and beads, are encouraged.
“With [our] previous annual dinner taking place during the beginning of the holiday season, we look forward to a newdate where attendees are more relaxed and ready to enjoy Mardi Gras,” said Katie Hammon, executive director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District, in a news release. “The Annual Party is a fun, engaging way to meet your downtown neighbors and those that love Troy. We cannot wait to celebrate with you.”
This year, the Downtown Troy BID Sammy Awards (named after Uncle Sam) celebrates Bard & Baker as “New Business of the Year.”
Owned and operated by Charlotte Guyton, Bard &
Baker opened in October 2018. It is the Capital District’s first board game café, featuring more than 400 titles and encouraging their guests to unplug and play. Guyton is classically trained in hospitality, studying at Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks, and has managed food and beverage establishments for the past 10 years.
Additionally, Rensselaer County and City of Troy historian Kathy T. Sheehan, and curator at The Rensselaer County Historical Society Stacy Pomeroy Draper, both be will be awarded the Sammy Spirit Award.
Sheehan is the registrar and volunteer coordinator for the Rensselaer
County Historical Society and serves as a Rensselaer County and Troy City Historian. Officials noted how she has educated the community through her infinite research and knowledge and management of the extensive archives and library at the Historical Society. She shares enthusiastically the county’s impressive history with public programs and walking tours, through local outlets and partnerships. Sheehan has been interviewed by PBS, WMHT, The History Chan- nel, C-SPAN, to name a few. She invites new audiences to experience the stories of the past and engage in the history of those that came before.
As curator of the Rensselaer County Historical Society, Pomeroy Draper, has organized, interpreted, and created exhibitions and programming since 1978, according to the release. Officials said she has overseen grant-funded projects related to collection care and the renovation of the Carr and Hart- Cluett buildings. She is interested in engaging visitors to learn about the histories both in and out of the spaces of the historical society. She is the coauthor of The Marble House In Second Street, Biography of a Townhouse and Occupants, 1825 - 2000, and shares her immense knowledge with new generations to come.
“The upcoming party celebrates not only Mardi Gras, but the start of an amazing year to come for Downtown Troy,” the release from the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District said. “A valuable asset to the Capital Region for shopping, dining, and exploring, Downtown Troy continues to expand. It is a vibrant city where individuals are able to see their vision grow, support their neighbors and give back to their community. Diverse businesses open their doors and more established ones have expanded. This is evidence of what Troy offers not only for the businesses themselves but for consumers, which return and invest into Downtown.”
Those interested in attending can purchase tickets online at Downtown- Troy.org/annual- dinner for $40 each.
Sponsorship packages and honorary committee tickets are still available starting at $200.
Officials said the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District cultivates and advocates the economic growth of downtown Troy by aiming to create an inviting, dynamic, and sustainable community that celebrates the city’s history while building towards its future. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life within the district to further enhance and make our community a vibrant, attractive destination for visitors, businesses, residents, property owners, the daily workforce and students.
More information about Downtown Troy is available online at DowntownTroy.org.