A STUDENT THESIS GONE WILD GIVESTHE CAFFE LENA COMMUNITY AGIFT—ITS OWN HISTORYBy Miriam Axel-Lute

JOCELYN AREM FIRST CAME UP THEprecipitous, well-worn stairs of SaratogaSprings’ Caffe Lena in her early years atSkidmore, about five years ago. She proba-bly wasn’t thinking about how the café’s col-lection of small round tables and well-lovedchairs that don’t seem like they would seat80 but do had been there since 1960, or whythe café had managed to survive the death ofits founder, Lena Spencer, or what it meantthat there were still people in town whothought of it as “that beatnik place.” Thecouple of historical tidbits that many peopleknow—that the venue offered Bob Dylan hisfirst show on his first tour (he wasn’t wellreceived), or that “American Pie” was firstperformed there—may have run throughher head. But probably not.

A songwriter, she was more likely think-ing of the songs she was about to play at theopen-mic night. But those questions, anddozens more about the history of the café,have rarely been far from her mind for thepast three years. Arem, as so many otheryoung musicians and music lovers have,

quickly fell in love with the café as a place toexperience and learn about music thatstruck a deeper chord than what she’d beenhearing on the radio.

She eventually blended this love with herlove for history into a self-directed major inethnomusicology, with a thesis on the histo-ry of Caffe Lena. “I basically structured myentire program around Caffe Lena,” shejokes.

Torey Adler, who has been a professionalmusician for many years now, also foundthe café during his time at Skidmore, start-ing around 1991. He says it opened his eyesto “a whole music industry the music indus-try ignores,” and honors a set of values thatare not common in the world at large, espe-cially open-mindedness and acceptance.“The open mic here is weird,” he adds. “Noone gets heckled. No one gets talked through.People may be up there who don’t reallyknow how to tune a guitar. . . . They may be13 and can’t really sing on pitch, but theydon’t get talked through.”

George Ward, a regional folklorist andmusician who first came to Caffe Lena in fallof 1960, a few months after he graduatedfrom college, is a little quieter, but no lessenthusiastic about the value of the café. Hiskids grew up around the café. (There’s a pic-ture in the exhibit of one of his sons at a veryyoung age, playing guitar with Dave VanRonk. “It was totally unscripted,” recalls

Ward.) He was among the people “of whomthere was a small horde” who converged onthe café when city code officials shut theplace down in 1968 (“officially for code vio-lations, unofficially because somebody incity government had it in for Lena”), andremoved the bricked-in wood stove andinstalled a real furnace. He has bussed tables,washed dishes, performed, and served on theboard.

When Ward talks with Adler and Arem,he smiles the smile of someone who hasbeen deeply involved in a community for along time and sees future generations step-ping forward firmly to take the reins.

Together these three board membersrepresent only a few slices of thediverse set of people who patronize the

café. There are those who come for the black-box theater, those who show up once a yearfor a particular artist or type of show, thosewho play the open mics, those who come tohear new kinds of music in an intimateatmosphere, those who socialize by volun-teering at shows.

Knowing that there were all thesethreads, and that many of them knew littleabout the others, Ward, Adler and Arem,along with many others at the Caffe, thoughtperhaps the research Arem was doing couldgo beyond a college thesis. Ward and Adler

stepped in to help Arem find sources, dointerviews, and turn her results into adetailed exhibit that is currently on displaythroughout the café. An extensive oral histo-ry collection is underway (check outwww.caffelenahistory.org to see some of thestories that have been submitted online, oradd your own recollections). People havecome out of the woodwork to contribute.“People remember their visits here,”observes Ward.

One wall of the exhibit is devoted to aselection of photos of the many well-knownartists who performed, and often got anearly boost, at the café, including: AniDiFranco, whose first show at Lena’s had sixpeople in attendance (at least according toAdler’s memory); Bernice Johnson Reagon,founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock; Missis-sippi John Hurt and Skip James, some of theoriginal Delta bluesmen; Odetta; EmmylouHarris; Nanci Griffith.

“What I love about this exhibit is that itgoes farther toward portraying all the manykinds of cross-currents that pass throughthis place than anything else ever has,” saysWard. “There is no one Caffe Lena.”

A room in the back is devoted specificallyto Lena Spencer herself, whose memory stilllooms large over the café she founded, tend-

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Letting loose in the café: George Ward, Jocelyn Arem, and Torey Adler.

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Letting loose in the café: George Ward, Jocelyn Arem, and Torey Adler.

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ed through near constant financial crisis,and for a long time lived in when shecouldn’t afford an apartment. Her picki-ness when it came to performers and yetconstant encouragement of young artists,her love of theater and visual art, and hercomplete devotion to the café and its manyprojects are still legend, 16 years after shedied and a nonprofit formed to keep thecafé going.

Arem, who never met the café’s name-sake, says she frequently guided herresearch with the mantra “WWLD—What

Would Lena Do?” “She’s always sitting onmy shoulder.”

Getting all those pieces of history, facts,and stories out of individual heads andCafé archives and woven into one cohesivehistory is not just an interesting exercise. Itwill be essential for keeping the spirit of thecafé on the right track for the future, saysAdler. “Sometime, somebody’s going to bea director [here] who never knew anyonewho knew Lena,” he says. “There’s going tobe this resource for them to understandwhat this place really is.”

Which isn’t to say that what CaffeLena is doesn’t change with thetimes. The legions of folk music

lovers who attend the café may think of theLena’s slogan that appears on bumper stick-ers all over the region—“Good Folk since1960”—as referring to the music at least asmuch as to the people. But while the doubleentendre was surely intended, Adler andArem are quick to reprimand any referenceto Lena’s being solely, or even centrally, afolk club.

“We were having a conversation recent-

ly about this at a board meeting,” recallsAdler. “We were talking about ‘What is ourkind of music?’ It’s not acoustic—we’vehad some great electric bands here, somegreat rock stuff. . . . It’s not folk—we’vehad jazz, classical, punk. . . . At the sametime we all agreed we weren’t going to seethe next Christina Aguilera or BritneySpears here. Artists here . . . it’s not justentertainment; they have something to say.And they’re part of a tradition in one wayor another.”

A minute later he comes back to this

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CONCERTSCONGRESS PARK (Saratoga Springs, 587-3241).Tue: Soul Session.SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER(Saratoga State Park, Saratoga Springs, tickets: 476-1000). Fri: Crosby, Stills and Nash. Sat: Tom Pettyand the Heartbreakers, the Black Crowes.SUMMER ROOFTOP CONCERTS (Rooftop patio,Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, SkidmoreCollege, Saratoga Springs). Fri: Reggie’s Red HotFeetwarmers.

CLUBS9 MAPLE AVENUE (9 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs,583-CLUB). Fri: Adrian Cohen Quartet. Sat: NitroJive.THE ALLEY BAR (Long Alley Road, Saratoga, 587-9766). Tue: karaoke with Mark the Shark.BAILEY’S (Phila and Putnam streets, SaratogaSprings, 583-6060). Thu: Juan & Corbin. Fri: BluzHouse Rockers. Sat: Rich Ortiz. Sun: ChuckKelsey.BRINDISI’S RESTAURANT (390 Broadway,Saratoga Springs, 587-6262). Wed: Bobby Dick &the Sundowners. Thu: Franklin Micare. Fri: SandingRoom Only. Sat: the Heaters. Sun: Al Bruno. CAFFE LENA (47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 583-0022). Thu: open mic (7 PM). Fri: Chris Shaw. Sat:Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart. Sun: MarthaGallagher with Brian Mellick.CIRCUS CAFÉ (392 Broadway, Saratoga Springs,583-1106). Thu: Robanic Reggae and CarribeanBand. Fri: DJ Dance Party. Sat: karaoke with A-ManProductions. CLUB CAROLINE (13 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs,580-0155). Thu: karaoke. Fri: DJ. Sat: DJ. Tue:karaoke.

THE CLUB HOUSE (30 Caroline St., SaratogaSprings, 580-0686). Fri-Sat: DJ Daniel Van D,hiphop, club mixes.DOC’S STEAKHOUSE (63 Putman St., SaratogaSprings, 581-7011). Mon: Blues open mic. Tue:George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal.E. O’DWYER’S (15 Spring St., Saratoga Springs,583-6476). Fri: Zen Tricksters, Rich Ortiz.GAFFNEY’S (16 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs, 587-7359). Thu: Mikki Bakken & Friends. Fri: Johnny &The Triumphs. Sat: Don Hommel & Friends. Sun:MudFunk. HORSESHOE INN (1 Gridley St., Saratoga Springs,587-4909). Thu: Good for the Soul. Fri: BurnersU.K. Sat: Bluz House Rockers. Sun: SonicMayhem. Mon: Jeff Walton.THE INN AT SARATOGA (231 Broadway, SaratogaSprings, 583-1890). Sat: Ria Curley Jazz Quartet.Wed: Georgie Wonders Big Band. KING’S TAVERN (241 Union St., Saratoga Springs,584-9643). Fri: the Raven Society, Valley, LuciaLie. Sat: Vee Chambers.O’CALLAGHAN’S (14 Phila St., Saratoga Springs,583-3209). Fri: T & A Band. Sat: Ginger Brothers.ONE CAROLINE STREET (1 Caroline St., SaratogaSprings, 587-2026). Fri: Chuck D’Aloia. Sat: DavePayette, Peg Delaney Duo. Sun: Joe Gitto. Mon:Dave Gleason. Tue: Masters of Nostalgia. Wed:Peg Delaney. THE PARTING GLASS (40-42 Lake Ave., SaratogaSprings, 583-1916). Mon: The OTB Band. Tues:Celtic Session. Wed: The Burners UK.SARATOGA CITY TAVERN (Caroline Street andMaple Avenue, Saratoga Springs, 581-3230). Fri andSat: DJ Chris. Sun: Acoustic open-mic night with RickBolton. Tues: Dark Day Blues with GeorgeFletcher’s Bourbon Renewal. Wed: Happy Hourwith Jeff Halsted.

SIRO’S (168 Lincoln Ave., Saratoga Springs, 584-4030). Thu: Bobby Dick and the Sundowners. Fri:The Refrigerators. Sat: Milo Z. Sun: Soul Session.Mon: Rock Velvet. Wed: Blue Hand Luke.

THEATERThe Complete Works of William Shakespeare(abridged), Congress Park, Saratoga Springs. Ahumorous run through the works of the Bard. 7/30,6 PM; 7/31, 2 PM. Free. 884-4947.Pinocchio!, Saratoga Arts Center, 320 Broadway,Saratoga Springs. The children’s play about thewooden puppet. 8/2, 11:30 AM and 2 PM. $7, kids12 and under $5. Call for reservations. 584-4132.

CLASSICALSaratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga SpaState Park, Saratoga Springs. 8/3, 8:15 PM: CharlesDutoit conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra in theiropening night at SPAC. With special guest ItzhakPerlman. Works by Beethoven and Bartók (Concertofor Orchestra). $60-$15. 587-3330.Spa Little Theater, Saratoga Performing Arts Center,Saratoga Springs. 8/2, 8:15 PM: Lisa Batiashvili (vio-lin), François Leleux (oboe) and Jean-Yves Thibaudet(piano) will perform works by Poulenc, Franck andBeethoven. $34.50-$29.50. 587-3330.

MUSEUMS AND GAL-LERIESArts Center Gallery, 320 Broadway, SaratogaSprings. 584-4132. Saratoga Inside Out. Through9/3. Receptions 8/4, 6-9 PM, and 9/1, 6-8:30 PM.Congress Park, Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 584-4132. Art in the Park I. 7/31, 10 AM-4 PM. Also,Public Art Works, featuring works by Lee Nicholls, BillMcTygue, and Michael L. Noonan. Through 12/31. Gallery 100, 445 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 580-0818. Recent photographs of the NYC Ballet by PaulKolnik; also, photographs from the SPAC Jazz Festivalby Lee Whitman. Through 7/31. Gotchya’s Trading Co., 68 Beekman St., SaratogaSprings. 584-5772. Truth Be Told, paintings by ChrisMurray. Through 9/2. National Museum of Dance, 99 S. Broadway,Saratoga Springs. 584-2225. Dancing Rebels, anexhibit highlighting the work of the New DanceGroup. Through May 2006.National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame,191 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs. 584-0400. Peb:The Art of Humor, featuring cartoons and caricaturesby Pierre Bellocq, celebrating horses and racing per-sonalities. Through 12/31. Also, 11th Annual HorsingAround with the Arts student art show. Through 9/30.Also, Golden Memories: Fifty Years of the Racing Hallof Fame; also, paintings from the Charles H. ThierotCollection. Through 12/31. New York State Military Museum, 61 Lake Ave.,Saratoga Springs. 581-5100. New York’s FightingZouaves. Through Oct. 2005. Prestwick Chase at Saratoga, 100 Saratoga Blvd.,Saratoga Springs. 584-7766. Photographs byAndrew Howland. Through 7/31.Saratoga Automobile Museum, 110 Avenue of thePines, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs.587-1935 ext. 20. East of Detroit, and New YorkRacing exhibit. Ongoing. Saratoga County Arts Council, Member ExhibitionHall, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 584-4132.Works by Paul Arnold. 8/1-31. Also, works by Penny

Koburger. Through 7/31.Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.,Saratoga Springs. 584-7860. Works by MoniqueLemaire. 8/1-31. Also, watercolors by Robert RismanJr. Through 7/31.Saratoga Visitors Center, 297 Broadway, SaratogaSprings. 587-3241. Works by Robert Ewell. 8/2-29.Also, watercolors and acrylics by Elizabeth Cannon;also, highlights of the life of Solomon Northup; alsoFlower Power: Saratoga In Blossom. Through 7/31. Skidmore College, Schick Art Gallery, 815 N.Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 580-5049. AnythingBut Realism, group exhibition. Through 9/22. Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring St., SaratogaSprings. 587-6433. Pathways, paintings by JoanneK. Murphy. Through 8/31. Tang Teaching Museum and Gallery, SkidmoreCollege, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 580-8080. Weapons of Mass Dissemination: ThePropaganda of War. Through 10/30. Also, Opener 9:Michael Oatman. Through 9/5.

FARMERS MARKETSMalta/Saratoga Farmers Market, Dave MeagerCommunity Center, Route 9, Malta. Tuesdays, 11AM-2 PM.Saratoga Farmers Market, High Rock Park, HighRock Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Saturdays, 9 AM-1PM; Wednesdays, 3-6 PM.

SPORTS/OUTDOORSaratoga Mountain Bike Association. Informalrides Tuesdays 6 PM, Sundays 10 AM. 788-0847,www.saratogamtb.org.Saratoga Phillies Baseball, East Side RecreationField, 266 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs. 7/29, 6 PM:Mohawk Valley. 7/30, 6 PM: Watertown. 7/26, 6 PM:Plattsburgh. 7/27, 6 PM: Amsterdam. 598-9131,www.saratogaphillies.com.Saratoga Polo Association, Bloomfield and Dentonroads, Saratoga Springs. Matches every Wednesday,Friday and Sunday through 9/4, weather permitting.Gates open 4 PM, start time 5:30 PM. Post-gamedinners 7:10 PM. $8 per person or $20 per carload.Under 16 free. Season passes available. 584-8108,www.saratogapolo.com.Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs. 7/30, 8AM: 5K run to benefit Special Olympics New York.Begins at corner of George Street and East Avenue.388-0790.Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. 7/31,8-10 AM. Trail Clean-Up Day. For directions and regis-tration: 584-2000 ext 119.

SARATO G A

SARATO G ARACE COURSEOpen daily through Sept. 5, except Tuesdays.Location 267 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 584-6200.Admission $3 grandstand, $5 clubhouse; childrenunder 12 free; seats are $6 and $7, respectively.Parking $10 per car at the track side and $5 acrossthe street at the Oklahoma Training Track. Generalparking is free. Racing Nine or 10 races a day; pari-mutuel wagering on every race. First Race Post Time is at 1 PM (except TraversDay, Aug. 27, when it’s at 12:30 PM).Major Stakes Races The Diana Handicap (July 30);the Whitney Handicap (Aug. 6); the Sword DancerInvitational (Aug. 13 ); the Alabama Stakes (Aug. 20);

SARATO G A

Horse trainer Nick Zito is presented with a painting bearing his likeness at the annualCenter for the Disabled fundraiser, which took place at Siro’s on July 26.

BY M A RTIN

thought. “Maybe folk music is a differentthing now that the Rolling Stones are fartherback than Woody Guthrie was when thisplace opened.”

It’s trying to escape the lingering hip-pie/beatnik pigeonhole rather than any dis-like of folk music that makes the café boardmembers quick to emphasize its diversity.When Arem went with Al McKenney,whom she describes as the embodied CaffeLena archives, to look for Lena memorabiliahe thought he’d left in his old apartment,which was in a now vacant building, thesecurity guards who accompanied themwere incredulous that anyone would be thisinterested in the history of Caffe Lena.“They were like, ‘What do want to gothrough this stuff for? What is this café, isn’tthat that beatnik place?’ They actually said‘beatnik,’ ” recalls Arem.

Adler sees an irony in that exchange. “I’llbet that there’s a 50-50 chance that they’reBruce Springsteen fans,” he says. Adlerrecently went down the list of “walk-in”music Springsteen has selected to play in thestadiums before he goes on stage, and

counted about 20 artists who have playedCaffe Lena, many regularly. “Obviously he’slistening to this stuff. If these people weren’there because they didn’t have a place likethis to make a living in, we might not haveartists like Bruce Springsteen,” says Adler.“He may not have been in the café, but he’sobviously benefited from it.” He pauses. “Ilike to say all roads lead back to Lena’s.”

The Caffe Lena board is using the histo-ry project to set a stage for an ambi-tious fund-raising drive to renovate

the old building and make it handicap-acces-sible. The goal over the next few years is tofind enough people who know they’ve bene-fited from it to raise half a million dollars toput into “what is really a very old building,”adding an elevator, moving and expandingthe kitchen, and doing various other neededupgrades to the space.

The board full of musicians shows a littlenervousness about the magnitude of theeffort, but certainly not enough to reconsid-er the board’s unconventional lack of

wealthy membership. “No, we don’t haveany major socialites on our board,” saysAdler. “But we have very little overhead and

accomplish a whole lot. . . . The café is goingto be here in 100 years.”

maxel-lute@metroland.net

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It’s written on the bathroom walls: Torey Adler one of the Caffe Lenarestrooms, where people are now being encouraged to write memorieson the walls, in homage to earlier traditions of grafitti.