The O-town Scene

Scene the O-Town Vol. 1, No. 49 www.otownscene.com 102 Chestnut St., P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 432-1000, ext. 255, editor@otownscene.com EDITOR Cassandra Miller ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Adrienne Wise PUBLISHER Armand Nardi CONTRIBUTORS Kyle Beckley, John Champlin, Trevor Hayes, Rebecca Hoey, Jill Kraft, Terry Ludwig, EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Sam Pollak Raul O'Toole, Genevieve Pedulla, Emily Popek, Mark Simonson, Sam Spokony and Jennifer Tighe. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sean Lewis The O-Town Scene is published Thursdays by The Daily Star Inc. Free copies are distributed throughout Oneonta, as well as parts of Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties. Member of The Associated Press and CNHI News Service EDITOR'S NOTE Although Brewery Omme- gang has been around since I was in seventh grade, I had my first pint of the Belgium- style beer at a bar in Boston my senior year of college. I hadn't known there were any breweries in Cooperstown (my beer connoisseurship had mainly consisted of PBR and Bud Lite). Since that first run-in with the brewery's cherry- tinged Three Philosophers in 2006, Ommegang's beers have become my brew of choice for a drink out. Two years ago, I chose to 2 O-Town Scene Sept. 22, 2011 take up half of my suitcase with three 25-ounce bottles of various Ommegang beers as house-warming gifts for friends I was visiting in Boulder, Colo. I offered up the beer, "These are made where I come from." And one of my friends replied, "Oh, that's good stuff. They have it at the grocery store." Would've been nice to bring a couple more cardigans on that trip ... The company has grown exponentially in recent years, becoming known throughout the craft beer world thanks to its connection to Belgium beer powerhouse Duvel as well as initiatives by the brewery's staff. It's one of our area's most successful businesses, but what interests us at the Scene is the brewery's effort to expand its offerings to outdoor concerts featuring national acts. It's brought in well-worn musi- cians such as Lyle Lovett, Levon Helm and Steve Earle, as well as young groups just starting their careers such as The Felice Brothers. Ommegang CEO Simon Thorpe describes the brewery as a "small but perfect venue." I can see where he's coming from _ the setting is beautiful, the beer is delicious, and there are sinks and soap dispensers outside of the port-a-potties. Singer-songstresses Brandi Carlile and Nicole Atkins will join headliners The Avett Broth- ers on Tuesday, Sept. 27, for the brewery's final concert of its inaugural musical season. The Oneonta Theatre made a smart choice in handing over Carlile, who was scheduled to perform the same night at the theater, to Ommegang for The Avett Brothers show. There's a lot of talk of different perform- ing arts groups competing for audiences, and the theater and brewery's decision to merge the shows is an example of the benefit of working together. The venues are part of what I like to refer to as Oneonta's renaissance as an arts and music destination. Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center has jumped on the concert wave, too, starting with its sold-out Gordon Lightfoot show in March. As far as markets for con- certs go, we're not the largest. But we sure are lucky to have such quality acts coming to our small but perfect area of upstate New York. — Cassandra Miller Cassandra Miller is the founding edi- tor of the O- Town Scene. She can be reached at editor@ otownscene. com.

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