This Week at Our Glass......
Anyone Remember Bob Hope's Theme Song?

It was a tune called "Thanks For The Memories". And that's the theme of this email. Our family has decided, for a variety of reasons, that we can not continue the operation of the Our Glass. This Saturday will be the last night of operation. (We will have bands this Thursday at 8, Friday and Saturday … I'll send the details tomorrow night). I wanted to thank you all for your support and I hope you have had many good times. I want to say thanks to so many people who have helped along the way. I know I'll leave someone out, but I'll do my best. I think we've had really exceptional music since we opened. Because the Our Glass is a small room, I never thought we'd be able to attract the best groups from Albany and Saratoga. However, every group that has played their has asked to return even though we couldn't pay them what they were worth. They did it because of you, our customers. They've told me over and over again that you were the most appreciative people that they've found anywhere. When you consider how many places there are to play in Schenectady, Albany and Saratoga, I think that's quite a compliment. I would have never been able to enjoy so many quality acts had it not been for you …….
Thanks! Please join us this weekend for the final hurrah! Musicians

Mudfunk: To Sean and Marco; Thanks for honoring us by making the Our Glass the only bar you play.

Collaberayshen: Sha'ron, Carl, Ron and Azzam … my old friends. You guys have the market cornered on classiness. If I finally get some time to practice, I may be able to join you on stage again!

Sonic Mayhem: What a great blues and rock band. Valeries' great vocals and Glen's classic guitar riffs. Drummer Dave and bassist Jeff nail down the groove.

My friends Aaron Mittler and Betsy Emery. Aaron is one of the most well-known musicians in the area and is a great musician and guitar teacher … see him for lessons! Betsy designed and maintained our website since the beginning. I can't tell you how many compliments we've had. Check out her site www.visitsacandaga.com.

Sal Maida: It is to my great disappointment that many of you don't know my very good friend Sal. He is one of the premier jazz pianists in NY and he lives within walking distance of the Our Glass. He has played with many famous people including Clark Terry and Nick Brignola. Sal opened the Our Glass with a 5 piece jazz group. It was a concert worthy of Saratoga Performing Arts Center … a beautiful night.

George Boone, Mark McKay and Raoul Bowman of the George Boone Blues Band. You guys are the most dynamic blues band I've ever heard. You've played the Our Glass more than any other band and I still smiled at your last gig.

Annie & The Hedonists. Go see them!

Scott Price could walk on stage and play guitar with any professional group that is making CD's … and he's right here in our own backyard. A great vocalist and entertainer, Scott's shows sizzle. Gary Brooks and Dave Seaman. Great vocals and playing. Wish I'd found you guys sooner.

Bar Scott. The upstairs concert with you and Jen was spellbinding. What an honor to have an artist with your voice and songwriting talents at the Our Glass.

Captain Squeeze And The Zydeco Moshers. 3 Sold Out Shows! Wild dancing! What a party. Hey Greg (Captain Squeeze), here's an anecdote which I never shared with you. The first night you played, you called up everyone to dance before playing the second song. I thought, "He must be nuts if he thinks people are going to get up at the beginning of the night before they get drunk!" Not only did they get up, but we all formed a 40-person snake … I have the pictures!

Plastic Soul: What a treat to hear the old Beatle tunes done so well.

Permagrin: Without a doubt, the hottest rockin local band. Thanks guys!

Jim Licardo: The one man party! He is, "The Entertainer"

Ernie Williams Blues Band. The local legend and a very fine gentleman.

The best DJ, ever (and the best pizza man) Stan "The Man" Leslie and Dennis Miller.

School Bus Yellow ……. The "Jamminist" Band.

Fetish Lane (Good luck with "Fetish Fest")

The Skip Parson's Dixieland Jazz Band.

Doc Orloff's Blues Elixir with Joe Sanges and John Readdean.

The John Savage Band. Two great sax players … Eric Walentowicz and Brian Patneaude

There were many other bands … all good ones. Please support these musicians when you go to the Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga area. I have to give a special thanks to a group of customers who attended the Our Glass often enough to get frequent drinker miles: Kimmy, Ricky, Greg, Mary, Tony, Russ, Dottie, Theresa, Greg, Sheila, Ann, Mary, Harold and his crew and Frank and Sue. Thanks to my brother Dan and my other brother, Barney. And ….. Mareesa, Crystal The Dancing Machine and Pam. Thanks to Steve Dauber from the WRPI Stormy Monday Blues Show.

Also, thanks to Mike G, Michelle K and Antone R, Bob N and Nick R for keeping the open mic sessions going. We had fun, didn't we? (I don't remember!) Thanks to Pete, Tina and Dallas. We always knew we could count on you when we needed you.

Thanks to my son Jay who conceived the Our Glass to be something unique and different. It was a classy idea and showed an amazing amount of creativity. Thanks to my wife Lyn for your never ending support, your dancing and that special hand clap that you have.

PeaceTony