Play Mario Kart with live jazz band in reopened Schenectady music club

Marvin Friedman originally opened the Van Dyck in 1947 in Schenectady's historic Stockade neighborhood and it quickly gained a reputation as one of the country’s top jazz clubs. The club closed a couple years ago as the owners of Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro took over the building.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Marvin Friedman originally opened the Van Dyck in 1947 in Schenectady's historic Stockade neighborhood and it quickly gained a reputation as one of the country’s top jazz clubs. The club closed a couple years ago as the owners of Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro took over the building at 237 Union Street.

Now, owner Chris Sule has reopened the jazz club as the Van Dyck Music Club. The club is located on the second floor of the building above Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro.

"Join us as we begin a new era here as the Van Dyck Music Club, with the goal of bringing our historic entertainment venue into the future by leaning into its immense musical past," said Sule.

Events at the Van Dyck Music Club include comedy showcases, open mic nights, live jazz and other ticketed performances. The reopened club had its first event on June 26 with a Comedy Open Mic Night, which take place on the last Wednesday of each month.

Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro and Seven Points Brewery opened at 237 Union Street in October 2022. The restaurant had originally opened about six years before that in Burnt Hills but had to close in March 2022 after the landlord chose not to renew the lease, Sule previously told NEWS10.

One event the Van Dyck Music Club has coming up is the Capital Region Mario Kart Experience on July 20 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Attendees will be able to play Mario Kart as a live jazz band accompanies the game on a first come, first served basis.

The Capital Region Mario Kart Experience is organized by Aidan Hennessey of The Dojo Beyond Time and Space and Rachel Freeman of Byrdhouse Records. The live band includes local musicians from The E-Block, Canella, and Billy & The Great Western Postal Service, said Hennessey.

"Don't think this is a one note show as there will be color commentary by local comedians and a costume contest," said Hennessey. Mario Kart cosplayers will be competing to win a crochet Yoshi.

The Capital Region Mario Kart Experience previously had a show at Son of Egg in Rensselaer, where they sold over 100 tickets. You can get tickets for the Van Dyck show in advance on the Eventbrite website or at the door. You can find other upcoming events on the Van Dyck Music Club Facebook page.