Fourth annual competition promises fire, flavor and fun

SCHENECTADY—Wings, wings, wings! Due to the overwhelming success of last year’s event, the Fourth Annual Wing Walk presented by Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. and Schenectady County Visitors Agency has been moved to the weekend to accommodate more tasting time and allow a deeper connection with the great atmosphere and walkability of downtown Schenectady.

From noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, wing fans will try samplings from eighteen downtown Schenectady restaurants and vote for their favorite.  Classic garlic parm wings will, of course, be in the running, but expect deliciously creative variations, too, like Mexican Radio’s Vidalia Onion Georgia Peach Wing, Aperitivo Bistro’s Seven Hour Cherry Pepper Wing, Taj Mahal’s Spicy Masala Wing and Ninja Asian Restaurant’s Boneless Chicken Yakitori Wing.

Other participating restaurants include: 2014 Wing Walk winner 20 North Broadway, Backstage Pub & Grill, The Bier Abbey, Bombers Burrito Bar, Café NOLA, Centre Street Public House & Garden, The Grog Shoppe, Isopo’s Downtown Pizza, Katie O’Byrne’s, Nico’s Rooftop Tavern, Pinhead Susan’s, Thai Thai Bistro and the Van Dyck. New nightspot Firestone 151 makes its Wing Walk debut this year, and will host the official after party.

Several restaurants will offer beverage specials throughout the Wing Walk and live music in the following hours.  Additionally, the Wing Walk Comedy Show will rotate through the evening, with performances by headliner Ray Harrington at Centre Street (6 p.m.), Bombers (7 p.m.), Backstage (8 p.m.) and again at Bombers (9 p.m.).

2015 Wing Walk tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students (with appropriate I.D.) and are available at the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady; by phone at 518-346-6204; or at proctors.org. Sales are limited to 1,000 tickets. Wing Walk Comedy Show tickets are $15 (per performance), and are available at a $5 discount when purchased with Wing Walk tickets.

Before sampling wings, ballots must be picked up at the Box Office at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady. Guests may vote for their favorite wing recipe by dropping their ballots at any Wing Walk restaurant or the Box Office at Proctors by 5 p.m.