Fans of the band are familiar with the group’s rise to international prominence from humble beginnings in Buffalo, New York. That’s when a few area working musicians arranged for a weekly gig of playing less commercial music in a local club on everyone’s night off. So humble a beginning, there was no name for the band so they were only known as “Tuesday Night Jazz Jam”. Soon the word got around and the core group was joined by many of the city’s musicians to come and have some fun. And customers started showing up, too, prompting the club owner to press Beckenstein for a band name for the club’s new sign. Beckenstein offered up this late night, tipsy answer, “You can call it ‘spirogyra’”, an algae that he had studied once. The next week, he came back and there it was, misspelling and all, and so it began in 1974.

Open mic to follow.

Join a park naturalist for a guided hike of Trail 7 around Lake Ogle! Hear about the history of the lake and learn about the animals that make it their home. Trail 7 is 1.2 miles and considered moderate. It will take about an hour and a half to complete. It has short staircases, uneven surfaces, and possible muddy spots.