All Over Albany

You didn't actually ask, but...

We had to call in outside help for a question about Skidmore's dining center.

Believe it or not, there are some people who don't visit AOA via a bookmark, feed reader, irresistible urge, or unconscious habit. (Yes, shocking, we know.) Many of these people come in looking for something via Google -- and sometimes we can't help but take notice of what they're looking for.

Well, as you know, we like to help. So even though you didn't actually ask, here's the (an) answer...

January 10: "paper sparrow troy ny changed to what name"

After Kate sold The Paper Sparrow shop in Troy, it was reborn as Anchor No. 5 Boutique under new owner Petra Jancovicova.

January 11: "directions from Manhattan to Albany"

This is easy one. Look to the west -- you're going to see a large river. Take the river north for about 140 miles. Albany will be on your left.

OK, there are a few other ways to go between Albany and New York City -- that link has a bunch of info about your options.

January 13: "animals that live in albany"

Fishers and other wild things. Crows. Sleepy office dogs. The occasional snake.

January 20: "where to sit in the skidmore cafeteria"

This is, no doubt, a complicated question. But we must admit it's outside of our expertise. So we are grateful the Executive Editor of SkidmoreUnofficial.com & Co. LLC was willing to share his insights on the matter:

The complex identity politics informing where one sits in the Skidmore cafeteria is itself a field of study deserving of a dissertation. Freshmen quickly learn to solve a complex algorithm where the aggregation of countless variables (angle of the sun, party size, aesthetic partiality, menu, proximity to ginger ale, available table size, tightness of pants, amount of whey protein consumed in the past month etc.) helps to determine the appropriate place to sit.

Broadly speaking the cafeteria is divided into two main hemispheres with hipsters sitting on the cafeteria's red side and athletes sitting on the blue side. A closer examination shows however that the subdivisions are much more nuanced, with smaller, largely self-sufficient sub-groups maintaining ancestral land passed down from graduating class to graduating class. These property holdings are fiercely guarded and trespassing often leads to confrontation. Nowhere is the social stratification of America's 20-somethings laid more bare then on the cold, tile floor of the Murray-Aikens Dining Hall (probably).

Many thanks to Skidmore Unofficial. And wherever you sit, we hear the food is excellent -- just don't look for a tray.

January 24: "flighys from albany ny to warm"

We're going to assume you were asking about flights -- if this is flighys issue, you're on your own. As for flights to warmer climes, Tampa might be your best bet if you're looking to maximize your degrees per airfare dollar. Lou suggests Puerto Rico.

January 27: "Rachel Ray snack of the day capital region"

We suspect there have been a few local foodstuffs that have graced The Rachael's daytime salon. But the one that immediately springs to mind is Delmar-based Our Daily Nuts, which was SOTD on March 3 of last year.

Oh, and it's Rachael, with an "ae." We've spelled it many times.

photo: Flickr user craigemorsels