All Over Albany

What's up in the Neighborhood

Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: downtown Troy, model trains, loquacious dignitaries, the Victorian Streetwalk, the Albany County Rail Trail, cycling tech, three kinds of bacon, customer service, pizza, ugly apples, Adventure in Food, chocolate fountains, Duncan's, danish, Christmas trees, merchant princes, and blooming in December.

Kristi wasn't feeling the holiday spirit at the Troy Victorian Stroll.

Kevin highlighted a fact about downtown Troy reported in the Record.

Chuck shared some good video from the model train expo at the ESP.

Albaniana was also there, and stuck around for the tree lighting and fireworks -- and, as seems to be tradition, had to stand in the cold waiting so "various dignatories telling us how excited they were to be there." (This seems to irk people every year -- perhaps the organizers should address this.)

The Bee Balm Gal had what sounds like a very pleasant evening at the Victorian Streetwalk in Saratoga.

Ethan's bike ride on/to the Albany County Rail Trail was something less than smooth.

Randal checked out a symposium on cycling tech at RPI (and then had lunch at Parivar).

Albany Jane had three kinds of bacon at SCCC's Casola Dining Room.

Mr. Dave subjected himself to the McDonald's "holiday pie."

Daniel had contrasting customer service experiences at two of the big local wine stores.

FiS Dan also made the point that customer service matters.

Jerry has embarked on a tour of the Tournament of Pizza semi-finalists. First stop: Marisa's in Guilderland.

Kayla's family is turning "the ugliest apples that are still edible" into hard cider.

Emily had "simple and delicious food" at Muza in Troy.

Valerae had a personal shopper at Adventure in Food (she's also looking to source raw meat for her dog).

Crystal's diner breakfast tour brought her to Duncan's.

One of Steve's readers asked about where to find fresh danish.

Jen checked out the annual chocolate expo at the State Museum

The Exiles went to Majestic Tree Farm for their Christmas tree. And Matt ended up getting his tree at Bob's in West Galway.

A stained glass window in Troy had Carl wishing for modern merchant princes.

And Jackie found a December rose in a neighbor's garden.