October 8, 2013
Alleged meth lab found in Saratoga County, public comments about Park South redevelopment, town concerned about drinking water quality, a life that included exploring Antarctica
State Police say two women were arrested after a search allegedly found a meth lab in a mobile home park in Greenfield. Saratoga County DA Jim Murphy says the alleged operation was a "highly sophisticated" "active cook center" and neighbors were tipped off by fumes. The DA also alleges the women had set up the lab there to move production closer to a network of people or places in the area. A third person was also arrested, and all three are facing child endangerment charges because authorities say a baby and a teen were also at the mobile home. [NYSP] [WNYT] [@JimMurphyIII] [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]
A packed Albany Common Council meeting including public comments about the proposed changes to the Park South redevelopment plan -- among the criticisms voiced: concerns about an increased number of apartments, a larger parking garage, and increased building height. Officials say the plan's increased density will help support a walkable neighborhood. [daleyplanit Instagram] [YNN] [TU] [News10]
It pays (in campaign contributions) to be in a position to influence state casino legislation, according to a review of campaign finance reports by Common Cause. Among those benefiting: The review concludes Andrew Cuomo has received more more than $350k in contributions from gambling interests. [TU] [AP/Saratogian]
Chris Gibson says he thinks multiple provisions of the NY SAFE Act will be found to be unconstitutional. The Congressman had been scheduled to appear at a standing-room-only NY SAFE Act forum in Brunswick Monday (he had to stay in DC to vote). Among the officials who were there: Rensselaer County sheriff Jack Mahar, "Never in my 38 years of law enforcement, until recently, have we been asked to go after honest, law-abiding, good citizens." [Troy Record] [News10] [WNYT]
Niskayuna police say a 75-year-old pedestrian was killed as she crossed Nott Street Monday afternoon. No tickets were immediately issued to the driver and NPD says it's investigating the incident. [Daily Gazette] [WNYT] [News10]
UAlbany police say a man with a knife -- and wearing a Christmas sweater -- tried to abduct women at the bus stop on Western Ave near the downtown campus Alumni Quad on Friday (map). [TU]
The Albany Art Room has a new spot
The Albany Art Room -- the arts/crafts/class space once located on Madison Ave near Lark in Albany -- has a new spot. And it's opening soon. In fact, its list of new classes for adults is already posted.
The new Albany Art Room space is at 350 New Scotland Ave in the New Scotland neighborhood (just up from the strip that includes The Fountain). There's an opening party scheduled for October 26 from 2-8 pm.
It's been about two years since the Albany Art Room moved from its Madison Ave location. Part of what made the place fun: It was a space very much like what you might remember as the "arts and crafts" room of a school/camp/neighborhood center -- it was like being a kid again, but there were classes for adults.
The new slate of classes includes stuff for both adults (examples: landscape painting and digital photography) and kids (examples: cartoon character drawing and clay modeling).
photo: Albany Art Room
Occupied by government
Noted: The five biggest office buildings in the Capital Region are all primarily occupied by state government operations. (Bonus bit: The Corning Tower has almost 21 acres of square footage.) [Biz Review]
Gathering in Schenectady to raid dungeons and slay dragons
From a previous Council of Five Nations con.
My teenage Friday nights were not your teenage Friday nights.
Before CGI made the fantasies of J.R.R. Tolkien and Stan Lee as accessible as an episode of Seinfeld, I joined a few shy friends on the bus to Schenectady for our weekly trip to the Studio of Bridge and Games on Eastern Parkway.
Like other teenagers, we drank, but in pubs named after dragons and griffons. It was only on paper and in our minds, and we were dwarves and magic-users and half-orcs. Like other teenagers, we flirted and dated, but it was usually with elves, and our success or failure was based solely on our charisma modifier. Since the object of our characters' affections was usually an avatar for a 35-year-old guy even less attractive than we were, we were happy for the manifestation of those successes to go unseen and unrealized. Like other teenagers, we experimented with dangerous substances, but it wasn't by choice. It was usually because something huge chomped on us with its envenomed fangs, and if we failed our saving throw vs. poison, we suffered some kind of penalty to our hit points or our ability scores.
Trips to rehabilitation facilities never came into the picture.
Dave Cheng is a member of the Schenectady Wargamers Association -- the group that made those Friday nights possible. "Movies and TV are passive," Cheng says. "You sit there, and someone else tells you a story ... Some people want to take the next step, and actually want to participate in creating the story themselves."
This weekend Cheng and the SWA will host hundreds of gamers taking that "next step" in storytelling when the Council of Five Nations -- one of the country's oldest gaming conventions -- returns to Proctors this weekend for its 36th year.
APL Silent Film Spectacular 2013
A nefarious lodger?
The Albany Public Library's annual "Silent Film Spectacular" series returns this week. Over the course of October it will show classic silent movies -- "from the dramatic to the macabre" -- accompanied by a score performed live by local musicians.
The screenings are the next four Wednesdays in the large auditorium of the APL's main branch on Washington Ave, starting at 7 pm. They're free.
First film up, this Wednesday (October 9): Hitchcock's The Lodger, with score performed by members of Alta Mira, Hand Habits, Maggot Brain, and The Slaughterhouse Chorus.
The full lineup is post jump.
And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack...
If you see David Byrne fleeing New York City to take refuge in Hudson in a handsome restored town house on Union Street or converted former factory space, that link explains why. (Of course, that might then prompt someone to write a piece about how they're fleeing Hudson for Troy because of an influx of David Byrnes.) [via @CWAPdotCWAP]
TOP2013: Round 2: Schenectady
The 2013 Tournament of Pizza -- sponsored by The College of Saint Rose -- continues its Round 2 tour with a stop in the Schenectady bracket.
The pizzerias in this head-to-head matchup of veggie pizzas (green peppers, mushrooms, onions, black olives):
Giovanni's - Scotia - winner of the Round 1 pool of new-to-the-tournament shops
Mario's - Niskayuna - the returning bracket champ, who had a first-round bye
Can the Scotia shop wrest the bracket from its fellow suburban competitor? Or will the ever-treacherous veggie round be too tall a challenge?
We head back to the headquarters of the Mop & Bucket Company...
New spot for Valentine's owner
The owner of Valentine's -- Howard Glassman -- has bought the former Cagney's bar space on Central Ave with the intent to move there after Valentine's closes ahead of the Park South demolition, Steve Barnes reports. The space is right next to Pauly's, across the street from WAMC's main building, near the intersection of Central and Quail. [TU]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?