All Over Albany

This week was brought to you by

This week was brought to you by champagne corks, resolutions and a sudden urge to hibernate until June.

It was also brought to you by AOA advertisers like The Starlight Foundation, helping medical experts to improve the life and health of kids and families around the world.

Below is a list of other AOA advertisers that make your information fix possible. Please remember them, during the holidays and year round, when you're looking for great places to shop, dine, take in a show or ways offer support to a local cause.
If there's something you want to pass along to the AOA crowd, we can help get you started. It's easy and affordable. Just send us a note at advertising@alloveralbany.com.

Stuff to do

+ The Holiday Toys and Trains exhibit is running through January 20 at miSci.

+ The Spectrum 8 Theaters.

+Advantage Transportation. They provided the pretty awesome party buses for the AOA Bad Boys, Broads and Bootleggers Tour, and they can provide limos, trolleys and party buses for your special occasion.

+ The Arts Center of the Capital Region offers a wide range of classes, from dance to wood working to digital illustration. You can register for spring classes today.

+The Mop & Bucket Company -- offering a full slate of classes throughout the year. Not a performer? Improv can help increase your creativity and openness in the workplace too. You can catch MopCo performances every Friday night at 8 pm at Proctors.

Food and Drink

+Bombers, Wolff's, Sciortino's and The Olde English Pub and also (though not food related) Howes and Baum -- all enterprises of Matt Baumgartner -- sponsor of this year's AOA holiday decorations. Matt is sponsoring the display on behalf of The Starlight Foundation, an organization that provides toys, learning tools and joy to children with life threatening illnesses. You can help with a donation.

+There's been a blissful buzz at New World Bistro Bar this holiday season. It started with the delicious Thanksgiving To-Go offerings. Next, a stellar performance by Chef Ric Orlando and his team for a sold out dinner at The James Beard Foundation. Spirited specials continued through the Christmas holiday and the year ended on a high note with a fabulous 4-Course Prix Fixe dinner on New Year's Eve. All this revelry pushed back the seasonal menu change (not like we're complaining... we'd love the 'Pumpkin Hummus' and 'Duck Chorizo Stuffed Pork Loin' any time of year). So here it is, last call on the Fall 2013 Menu at New World Bistro Bar!!! The Winter 2014 Menu will role out around January 15th.

+ The Cheese Traveler, introducing its new sandwich and panini menu --available Tuesday through Sunday. Sandwiches built on loaves sourced from Bonfiglio & Bread in Hudson and will feature a variety of high quality meats, cheeses, condiments, and other fine accompaniments. Offerings will change based on seasonal availability and inspiration, and can be enjoyed in-store or packaged to go.

Here's a menu sample:
Laguiole, Apple Peach & Apricot chutney (Rosebud Farms) $6.99
Toma Celena, Pawlett, smoked duck breast (Larchmont Charcuterie), black currant jam (Les Comtes de Provence) $7.99
Manchego Artesano, salchichon Iberico (Fermin) oil-cured olive tapenade $7.99

+El Loco Mexican Cafe, something for everyone, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten free menu items.

+Sweet Sue's of Troy, lunches, sweets and catering.

+ Mingle on Delaware Ave in Albany. Be on the lookout for Fin the Fishmonger's "Fin"-tastic specials, including fresh haddock fish tacos & pan-seared whole trout. Their chef will be using local products to create new specials daily to keep the menu fresh.

+Smith's Restaurant has great food in an historic building. You'll want to check out the bar--it's from Tammany Hall.

+Brown's Brewing-- a sponsor of the AOA BAd Boys, Broads and Bootleggers tour. Relax with a cask beer at the new Malt Room.

+ Honest Weight Food Coop's new location is now open with delicious local holiday flavors. Saturdays through Christmas they're hosting a weekly craft fair where you can purchases gifts from local artists.

+ The City Beer Hall, serving brunch starting at at 11 am on Saturday and Sunday.

Stuff to learn

+Albany Law School.

+The College of Saint Rose, proud sponsor of the All Over Albany Tournament of Pizza. Offering 52 Graduate Programs with a purpose. Programs include: MFA in Creative writing, MBA, Computer Information Systems and more.

Stuff to Try

+Urban Maker -- art, clothing, sculpture, jewelry and photography, made here in the Capital Region. Urban maker is currently seeking artists and crafters to sell their wares in this online local marketplace.

+The Lofts at Harmony Mills, Manhattan style loft living in the Capital Region.

+Choose Cohoes -- Tourism, dining, entertainment and shopping in the Spindle City.

+ Albany Public Library's mobile app -- find locations and hours, check your library card account, learn about upcoming events, download eBooks, audiobooks, music and more. Check ISBN bar codes on books, DVDs and CDs to see if the library owns what you're looking for.

+ Get a FREE MONTH of Wink High Speed Internet Service from Tech Valley Communications. Enter this code when you sign up for service at: www.winkinternet.com: w1n87k0