All Over Albany

I think Albany likes fireworks as much as it likes bacon

... said Eric Scheirer Stott on Aug 23, 2014 at 12:32 PM | link

We were on the ESP and had a great time watching the implosion. Thanks for pulling all of these videos together - it's fun to see all the various perspectives.

... said Sharon on Aug 23, 2014 at 1:03 PM | link

Only Albany would have a barricaded VIP area for a building implosion.

God forbid the peasants get to close to developers or elected officials.

... said Greg on Aug 23, 2014 at 1:09 PM | link

We had a terrific view from the Plaza, but it's neat seeing video from different angles.

Some people on the Plaza were shouting "DO IT AGAIN!!!"

... said Paula on Aug 23, 2014 at 1:45 PM | link

@Greg - And that VIP area was left littered with still-full water bottles, coffee cups, and so on. It was much messier than the peasants' viewing area.

... said Paula on Aug 24, 2014 at 9:31 AM | link

This was awesome! What else can we blow up?

... said grandmastergus on Aug 24, 2014 at 8:46 PM | link

Well worth a morning bike ride from Troy!
I didn't expect the fireworks display.

@Greg That VIP area was obnoxious. I saw a security guard hassle a worker that needed to get through, super condescending.

... said spencer on Aug 25, 2014 at 8:15 AM | link

we had a great time. And the story has been picked up by a few national web sites as being a particularly cool implosion (as implosions go)

and I'm sorry but I have to say this. How you do complain about a small rope between all of us yahoos \ kids \ dogs and the business people \ elected officials who are actually responsible for the event. Which was not done for your Saturday morning entertainment by the way.

... said joe on Aug 25, 2014 at 8:53 AM | link

Gawker did a write up on the implosion:

http://gawker.com/building-gets-implosion-sendoff-that-all-buildings-drea-1626194666

... said spencer on Aug 25, 2014 at 9:08 AM | link

@joe There was not a small roped off area. It was an area about 30 x 100 surrounded with a metal barracade and security guards. Security from whom? It was totally unnecessary and just represents the attitude of the developers and OGS.

The development is only possible due to tens of millions of free taxpayer dollars from you and I. I appreciate the extra effort to make the whole thing entertaining. But the segregation was offensive.

... said Greg on Aug 25, 2014 at 11:36 AM | link

judging by your offense, you probably would have puked if you heard the speeches . so then I conclude that the segregation was probably justified. I could hear them on the other side of this offensive waste high barricade and all I could think was . Shut up and blow up this building all ready!

I don't know about you but we were there to watch stuff get blowed up.

it was probably the most entertaining free Saturday morning of the year. It was a really fun community experience that we'll never forget.

anyway. you have the right to be offended, and I have the right to be offended by your offense and particularly by your use of the word segregation to describe it.

cheers

... said Joe on Aug 25, 2014 at 1:32 PM | link

@Joe: public officials are supposed to mingle with their constituencies. That's their job. We are growing too comfortable with this quasi-monarchy called political incumbents. They should dtand with us because we are the ones who stand with them on election day.

... said Another Joe on Aug 25, 2014 at 1:32 PM | link

they don't just quasi mingle with the people, they are among the people all the time. I see Jerry all over town. I see Kathy at Starbucks. You can knock on her door if you want. I think I saw David Soars on Sat, I see him at the mall. I was at some thing at the plaza and Chuck Shumer looked lonely with no one talking to him. I can't shake a stick without seeing Paul Tonko at some event shaking hands with regular old salt of the earth Americans.

They arn't perfect, but they are quite accessible in my personal experience.

This was an unadvertised controlled demolition of a 10 story building. A little different than the tulip fest. .

I guess I see your comments as a knee jerk anti government rhetoric. Government has alot of problems fo sho, but tearing it down, defunding and ridiculing it are really part of some other agenda that is the real problem in this country.

That agenda leads to grotesque and exponential inequality that makes a transparent 3 foot barricade look like what it is... a transparent 3 foot barricade.

It frustrates me because we have so much potential but everyone's all up in arms about things the wrong things. like for example a 3 ft transparent barricade that wouldn't even stop your voice, you wouldn't even have to yell to get their attention. and to use the word segregation. I know it's literally correct, but it's such a loaded word.

Your not a victim in this situation. is all I really am trying to say.

sigh I know. You're probably like. jees. settle down

sorry I'm being prejudiced I don't even know you.

have a good day.

... said Joe on Aug 25, 2014 at 2:24 PM | link

I guess I'd like to see them implode the Central Warehouse -- but only if we're never going to use it for anything, of course.

... said Rob on Aug 28, 2014 at 2:37 PM | link