All Over Albany

This week was brought to you by

This week was brought to you by sunshine, long walks and lilacs.

And of course by AOA advertisers. Here's how it works -- if advertisers didn't support AOA, we wouldn't be here. If we weren't here we couldn't bring you Morning Blend, Stuff To Do This Weekend and all the interesting info in between.

So thanks to advertisers like Berkshire Bank, Staff Ciampino and The College of Saint Rose, who made it possible for Flower Scout to win $1,500 in the AOA Startup Contest.

Please support our advertisers when you can. And tell them AOA sent you.

Want to advertise on AOA? It's easy and affordable. Just send us a note at advertising@alloveralbany.com and we'll get you started.

Stuff to learn

UAlbany's History Department, offering an M.A. and Ph.D. in Environmental History. Explore the human connection to nature.

The Fred Astaire Dance Studios on Troy Schenectady Road in Latham. Learn to dance in 2015. Gift certificates available

The College of Saint Rose, offering 52 Graduate Programs with a purpose. Programs include: MFA in Creative writing, MBA, Computer Information Systems and more.

Ways to get where you're going

Capital Car Share. Share cars for just $8 an hour.

CDTA: whether it's work or play, CDTA can get you where you're going and safely back home again.

Keeler Mini, sponsor of AOA's Tournament of Pizza to end all Tournaments of Pizza.

Stuff to do

Historic Albany Foundation, partnering with Albany Stories in Am I On , an effort to gather stories of the Capital City.

Mop & Bucket Improv Company, opening a brand new season of Spontaneous Broadway. In Act I performers improvise wonderful songs based on audience suggestions. The audience picks their favorite song and the cast uses it to improvise a Broadway musical in act two. They're also teaching classes in improv and creativity for adults and kids at MopCo World Headquarters on Union Street in Schenectady.

Spectrum 8 Theaters. Enjoy a movie at The Spectrum. And don't forget the mint brownie.

Albany Institute
The Albany Institute of History and Art's Triple Play exhibit, a look back at the history of baseball in the Capital Region.

Food and Drink

Umana Restaurant and Wine Bar, serving Ethiopian fare every Friday and Saturday evening with traditional Ethiopian flatbread (Injera), and choice of vegetarian choices or meat all seasoned with special Ethiopian spices (berbere).

Honest Weight Food Coop. Eat healthy, eat local.

Beer
Shmaltz Brewing, host of the All Over Albany Tournament of Pizza People's Plate tasting event.

Farmie Market
Farmie Market -- Farm fresh food delivered right to your door.

New World
New World Bistro Bar, named #1 Best Restaurant, according to Times Union 'Best of the Capital Region' Readers' Poll and also listed as one of 'the 13 Best New York Restaurants, not in NYC' according to Thrillist.com.

New World Catering, from weddings and big parties to small gatherings in your home.

Now Open
Broadway Plaza Liquor is now open at 418 Broadway, next to Coulson's News.

Fine wine
Capital Wine at the corner of State and Lark Streets, with a wonderful supply of wines from around the world.

Helpful stuff

Brian Brosen and Reggie Monroe at The Capital Team at Realty USA. Brian and Reggie can help out with your residential and commercial real estate needs in the Capital Region.

Staff Ciampino & Company, P.C.. Yep, it's time to get your 2014 taxes in order, and Staff Ciampino can help you with your business and personal tax needs. They're also the sponsors of the All Over Albany Start Up Grant business contest, so they're not only good at what they do, they're awesome too.

Historic home help
Historic Albany's architectural parts warehouse -- the Capital Region's only not-for-profit architectural parts warehouse.

Banking
Berkshire Bank, providing the $1,500 prize money for this year's AOA Startup Contest. Great rates on home equity loans.

Libraries
The Albany Public Libraries. Their mobile app helps you find library locations and hours, check your library card account, learn about upcoming events, download eBooks, audiobooks, music and more. You can even check ISBN bar codes on books, DVDs and CDs to see if the library owns what you need.