AOA9 birthday drawing: Honest Weight, City Beer Hall, Pretty Much the Best Comedy Show, CDTA Navigator

AOA9 drawing #4 composite

Drawing's closed! Winner's been emailed!

It's AOA's birthday week -- and you get the presents!

We're not sure if today's basket of prizes has a theme, but it's a good collection!

Honest Weight
A $100 gift card for Honest Weight Food Co-op.

City Beer Hall
A $50 gift certificate for City Beer Hall.

Pretty Much the Best Comedy Show
A four-pack of tickets for the Pretty Much the Best Comedy Show series at Capital Rep May 27, with headliner Dave Hill. (Tickets are $15 each ahead.)

CDTA Navigator card
And, as with every AOA birthday drawing this week, the prize pack also includes a CDTA Navigator card pre-filled with $20.

To enter the drawing, please answer this question in the comments:

Spring is here. So, what would you like to see grow in the Capital Region?

You can interpret this however you like. Maybe it's a literal plant. Maybe it's a movement. Maybe it's a building. Maybe it's a belief.

We'll draw one winner at random. That person gets the whole basket of prizes.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 2 pm on Friday, April 7, 2017 to be entered in the drawing. You must answer the question to be part of the drawing. (Normal commenting guidelines apply.) One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address (that you check regularly) with your comment. The winner will be notified via email by 5 pm on Friday and must respond by 5 pm the following Monday.

Comments

I would like to see Lark Street grow into a busy and thriving city attraction again.

Money trees

I'd love to see bicycling infrastructure continue to grow in Albany.

With dedication and patience, I would like to see my bank account grow so that I can buy a tiny bungalow in Albany.

The tulips!

I have seen- and would like to continue to see- a growth in the appreciation of all of the historical architecture our region has.

From Spring to Fall you can't beat living here.
bur the winters..... we really need to come up with more winter
activities.
some type of carnival....you know a tulip fest in the winter

Since Springtime feels very near I'd like to see people's general happiness grow. The weather has been so dark and dreary, it would be so nice if all of us put on some smiley faces and just extended a simple hello or kind gesture to one another. Hopefully we will get some sunny weather very soon to help out with this one! :-)

Road diets/bike infrastructure

I'd like to see anything other than weeds grow in my basic windowbox herb garden this year...

Also would like to see the empty storefronts on Lark, Madison and the surrounding area grow into more small businesses!

Shirley Jackson's total and complete control of the atmosphere via her Weather Machine, aka EMPAC (since not much ever happens inside, it must be there for a purpose, right?)

more dessert shops please!

More community gardens!

A functional state government.

Tulips!

I'd like to see a larger and more varied design community.

I would love to see a growth in community, cooperation, and coexistence.

A growth in jobs!

public transportation options (cdta is fine, but more options would be better)

I'd like to see a growth in ride sharing or additional transportation opportunities. The taxi services in this area are the absolute bottom of the barrel.

Support for refugees and immigrants

I would love to see a growth of moderately priced apartment complexes. Please stop with all of the luxury apartments!

bike paths

Looking forward to the tulips!!

The weekend scene in downtown albany.

More accessibility, continuity, and public transportation options in the city of Albany (i.e. Bike infrastructure, ride-sharing, more open space, park connectivity, less highways)

I would love to see Empire State Plaza grow into a better use of space above ground. Even in the summer, there's hardly anyone there. It would be amazing if they put a pop up beer garden/lawn game area open to the public or something to that effect. I've seen that done in other cities in open plazas like that.

More small business and a community that supports them.

I can't wait for all the fresh vegetables to start growing, I love going to all the farmers markets in the area !!

Red Tulips.

Ridesharing. Now. No, yesterday. Please.

I'd like to see the financial wellbeing of the City of Albany grow so we can stop asking for advances from the State, possibly cut our taxes and fees, or at least put those taxes towards investing in more long-term sustainable initiatives that will most benefit the residents of Albany.

Positive perceptions of pedestrians and public transit.

More walkable shops.

I love to watch the tulips grow every spring in Albany!

A growth in public transportation! Uber!

Growth of bicycle friendly projects.

The Capital Region is a great place to live and work: I'd like to see it grow more pride and self-confidence.

I'd love to see more affordable apartment housing. I used to live in center square and had a very nice apartment but I hated seeing friends who wanted to move into that area not be able to based on high prices. There are some great lofts and apartment spaces but rents that hit at $1000 or more made albany untouchable for some of my friends that would bring continued life and revenue to the center square area.

Albany's tax base.

Trees that produce money! My mom said money doesn't grow on trees, but I'd like to prove her wrong.

A mango tree.

Patience, Tolerance, Acceptance

Community spirit. We need to connect with our neighbors again - especially those we don't already know.

I'd like to see growth in the music scene in Albany. More variety, more shows (especially smaller ones), and more venues.

Tulips in Washington Park.

More green space. (And bravo to the voters in Clifton Park for rejecting the sale of park land to developers.)

Business friendly policies

I would love to see the Corning Park Preserve/Jennings Landing area grow into a space more accessible from downtown and friendly to small gatherings. Ideally, I would love to see the proposed plans for removing 787 and re-building next to the Hudson River grow to fruition.

I would love to see the use of public transportation and bicycles grow in the Capital Region.

What I would like to see grow is an appreciation for the Capitol Region for what it is right now. Not what it used to be, and not what it will (or may) be some day. Not what it is compared to Boston, or New York, or Philly or whatever other city you prefer. I'm not from this area, but I can't help but become exasperated when I hear someone say "Albany sucks" or "why don't we have this?" or "But, Boston has this."

Leaves on trees!

I'd love to see bus service grow! Getting from point A to point B without having to transfer at C would be great.

Ethics reform in Albany?

Definitely pride in what a wonderful and varied place this is. I moved here from elsewhere and have been so happy to make Troy, and ultimately the entire region, my new home.

Cideries

Expanded public transportation and ride sharing!

native species!

Downtown Albany retail. I want to see stores and boutique shops that I'd actually want to shop in. And small grocery stores. I want it to be more realistic to live in the city without a car.

hmm, can think of things I'd like pruned. How about growing one site for all events? Still missing events advertised in town papers

Urbanism.

Minimalism (of stuff that clutters or owns you) & Maximalism (of Earthlings' wellbeing)

A political party that sciences the shit out of politics/policy-making

Ramps.

Listings & sales of vacant or foreclosed properties

Waterfall hunting!

I would like to see Broadway grow into a wonderful new neighborhood and balance residential needs with business needs.

Potential buyers of Lee Lin and/or 821 New Loudon Rd (on Latham Circle), which I'm looking to sell so I can retire after a year or two of training new owners of Lee Lin

Modernization - ride sharing, more focus on city centers in terms of attractions.

Pride in our region

A more positive attitude towards...everything.

Uber/Lyft!

Growth of parks and community events!

Music offerings.

Andrew Cuomo's nose so everyone could see how much he lies!

I would like to see more respect grow between one another.

Music offerings.

A cat or dog café where animals from a local shelter can hang out with customers and hopefully get adopted. A cat café just opened in Atlanta and they have had 11 adoptions in their first two weeks of being open.

I'd like to see Uber which would grow my dining options........

I would be much more willing to go out and have some drinks with a nice meal if I had a safe and clean option to get home.

Last time I took a cab was in November, and it was unsafe and filthy.

Nipper

The bald spots on our lawn turn green! For 5 years now, I have watched my poor landlord try to get these bald spots of dry, dry soil grow grass! And every year, FAIL! Tru Green and all those places come over , spray etc. But for some darn reason it never grows! The birds chomping at the seeds probably aren't a giant help either! Bout ready to cut up astro turf to fit the spots this year.

I would really like more options for internet service provision here!

Hops.

Tulips and more tulips! Business to Lark St, more focus on filling store fronts on Lark and less focus on luxury apts.downtown.

Opportunities and space for small businesses that sell affordable items. Having to go to the malls for that sort of thing is a bore.

Uber, flowers, acceptance of refugees and religions.

a strong pool of candidates for Mayor of Albany.

Departures from the Times Union blog page.

I would like to see a growth in regional cooperation. Albany, Dchenectady and Troy (and Saratoga?) should be working together to attract jobs, investment, etc. Too often, each sees the other as competition. Work as a team, and I think the result will be better than any individual city (or county) going it alone.

Marijuana legally that is, not just medical but the whole shebang. NY might need the cash from this wild weed crop to offset what isn't coming from the federal government.

Our urban environments and their tax base

Albany: The amount of money tax exempt entities pay to the city

more events in downtown albany, such as festivals and concerts

The Gondola from Rennselaer to downtown.

Respect and good manners.

Would love to see a further expansion of restaurants into the non-ubiquitous cuisines! There's a lot of good Italian and American places, but I'm craving the depth of options found in other cities. I'm pumped to see that there's a new poke place, a few new ramen places, etc

Ridesharing

the growth of people seeing as other as brothers and sisters, all in the same struggle together.

A collective sense of generosity. Too much movement to I'm in it for me and only me.

Growth is overrated,
I'd like to see sustainable coexistence and a rebuilding/ end of deferred maintenance, which might improve self deprecated locals perspective about their environment.

I really want to see the music scene continue to grow. There has been an upswing in acts coming lately, but it needs to continue to rise. This should be a place most tours stop at. Bring all the music!

Let the mushrooms mushroom, the skyrockets skyrocket, the piles pile up, and the balloons ballon!

I would like to see more community gardens grow in the capital district

More Habitat for Humanity Projects in Sheridan Hollow

grow our bike paths!

Downtown Schenectady!

random acts of kindness!

More jobs in former industrial districts that are accessible to the people living there.

The minds of our youth!

Ride sharing opportunities!

Acceptance of those that are different from ourselves.

The Callery Pear tree is always a beautiful sight to see. The smell, however, is a different story altogether.

A very accessible waterfront not covered by highways.

The street art community.

Gratitude for where we're at, and hope for what we can build right here at home.

I would like to see support for single payer healthcare grow!
http://www.singlepayernewyork.org/single-payer/
It's passed in the NYS Assembly a couple times, but doesn't move in the NYS senate.

BUT if that's just a crazy pipedream with no chance of ever happening, then I'd like to see support grow for a high speed gondola that can zoom us, not across the Hudson as proposed, but to NYC in minutes! Hey, if Binghamton can dream it, so can I...
http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2017/03/a_ride_from_binghamton_to_nyc_under_an_hour_entrepreneur_says_possible_with_air.html

The ability to get around the capital region easier but safely aka ridesharing please! Bring uber or Lyft or both!!

I would like to see our ride sharing options grow. If we had Uber it would cut down on drunk driving which in turn could save lives.

Albany's Hudson River Waterfront

I would like to see prosperity grow in the capital region

I would like to see the warehouse district grow into the next lark street.

I'd like to see the growth of civic pride here, so that we're all responsibly disposing of trash and not throwing all over the sidewalks and streets.

The public transportation system. Please! The bikeshare program is a step in the right direction but it could be so much better.

Sunflowers! I love giant sunflowers!

ridesharing.

I cant wait to see the weather get warmer so I can walk around all of albany's great neighborhoods and parks!

I would love to see this area's confidence grow. There's nothing wrong around here that confidence and pride won't fix.

We need weed killer for that inferiority complex and more pride in what there is and what there can be.

I would like to see the amount of farmer's markets grow in the Capital Region.

I would love to see Schenectady grow. It needs our sunshine.

I'm hoping my neighborhood's first annual block party will be a success this year and continue to grow year after year!

I'd like to see the public transportation system grow!

Tulips! 🌷

Fruit, flowers, and vegetables where there was once lawn.

Kindness!

I'd like to see the continued growth of localvore-ism

I'd like to see Ride Sharing grow in the region

Among other things, I'd like to see Albany as a community grow - a lot of Albanians have similar goals but dont know each other! I'd also like to see the stuff in my garden grow.. last year was rough!

Two response to this post mentioned kindness in particular. I agree - we that we need more of that everywhere.

The value of our homes!

Any and all independent, small business.

My chia pet. I live in the capital region so it counts but seriously this is my 2nd one and it won't grow. Please help.

In reading through the comments so far, imagine if our Capital District actually incorporated what so many people are saying here? As I am a local, I understand the frustration with this area. Seeing not thought out ideas implemented and it causing negative results over the years (ie State Museum, 787 along the river...), beautiful building demolished, a lack of pedestrian infrastructure.... My wishes are that those put in power by the people would "grow" and learn to work together between municipalities, start thinking long-term for quality of life and start implementing some of these amazing ideas. We want to love this area and there are so many things to love about it but we need to care for it, cultivate it and put some heart into it! Implementing many of these ideas will "grow" a more healthy and happy Capital District.

Community. A true community that is inclusive of all Capital Region residents!

My aloe plant. It's not doing very well!

I'd like to see Amtrak grow with a direct rail line into Troy! If that's asking for the moon, then maybe just a dedicated busline from downtown to the Rensselaer train station.

Music venues/Live music at pubs

I would like to see pride of place grow in the Capital Region. As a new member of the community, I am constantly discovering all of the great things that make me proud to say I live here, from the walkable streets to the efficient transportation system, the history and the natural beauty, the architecture, the restaurants and recreation, and the fact that there are so many distinct places that make up the Capital Region (Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and so on). I hope to see people recognize and acknowledge all there is to be proud of living in the Capital Region.

Three things: New infrastructure on Albany's waterfront to accommodate restaurants and other venues, more craft breweries and beverage shops, and continued growth on lark street would be nice!

Parks and community gardens

A Tiki Cocktail Bar... Like Latitude 29 in New Orleans!

Smiles :)

Money from trees

Hops- It's one of the few agricultural products that does well I. The area and there is a lot of potential with production for NY farm breweries.

I'd like to see artist cooperatives, where local makers could have a more permanent place to sell their wares.

I would like to see Schenectady grow into a city like Saratoga Springs

A Korean spa & maybe some flowering (nonstinky) trees

School budgets!

- Walkable neighborhoods.
- Bike infrastructure
- Rehabilitation of our beautiful historical buildings
- Public transportation options
- Ethnic restaurants

The "growth" I'd like to see is a monorail connecting Rensselaer train station - Empire Plaza - midtown colleges - Harriman Campus - U at Albany - Albany Airport.

And yes, good sir(s), I'm on the level :-)

I would love to see downtown Albany grow into more of a destination for locals: some new restaurants and stores, etc..

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The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

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