All Over Albany

Trying the Growler Station at Price Chopper

Tucked between the rotisserie and the deli.

With a new ShopRite right across the street, the Slingerlands Price Chopper has upped its game. Among the upgrades at the remodeled store: a Growler Station Express.

It's pretty much what it sounds like -- a counter in the prepared foods section for getting growlers filled with craft beer. And it's the Chopper's first test of the concept.

So how does it work?

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Stop. No, really.

In case you were thinking this is one of the optional stop signs.

We had a laugh this week after seeing this sign at the Price Chopper Plaza in Slingerlands.

A ShopRite for Slingerlands, and a tech park

Right now there's not a lot there besides dirt.

Thursday was the official groundbreaking for the Vista Technology Campus in Slingerlands. A lot of the attention was focused on one of the tenants already signed up: ShopRite. That makes three stores now officially announced/open for the area (there's a fourth planned for Colonie). ShopRite continues what appears to be a strategy to go to head-to-head with Price Chopper -- the Vista ShopRite is pretty much be right across the road from the Slingerlands Chopper. [Spotlight] [YNN]

Planning for the Vista site has been going on for a few years -- but Thursday's announcements would seem to indicate it's picking up momentum. It's a potentially significant development project. The site includes 150 acres of land planned for development. And the developer -- Columbia Development -- says its plan includes up 1.4 million square feet of office, research and manufacturing facilities, medical office, and retail space.

A few quick thoughts about all this...

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Pine Hollow Arboretum

A secret garden in Slingerlands.

It's a charming little park -- privately owned but open to the public -- near the Bethlehem Price Chopper in Slingerlands. But unless you have driven right past it -- actually, even if you have driven right past it -- you would probably have no idea it existed.

The Pine Hollow Arboretum is a 45-year-old project by John Abbuhl, and it was his charming wife who let us in to investigate on Mother's Day afternoon.

Here's how our visit went (complete with some lovely pictures)...

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DA says recent attempted abduction reports not unusual, man accused of throwing person into a fire, police taser man in Schenectady, David Hyde Pierce returns to Saratoga

Despite a recent string of reports, the Schenectady County DA says he doesn't believe there's been an unusual number of attempted abductions. [TU]

The state Department of Transportation says there's been an increase in the number of fender benders on Route 85 in Slingerlands where the roundabouts have been installed -- but fewer accidents involving injuries. The DOT reported a similar trend for the Malta roundabouts last year. [TU] [Daily Gazette $]

State Democrats have reportedly given David Paterson until December to turn his poll numbers around ahead of next year's gubernatorial race. [AP/TU]

The state has spent $19k to install hand sanitizer dispensers in state buildings -- including the Capitol -- around Albany. [PolitickerNY]

East Greenbush police say a man threw an 18-year-old into a bonfire during a party early Friday morning. The alleged victim reportedly suffered second degree burns on many parts of his body. The alleged tosser has been charged with first degree assault. [Fox23] [WTEN] [WNYT]

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Thrift at Something Olde, Something New

A quirky little find from Something Olde, Something new

Let's face it, if you're a thrift shopper, you have to keep yourself open to possibility. Borrowing from Forest Gump's chocolate box metaphor, "you never know what you're going to get."

At Something Olde, Something New in Slingerlands, you could walk out with a unique housewarming gift --or a pair of vintage Gucci alligator heels. You just never know. And that's half the fun.

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Jonathan cares about the world, do you?

Who's Jonathan?

Update: Jonathan -- the Jonathan -- posted a comment below.

I've passed this Adopt-a-Highway sign on New Scotland Road, near the Tollgate Restaurant in Slingerlands, dozens of times and it's always left me scratching my head.

Is it meant to be snarky? Is it meant to make me feel bad because I haven't adopted a stretch of highway myself? Or is it just a genuine proclamation of selflessness and commitment to bettering the world, one stretch of road at a time?

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Presidential campaigns set up here, big development planned for Slingerlands, pay raises for legislators, the wrong campus

The Clinton and Obama campaigns have opened local offices as they look ahead to the February 5 NY primary. The Clinton camp set up on South Pearl in Albany, while Obama's people are in West Hill. Said Clinton supporter Mike Breslin: "This is not ceremonial; this is business, baby." [Daily Gazette]

Work could start as soon as this summer on a mixed-use development just of Rt. 85 near the Price Chopper in Slingerlands. Offices, banks, coffee places, a high-end restaurant, condos and an organic food store are all in the plans. [TU]

Word around the campfire at the state capitol is that that Governor Spitzer has agreed to support a pay raise for legislators. NY currently has the third-highest legislator salaries in the nation. Base pay is $79,500, but some earn more than $100,000. [NYT]

Spamalot didn't just draw big crowds to Proctor's -- it drew record-breaking crowds. The Monty Python musical sold more than $1.1 million in tickets. [Daily Gazette]

Siena got thwacked last night at Loyola 85-56. The Saints are now 12-7 and 7-2 in the MAAC. [TU]

Coming home from drinking downtown, a completely bombed UAlbany student smashed through a door at the Harriman state office campus and ended up sleeping in a second-floor hallway of the Department of Taxation and Finance Building. Police say the student was trying to get back to his dorm. [TU]