All Over Albany

Ulysses S. Grant and Mount McGregor

Ulysses S. Grant at his McGregor Mountain cottage

130 years ago today Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, died at his cottage near the top of Mount McGregor in WiltonMoreau, just north of Saratoga.

Grant's role in history is being re-examined by some historians, who now eschew the image of the Civil War general turned Commander -in-chief as a drinker whose success was based largely on luck, for one of a champion of African Americans. In a piece today in the Huffington Post on why historians are changing their tune about GrantJohn F. Marszalek -- a historian and executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Association says "You have to go almost to Lyndon Johnson to find a president who tried to do as much to ensure black people found freedom."

Grant spent his last days in the cottage on Mount McGregor. The cottage, now a state historic site, is preserved pretty much they way it was when he left it -- books, bedding and all-- and it is open to the public for tour. On Saturday the keepers of the cottage will mark the anniversary of Grant's passing with a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Checking out the Healthy Living Market and Cafe

At the store's opening day on Thursday.

The new Healthy Living Market and Cafe in the Wilton Mall is hard to nail down.

It's not a health food store, yet it has a section full of natural health products and supplements. It's not a specialty foods store, even though they stock some hard-to-find, high-end items that are bound to delight enthusiasts. It's certainly not a conventional grocery store, although it has everything from pet and baby food to cleaning supplies to toilet paper.

And while they will proudly carry conventionally produced strawberries in the winter -- because, as Healthy Living owner Katy Lesser explained, that's "what Americans want" -- they will never stock Coca-Cola. Not even the Mexican stuff with real sugar.

So what is this place, how does it fit into the region's supermarket scene, and is there anything there worth a drive?

(there's more)

Healthy Living Market opening in Wilton

The Healthy Living Market in South Burlington, Vermont.

The Vermont-based Healthy Living Market and Cafe announced today that it's planning a new store at the Wilton Mall, aiming to be open next winter.

The market will occupy the space left empty by the former J.C. Penney at the mall. The company says the store will be about 35,000 square feet. (For comparison: the new ShopRite being built in Albany will be 65,000 square feet.) The company says it's planning to hire about 140 people.

The company touts its store as "a one-stop destination for natural groceries, fresh organic and local produce, locally sourced meats and poultry, crusty artisan breads, a world of cheese, health and beauty products, a complete vitamin/supplement department, freshly prepared foods and a broad selection of microbrews and wine."

We hear from a Vermonter that Health Living is like a Whole Foods or Fresh Market, but with an emphasis on local food. We also hear that its nickname around Burlington is "Wealthy Living," because it does tend to be high-end.

This will be the company's second store. Its first opened in South Burlington 26 years ago. If you've ever been to that store, we'd love to hear about it.

Full press release after the jump.

Earlier on AOA:
+ The local supermarket field is getting crowded
+ Trader Joe's confirms Wolf Road location

photo: Flickr user NNECAPA

(there's more)