All Over Albany

I'll see you later

This is hard to say, but I'm taking off. It's been a good ride but it's time for me to try something new in life and unfortunately, that also means taking a break from Albany in the form of graduate school in the Midwest.

Like so many of us, I never intended to come back here. The lure of immediate post-graduate employment in the form of a job with the Associated Press brought me back, and ended up pushing my dreams of moving to San Francisco to the side. So I stayed... longer than I ever anticipated, and I've enjoyed myself more than I would ever have expected.

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We want you to review Salt

The U-Haul building, serving as an extra with Angelina.

Update: Lou will be reviewing Salt!

Update: The deadline has passed. We'll contact the winner tonight. Thanks to everyone who entered!

As you know, Salt -- the Angelina Jolie movie -- was partially shot here in Albany (the director would like to thank the citizens). And it opens this Friday.

So, we're looking for someone to review the movie. And that person could be you. Here's the deal:

+ Post a comment telling us what your favorite movie is, and explain why. It doesn't have to be anything long. A few sentences will do.

+ Based on the posted comments, we'll pick a winner to review Salt.

+ That person will get two free tickets to see Salt at the Spectrum this weekend -- so you can bring a friend (it's always good to talk about a movie with someone afterward).

+ The winner then sends us a short review of Salt by Monday at 9 am. The review should be no more than 500 words. And we hope you'll pay special attention to Albany's cameos in the movie (787 apparently makes quite an appearance).

+ We post the review later that day.

So, that's the deal. We think this could be fun.

Important: One entry person. You must answer the question to be considered. Your comment must be posted by 5 pm Wednesday July 21. You must include a working email address (that you check regularly) with your comment. The winner will be notified by 11:59 pm on Wednesday and must respond by noon on Thursday July 22.

Earlier on AOA:
+ Lining up for Salt
+ More Angelina and more Albany
+ That's Angelina and that's Albany
+ Angelina Jolie to stop traffic in downtown Albany

screengrab: Sony

I'll have the AOA

So, last week as part of the totally informal lunch-up at the Capitol Park food trucks, Nipper's Hot Dogs offered an AOA special: two classic Chicago-style hot dogs for $2. It's a good deal -- lunch doesn't get much cheaper.

Well, much to our surprise, the Nipper's guys have decided to rename their classic dogs the "All Over Albany Classic Hot Dogs" and keep the special price for the rest of the summer! We're very flattered! (And, it must be said, a little hungry.)

It was great to see everyone at the lunch up. Thanks for stopping by!

Lunch-up on Thursday

The AOA special: two of these for $2

As part of Lunch Week, we thought it would be fun to have an informal lunch meetup.

So... AOA's having a totally informal, no-sign-ups-or-anything lunch get-together this Thursday in Capitol Park in Albany (it's the park just behind the Capitol with all the lunch trucks).

We're planning to be there from noon until about 1 pm or so. If can you can stop by during your lunch hour, it'd be great to see you. (Weather permitting, of course. Let's hope.) We'll be over by the Nipper's stand on State Street (look for the rainbow umbrellas).

Hot dog bonus!
The guys from the Nipper's Hot Dogs will be offering an AOA special that day: two classic Chicago-style hot dogs for $2. We can speak from experience -- these are good dogs, and filling. If you bring a friend, you can probably both have lunch for about two bucks.

And remember: Wednesday is snap a pic of your lunch and send it to AOA day. Two people will win $25 toward lunch at their favorite local spot.

Next week is Lunch Week

That had been a bagel.

We have something new coming up next week on AOA: Lunch Week.

It's pretty much what it sounds like -- a whole week with posts about... lunch. There will be other stuff, too, including all the usual items. But every day will have at least one post about lunch. Trust us, it'll be fun. We have some excellent contributors lined up to help out.

Here's where you come in

On the last day of Lunch Week (Friday, June 18) we want to do a post about what everyone had for lunch that week. Specifically, the Wednesday of that week (June 16).

So, next Wednesday we'd love for you to snap a pic of your lunch and send it to us at this email address: lunch |at| alloveralbany |dot| com. Please include what's in your lunch, where you got it and how you'd like to be identified.

Lunch can be whatever you're eating that day -- a PB&J from home, a sandwich at your desk from the deli, Chinese at the place down the street, whatever. If you ate it around noon that day, it's lunch.

Everyone who sends along a qualifying lunch photo will be entered in a drawing for, yep... A FREE LUNCH. We'll pick two winners at random. They'll get a $25 gift certificate to their favorite local lunch spot (yep, the winner gets to pick).

OK, to review

1. Next Wednesday, snap a pic of your lunch and send it, along with a description, to lunch |at| alloveralbany |dot| com
2. We'll post the photos and descriptions on Friday
3. Two winners will get free lunch at the local spot of their choice
4. We all have some fun

The Matthew Carefully song for AOA

Remember that contest where we asked for ideas for a Matthew Carefully song? Well, we ended up picking the suggestions from Arielle and Jackers.

Well this morning, Matthew's song -- based on Arielle and Jackers' ideas -- was waiting in our inbox. It's titled "Half-sleep."

It's embedded above. And you can download it here.

Lyrics are after the jump.

Thanks to Matthew for the song! And thanks to everyone who posted a suggestion!

Matthew's new album, Community Balloon, is now available. And here's recap (and photos) of his album release show at Caffe Lena.

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Thanks!

The past week has been unbelievably good to AOA. First the birthday party, which was a great time -- and now this: a top-three ranking in multiple categories of the Metroland readers' poll.

AOA was voted best local web site (community) and best local web site (arts).

We were also voted second for best local web site (news) and best local blog (congrats, Matt!). And AOA finished at #3 for best local web site (music).

We're especially proud of the best local web site (community) honor. The most fulfilling part of working on AOA has been the chance to meet so many interesting/smart/insightful/kind/funny people. Your support and encouragement keeps us going on the tough days -- and on the good days, it pushes us to do more.

Thank you so much.

AOA Birthday 2 photos

Midtown was packed for the party.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Midtown Tap and Tea Room last Thursday for the AOA birthday party. It was a really fun time! It was great to see so many people again -- and meet a bunch of others for the first time.

There are a whole lot of photos from the party after the jump. Also, here are recaps by Albany Jane and The Exile. And you can read most of the party tweets by searching for the hashtag #AOA2.

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Birthday present: Complexions Spa

We'd like to makeover the AOA offices to look more like this.

Well, the party is over, but there are still more presents to be had. We've got one prize left in the AOA birthday bag. The winners of today's drawing will get $100 gift certificates for Complexions Spa and Salon or their new barber shop and hair salon. There will be 3 winners.

So here's today's question:

What -- and how -- would you makeover in the Capital Region?

We're looking for constructive ideas about how to make over something that already exists here. Think broadly -- it could be a street, a neighborhood, a building, an event, an attitude, anything.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 10 pm Friday (Feb 26, 2010) to be entered in the drawing. One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address with your comment. The winners will be notified via email by 5 pm on Monday and must respond by 5 pm on Tuesday.

Happy birthday to us

Sprinkles!

Update: Recaps from Albany Jane and The Exile.

Update: You can read a lot of the tweets from the party by searching for the hash tag #AOA2.

We're kicking off a little early this afternoon for the birthday party.

There are cupcakes to be eaten.

Birthday present: New World Bistro Bar

New World was, well, new to Albany last year.

AOA's birthweek celebration continues today with -- what else -- more presents.

The winners of today's drawing get: a $100 gift certificate to New World Bistro Bar in Albany. There will be three winners.

This one got us thinking. New World. New. New stuff. New stuff in the Capital Region! So today's question is:

What new thing would you like to see in the Capital Region?

From subways to taco trucks -- it's all fair game! Post your answer in the comments section. We'll draw the winner at random.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 10 pm Thursday (Feb 25, 2010) to be entered in the drawing. One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address with your comment. The winners will be notified via email by 5 pm on Friday and must respond by 5 pm on Monday.

Birthday present: Bilinski's

All natural chicken sausage -- made in Cohoes.

Update: The drawing's closed! Thanks for entering.

It's day three of the AOA's "birthweek" celebration and we're giving away more presents.

Today's prize: a basket of products from Bilinski's in Cohoes.. Here's what's in the basket:

Bilinski's All Natural Spinach & Garlic Chicken Sausage - 2 packages
Bilinski's All Natural Mild Italian Chicken Sausage - 2 packages
Bilinski's All Natural Sundried Tomato & Basil Chicken Sausage - 1 package
Bilinski's All Natural Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage - 1 package
Bilinski's All Natural Blueberry Maple Chicken Littles - 2 packages
Bilinski's NEW Chicken Meatloaf - family sized - 1 package
Bilinski's NEW Chicken Chicken Chili - family sized - 1 package

That's like an entire month's worth of dinners. Maybe two.

OK, so remember the old adage about laws and sausages?  You know, two things you
don't want to know how they're made?  Well, a while back AOA toured the Bilinski's factory in Cohoes -- and we got the impression that if New York did made laws like sausage, we might actually be in better shape today.

So in keeping with that theme, here's today's question:

If you could make one new law for the Capital Region, what would it be?

It could be for your town, it could be for the whole area. Post your answer in the comments. We'll draw the winner at random.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 10 pm Wednesday (Feb 24, 2010) to be entered in the drawing. One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address with your comment. The winners will be notified via email by 5 pm on Thursday and must respond by 5 pm on Friday.

Birthday present: Bettie's Cakes

Mobile double-decker cake stand not included.

Update: Congratulations to Jackers and Cathy -- they're the winners!

Update: The drawing's closed! Thanks for entering.

AOA's birthday week continues with another present: cupcakes for a year.

The winners of today's drawing will get a dozen mini cupcakes a month, for a year, from Bettie's Cakes in Saratoga Springs.

This being quite the sweet treat, we though it would be appropriate to ask:

What's the sweetest thing in the Capital Region?

Think widely on this one -- it could be a place, a fact, an event, even a person (please use discretion in naming people). Post your answer in the comments. We'll draw two winners at random.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 10 pm Tuesday (Feb 23, 2010) to be entered in the drawing. One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address with your comment. The winners will be notified via email by 5 pm on Wednesday and must respond by 5 pm on Thursday.

AOA office memo

Otto hard at work. As usual.

MEMO

To: all AOA editors, contributors, participants

Re: office dog

Two years ago today Otto started his job as AOA's office dog. Please join us in warmly congratulating him on the anniversary.

During the past two years Otto has grown (literally and figuratively) into the position. His originally modest job description now includes:

greeting visitors
twittering
US Postal Service liaison
summer replacement
document shredding
product testing
lunch monitor
holiday model

In addition, he's also enthusiastically served as AOA's goodwill ambassador.

Here's to many more years.

Birthday present: Uncommon Grounds

Stimulating.

Update: Heather's the winner!

Update: The drawing's closed! Thanks for entering!

AOA's birthday party is coming up this Thursday -- but we though it would be more fun to celebrate our birthday all week. And what's a birthday without presents?

So all this week we're giving away birthday presents via a different drawing each day. Today's present is a gift basket from AOA's favorite satellite office -- Uncommon Grounds:

3lbs coffee
2 1/4lbs tea
UG mug
UG t-shirt (winner specifies size, style, color)
1/2 lb of dark chocolate covered espresso beans

UG being a purveyor of fine caffeinated products, we thought it would be fun to ask the question:

What's the most stimulating thing about the Capital Region?

Post your answer in the comments. We'll draw the winner at the random.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 10 pm Monday (Feb 22, 2010) to be entered in the drawing. One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address with your comment. The winners will be notified via email by 5 pm on Tuesday and must respond by 5 pm on Wednesday.

Party prep

We're less than a week away from the AOA birthday party. And we're excited. We hope you are, too.

The list for the party is jammed -- and there are people who would still like to come. So if something's come up and you won't be able to make it, please let us know so we can release your spot.

Also: we've decided to celebrate AOA's second birthday all next week. Fun things ahead...

AOA Birthday Party 2

These guys made an appearance at last year's party -- they were quite popular.

It's All Over Albany's second birthday! And we're of the mind to party.

So join us at the Midtown Tap and Tea Room on February 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 for some tasty free snacks, a bunch of fun people and... cupcakes!

Because space is limited, we do ask that you RSVP (that part is important -- almost as important as the cupcakes).

See you there!

Look, it's the editors... you know... editing

It was gray sweater day at AOA last Friday.

We can confirm that the rumors of AOA's upcoming second birthday are true. February's the month -- details soon to follow.

And if you've been intending to follow us on Twitter or fan us (OK, that doesn't sound right) on Facebook -- now might be a good time. You never know...

Jessica Pasko Appreciation Day

The one and only.

Today is Jessica Pasko Appreciation Day on AOA.

Jessica is a big part of AOA's success. She's always finding interesting stuff to post about, whether it's a person with an odd talent or a little-known ethnic market or an unusual museum.

She's also always willing to help out, picking up a pizza for the TOP or sending along an event for Stuff To Do This Weekend.

And did we mention she's a fun, cool person?

Jess, you're the best. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Another thing we're thankful for: ridges from the can.

AOA has a lot to be thankful for this year -- most of all the many interesting, smart, funny people who contributed, commented, sent along ideas or supported us.

Thank you. We appreciate it.

AOA cookout photos

Relaxing in the park.

It was great to see so many people at the AOA cookout in Washington Park a week and a half ago. We had a lot of fun!

Thanks to Bilinski's and Crisan for providing the delicious food.

A few pictures from the cookout are after the jump. A whole bunch are at AOA's Facebook page.

And here's a good set of photos by Andy.

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Cookout with AOA in Washington Park

Update: The list is full! We're working on opening up more space. We've expanded the list! And it's full again!

Undaunted by this summer's weather, AOA is having a cookout in Washington Park on August 13. Among the many reasons you should add this evening of fun and free food (yes, free) to your social calendar:

The sausage

The folks from Bilinski's will be there cooking up some special all-natural chicken sausages -- so special, they're not available in stores, yet. Bilinski's is looking to get some feedback on the new products. So here's a chance to actually influence what shows up in supermarkets.

The gelato

You can follow up that sausage with some gelato from Crisan. Yep. Free gelato.

The people

As we've found out from the other get-togethers, people in the AOA crowd are interesting, smart and a lot of fun. We'd love to see you there.

The cookout starts at 5:30 pm. We'll be in the grassy area just west of the monument in Washington Park. All you need to bring is yourself and maybe a blanket or something to sit on. We'll be providing drinks, plates, napkins and all that kind of stuff.

In order to make sure we'll have enough food, we do ask that you RSVP. The list only has 50 spots on it. If you're interested, it's best to sign up early.

Thank you

It was a really great surprise to find out today that AOA had placed in not one, but two, categories of the TU's Best of 2009 poll.

We were #2 on the list of best web sites (behind the TU) and #3 on the list of best bloggers (behind Steve and Kristi -- company in which we're delighted to be).

Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We really appreciate it.

And if this is your first time at AOA -- welcome!

AOA Midtown party photos

At Midtown.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the AOA's Midtown party last Thursday. It was good to meet so many new people for the first time -- and great to see so many again.

Thanks also to the Midtown Tap and Tea Room for making us some really tasty snacks.

A handful of photos are after the jump.

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AOA Midtown party update

First, thanks to everyone who's said "Yep, I'll be there" for this Thursday's party at the Midtown Tap and Tea Room -- the 75 spots filled up over the weekend. We're excited to meet a bunch of people in person for the first time. If you're signed up and won't be able to make it, please update your status (or send us an email) so other people can take your spot.

Second, the food. The list of hors d'oeuvres is after the jump. They look like some tasty snacks.

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