The last week's worth of items on AOA
Six in a row for $378k
NYRA reports that four tickets correctly hit the Pick 6 at The Track yesterday -- and each paid out $377,883. (The Pick 6 is when a bettor tries to pick the winners of six consecutive races.)
More than $1.9 million was bet on the Pick 6 at Saratoga yesterday -- the biggest one day Pick 6 "handle" (the amount bet) since 2000. The total pool for the Pick Six was $2,368,342, the second highest total during the last 10 years. (The amount of money up for grabs carries over to the next day if no one wins.)
But get this: NYRA says none of the winning tickets was bought at Saratoga. Two were sold online, one at Connecticut OTB and one at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
Consumer "non-confidence"
The higher the number, the more confident.
Check out this table from the Siena Research Institute's monthly New York State consumer confidence index.
Look at the split between Democrats and Republicans for confidence about the future of the economy. There's also a relatively wide split between upstate and NYC.
From SRI director Doug Lonnstrom:
Statewide our numbers are weak and depict worried consumers very reluctant to spend. Under the hood, we see Democrats saying the economic glass is nearly half full, but Republicans, 25 future index points lower, are now more pessimistic about their own prospects as well as the five-year state outlook than they have been since we began measuring consumer confidence in 1999. Over six of every ten Republicans expect poor business conditions in New York this year and widespread unemployment through 2015. Democrats forecast a somewhat rosier picture for the state and are much more likely than Republicans to insist that somehow, someway, they personally will be better off in a year.
As NYT reported earlier this week, New York City has fared relatively well during the recession (relative being the key word) -- and things are looking up there. That might explain some of the split -- both political and geographic.
Earlier on AOA: Optimism for the Capital Region housing market
table: Siena Research Institute
Free Wine and Food Festival tickets
Next week is the last event of the season at SPAC-- the big Wine, Food and Ferrari Festival.
And the central event is the Grand Tasting on Saturday, September 11th from 1 to 5:30. More that 100 Italian and international wines will be available for sampling, there will be wine and cheese seminars, delicacies from local chefs and lots of Ferraris and other beautiful cars. Not a bad way to kill an afternoon.
Over 35 importers of Italian wines and food products will be offering tastings. Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $75 a piece -- but we've got 4 pair to give away.
Gourmet food, fine wine and fancy cars had us daydreaming about living like the other half does. Which brings us to the question we'd like you to answer to enter the drawing:
How do you "live rich" in the Capital Region?
Maybe it's where you go to splurge or treat yourself when you've got a few extra dollars. Maybe it doesn't cost anything at all but makes you feel like a million bucks. Anyway, tell us what it is and we'll enter you into the drawing. And of course, let us know what's so great about it in case we want to try it too. That part's not a requirement, but it's more fun to share.
The deadline to enter is Friday, September 3rd at 8PM.
Very, very important: One entry per person. You must answer the question to be eligible. You must post your comment by 8 pm on Friday, September 3rd, 2010. You must include a working email address (that you check regularly) with your comment. The winners will be notified by email by noon on Saturday-- and must respond by 5PM Tuesday, September 7th.
Craig and his wonderful list
The good thing about Craigslist: it's a window into our fellow community members' wants, needs and aspirations. The bad thing about Craigslist: it's a window into our fellow community members' wants, needs and aspirations.
Good or bad, we'll let you decide...
Ecovative called a "technology pioneer"
Ecovative's environmentally-friendly packaging material.
Ecovate Design, the Green Island-based startup, has been named a "Technology Pioneer" for 2011 by the World Economic Forum (you know, the Davos people). From the WEF brochure:
Over US$ 100 billion dollars of environmentally harmful foams are used each year, depleting finite fossil fuel reserves and causing serious environmental impact during production and disposal. Ecovative's technology has the potential to eliminate a significant amount of environmentally harmful foams, including the expanded polystyrene used worldwide in packaging, automobiles, building construction and consumer goods.
Ecovative has developed packaging and insulation that made with seed husks and mushroom roots. The two founders, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, are RPI grads. The company's gotten a lot of attention -- it was even name-checked on CSI:NY.
From 2008 on AOA: A (very cool) fungus grows in Troy
photo: Ecovative Design
The bindi lady
Brittany Johnson Michael -- the bindi lady.
Brittany Johnson Michael makes bindis -- the traditional Hindu jewelry worn by women on the forehead.
Brittany is not Indian, and she wasn't raised in the Hindu culture, but she's been wearing bindis and writing about them for years.
Now she's making bindis. And from her studio in Albany, her new twist on the ancient custom -- the Om body bindi -- has made it to Yoga studios and new age shops around the country.
It's hot, Breslin and Martland debate term limits, underwear blamed for Cohoes sewage pump failure, 28 cats dropped at shelter in boxes, a Bombers for Troy?
This just in: it's hot. Today's high is forecasted to be 93. There's an air quality alert for ozone. [NWS] [NWS]
Term limits were one of the most-discussed issues at the debate between Democratic state Senate debate between Neil Breslin and Luke Martland. Said Martland of the incumbent: "If you believe that New York state is on the right track and that the status quo is working, then you should vote for Neil Breslin." Said Breslin: "... when people see the accomplishments, that I've had, see what I've done in terms of reform and cleaning up the Senate, I'm sure I'll be re-elected." [YNN] [TU] [WTEN]
Cohoes mayor John McDonald says the city has fixed the pumps whose failure had resulted in sewage being discharged into a tributary of the Hudson. He says the rags that damaged the pumps have been identified as children's clothing and underwear -- and police are investigating where they came from. [CBS6] [Troy Record]
Troy police say a man died yesterday after being hit by a car while crossing River Street (map). They say the man may have walked into the street from between two parked cars. [YNN] [Troy Record]
The Troy Fire Department says an elderly man died during a fire in his apartment early Wednesday morning. They say the fire may have been started by a cigarette. [Troy Record] [TU]
Hannah's Hope wins grant
Hannah's Hope Fund ended up as one of the two finalists for that $250k Pepsi Refresh grant (both finalists get a grant). Voting ended last night -- and there's some confusion about where Hannah's Hope finished (the Pepsi site had HHF listed as both a finalist and a 3rd place finisher). But a message on the org's site says Pepsi has confirmed the top-2 finish. Earlier on AOA: Hannah's Hope Fund
We'll drink to that
The City of Albany's drinking water took the spot in the New York State Drinking Water Taste Test at this year's state fair. Albany's water was up against supplies from nine other municipalities, all winners of regional competitions.
So where does Albany get this great-tasting water? The answer is... Coeymans. The city has two reservoirs near there -- the Alcove Reservoir and the Basic Creek Reservoir (which is in Westerlo). The Alcove Reservoir was created in 1928 by damming the Hannacroix Creek, which flooded the village of Indian Fields. (They did, apparently, move the village cemetery.)
While we're on the subject We recently heard about a project -- called "Tap" -- aimed at getting local people to switch from bottled water to tap:
"Tap" is an organized effort to educate and persuade Albanites to reduce their carbon footprint by refusing bottled water and utilizing the city's municipal water supply. We aim to teach people ways to be healthy, save money, save the environment and support the local community by using tap water for hydrating needs.
Don't redact me, bro
The New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that it's suing the Albany Police Department for what it describes as a "refusal to fully disclose public records about its use of Tasers." The NYCLU says the APD and Saratoga Springs police were the only departments to provide redacted policies during a survey. It says a state Supreme Court judge ordered the SSPD to turn over the whole document in May and the department did so. (the headline allusion)
Running on Albany time
The first Dudley Observatory, in north Albany.
In our global civilization, we're accustomed to dealing with time zones and standard definitions -- Greenwich Time, Eastern Time, Daylight Savings Time.
If one plan from before the Civil War had succeeded, the Northeast might have been on Albany Time.
It started in 1851, with the founding of the Dudley Observatory.
Pulled over
An org called the National Motorists Association has tagged Troy as the "worst speed trap city" in New York (under 100,000). The designation isn't based on ticket data, but rather the number of user-submitted reports of speed traps. [via TU Getting There]
What's up in the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: Schoharie County, the Great Escape, Mountain Brew, cupcakes, breakfast, calamari, the Judge's Inn, burgeoning gentians, contractors, cookies, text books and fish.
Tour de Habitat 2010
The annual Tour de Habitat bike ride is coming up September 26. From the brochure:
The Tour de Habitat gives riders a choice of pedaling a 100, 50, 25 or family-friendly 10 mile route to benefit Capital District Habitat for Humanity. All rides start and finish at the Albany Pump Station, with a post-ride reception featuring food and beer.
The entry fee is $100, for which the org is hoping people will get sponsors. The fee includes "riding a fully supported route, pre- and post-ride meals at the Albany Pump Station, two pints of any Evans beer after the ride and a souvenir t-shirt."
Earlier on AOA: Scoring your very own urinal at Habitat ReStore
Pump failure causing sewage to be dumped into Hudson tributary, Breslin calls Paterson "an absolute, total failure," Saratoga Spring Water's blue bottles catching eyes in China
The state DEC says the failure of pumping station in Cohoes has led to thousands of gallons of raw sewage being dumped into a tributary of the Hudson. Cohoes mayor John McDonald says that rags "that should not have been disposed in the system" caused the pumps to break. [TU] [Troy Record]
The former director of the state prison system's food production operation -- and his staff -- "routinely traded favors and gifts with favored businesses that were rewarded with millions of dollars in state purchases," according to report from the state comptroller and state inspector general. The former director, who's since retired, has previously been accused of taking every Friday off for 17 years. [NYS OSC] [TU]
Neil Breslin says David Paterson "has been an absolute, total failure" as governor. Luke Martland, Breslin's Democratic primary opponent, says the state legislature "doesn't do what's right by anybody" except themselves. Breslin and Martland debate tonight at St. Rose. [TU CapCon] [Troy Record]
A gambling police expert on New York's use of racino money to prop up horse racing: "For New York, the public policy question comes down to this: Should we spend $400 million to save racetracks or to save education and other things that are also in great need?" [NYT]
Dynamic
Spin says Phantogram is one of this year's five breakout musical duos (also filed under: stylish, trend-setting boy-girl duos). The mini profile includes some fun photos and this quote from Josh: "Stylistically, we're somewhere between the Cure and Missy Elliott." Phantogram is headlining a tour all over the country this fall.
The hottest month?
August was crushed to find out that the NWS says July is hotter.
After seeing some chatter (chirping?) about today's temperature on Twitter (essentially: it shouldn't be this hot), we figured we'd look it up to see what the typical temps are for August (and every other month, for that matter).
The chart above shows the monthly normal temps as recorded by the National Weather Service in Albany for the years 1971-2000 (so, yep, it doesn't include the last decade of data). As you can see, July is typically the hottest month, though August is close behind. The numbers are also in a table after the jump.
The average high so far this month has been 81.5, which is a few degrees warmer than usual.
About today... The highest temp on record here for August 31 came in 1953, a day that topped out at 93. As of 3 pm today, the temp was 91. The average high for this date is 76.
Good places to eat on Sunday?
Skye emails:
Sunday's the day my husband & I have a meal with his dad, and whenever I run through the checklist in my head of places I would love to go, I find most of them are closed (esp. in Troy, it seems).
So Skye's looking for some suggestions about good places to eat on Sunday -- and, we'll add, dinner especially (a lot of places are open for brunch).
One suggestion to start things off: we've had some nice Sunday evening meals at Chez Mike in East Greenbush -- it's open 5-9 pm on Sundays.
Have suggestions for Skye? Please share!
Bread and Jam to close
From a show in 2009. Bread and Jam always seemed like a warm place.
From a post this afternoon on the Facebook page for Bread and Jam, the coffehouse/cafe/performance space on Remsen Street in downtown Cohoes:
It is with the most profound sadness in my heart that we must announce to all of you that after two years of great food, drink, and music that Bread and Jam will be closing its doors permanently this Friday September 3rd. The past two years have been nothing short of a dream f...or me. Being a longtime musician, I always wanted to own my own music venue, and I was able to do that. I can never express in words what the friendships and experiences have meant to me here, and the fact that all of you got a chance to share that dream with me. My staff has always been there for me like family, going above and beyond anything I could expect from them. The musicians from all over the country have shared stories, and their great craft in our fine little space. But most of all there is no way I can ever thank our customers enough. Each of you believed in Bread and Jam enough to spend your hard earned money on a regular basis here, and make my dreams come true. Cohoes is a beautiful place with wonderful potential, and great people.
There's more at the page from owner Sal Prizio, who writes the cafe "finally ran into a financial wall that I just wasn't able to hurdle." Another message says the cafe's final day will be this Friday. "And yes, I will be hosting one more open mic this Thursday at 8pm."
Prizio was recently featured in the TU. When asked how the business was going, he replied:
We're hanging in there. It's a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. I was under this perception that I was going to open this cool place, and everybody was just going to flock to it. And that's just not the reality.
We're sorry to see Bread and Jam go. It's a friendly, warm place and it had become a good spot for music.
Earlier on AOA: Remsen Street in Cohoes
(Thanks, Lou)
photo: Bryan Thomas
In Your Face Wrestling
He probably knew this was coming. But still... ouch.
While at The Track Saturday, baking in the August sun waiting for the Travers to begin, I was talking with some guys and said that this was my first time photographing horses. They asked what I normally shoot.
"Roller derby," I replied.
"Seriously, or are you just messing with us?"
My answer was the "I <3 Rollerderby" button that I keep on my camera bag.
We talked about the local teams for a bit and then they told me about a wrestling event -- In Your Face Wrestling -- scheduled for that night in Ballston Spa, and that I should go take some shots.
Albany bashing has a long history
Was Pearl Street dead back in the day?
The recent item proclaiming Albany to be one of America's 10 dead cities was just the latest in a long tradition of bashing our capital city.
Who knows when Albany-bashing began, but I found evidence of it that dates back to 1789, and is a kind of reminder that in all criticism, you have to consider the source.
Allegations of excessive force in RPI student arrest, collapsed row house owner says he'll rebuild, state's first all-girls charter high school opens in Albany
Witnesses to the arrest of an RPI student Saturday night in Troy allege that police used excessive force in subduing the man, who's accused of pushing an officer. What's said to be video of the incident is on YouTube, but it's blurry. The student who shot the video says he was arrested after he was seen recording the incident (the TPD says he was arrested for allegedly not leaving the scene and for allegedly having an open container). TPD chief John Tedesco said the officers acted appropriately: "They acted in self-defense and just because you have a badge on does not mean you are a punching bag." [Troy Record] [YouTube] [TU] [YNN]
David Paterson signed the Albany residential parking permits bill yesterday. The city's Common Council now has to take up the process of establishing a system. Common councilman Richard Conti says he'd like to see a system in place "before this year is out." Earlier: Details on what the bill allows [YNN] [TU] [WTEN]
Paul Tonko is one of the eight New York Congressional reps who are receiving public pensions in addition to their congressional salaries. Tonko says he filed for his state pension after resigning from NYSERDA to run for Congress because I didn't know if I would have another job." The spokesperson for a budget watchdog group says the arrangement doesn't violate any rules. [NYDN] [TU] [Daily Gazette]
Restoration Festival photos
Sarah from Railbird
Above is one of Patrick's photos from the Restoration Festival this past weekend at St. Joseph's in Albany. His photostream includes a bunch of other good shots.
More photos! Jason's posted a set from Sunday. Matthew also has a few. And here's a nice phone pic by Bryan.
We saw a bunch of people taking photos there -- we'd love to see them.
Rest Fest was fun. We hear the organizers are already thinking about next year. We're looking forward to it.
photo: Patrick J. Dodson
The Albany metro area is "brainy"
And as we all know, smart is sexy.
The Albany metro area is #13 on a list of the "20 Brainiest Cities in America" compiled by Richard "Creative Class" Florida (and another researcher) for the Daily Beast.
From the accompanying article:
Brainy metros tend to have higher incomes, wages, and economic output, higher levels of innovation (measured as patents), more high-tech industry, and higher housing prices, according to an analysis by my research team at the Martin Prosperity Institute. They have also been among the most resilient during the current economic downturn.
And the methodology:
The Brainiest Metros Index is based on three variables: (1) the share of adults 25 years of age and older with a Ph.D., master's or professional degree (from the U.S. Census American Community Survey), (2) computer scientists and mathematicians as a share of all employment, and (3) scientists (physical, biological, social) as a share of total metro employment (both from Bureau of Labor Statistics). The index weights all three variables equally and covers 362 U.S. metro regions.
Boulder, Colorado was #1.
(Thanks, Carl!)
Earlier on AOA:
+ Albany: not dead, yet
+ Listomania
Almost there for $250k
As of Monday afternoon, Hannah's Hope Fund -- the local org raising money to research a treatment for a rare genetic disorder -- is in first place for that $250k Pepsi Refresh grant. Voting ends Tuesday.
Chipotle at Stuyvesant Plaza opens Tuesday
Between Trustco and Peaches near the Fuller Road end of the plaza.
Updated Monday evening with porky details.
The Capital Region's fourth Chipotle opens in Stuyvesant Plaza on Tuesday. We stopped by today to check it out -- and in the five or so minutes we there, six people were turned away from the not-quite-open-yet location. (Exclaimed one girl into her mobile right after, "Tomorrow!?!?!")
There's no opening day free food this time around. The friendly guy we talked with today said the crowds on previous free burrito days had been overwhelming.
He did let us in for a quick peek. A handful of photos for the curious are after the jump.
Breslin-Martland debate
Neil Breslin and challenger Luke Martland will debate this Wednesday in the forum at the College of St. Rose's Lally School at 7 pm. The Democratic primary for the 46th state Senate district is September 14.
By a nose
Stretch!
Check out the photo finish image from the Travers this past weekend: Afleet Express defeated Fly Down by just a nose. Here's video of the race.
Attendance and handle (the amount bet) were way up for this year's Travers, compared to last year. NYRA reports that 45,764 were at The Track on Saturday, up more than 33 percent from last year. A little more than $8.2 million was bet onsite that day (up almost 20 percent). Of course, last year's Travers Day was rainy -- and this year the weather was gorgeous.
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel Superstar horse Rachel Alexandra ran at the Track on Sunday in the Personal Ensign -- and lost. A horse called Persistently passed RA down the stretch. Persistently was 21-1 and paid $45.00 on a $2 bet to win.
By the way: in the crowd this past weekend at The Track -- a three-month-old (human) named Rachel Alexandra. After the horse. [Saratogian]
photo: NYRA
The Radix Ecological Sustainability Center
Scott Kellogg and his daughter on the site of the future Radix Center.
Scott Kellogg wants to teach you to live greener and be more self-sustaining -- you know, grow your own food, raise a little livestock.
Hey, city dwellers -- this means you.
Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew are the founders of the Rhizome Collective, a center for community organizing and urban sustainability in Austin Texas, and the authors of The Toolbox for Sustainable City Living.
Now they live in Albany, and they're building a space called The Radix Center to teach city dwellers and suburbanites alike to do everything from compost with worms and grow porch mushrooms, to collect rainwater and raise their own fish.
Scott says not only is this possible, you're actually going to enjoy it.
NY Post gives harsh thumbs down to local kid film critic
You've probably seen Jackson Murphy, a local 11-year-old, do movie reviews on YNN. He goes by the name "Lights Camera Jackson." He started reviewing movies when he was seven.
Murphy's gotten a lot of attention for his reviews. He's won an Emmy. He's interviewed Jane Lynch (you know, from Glee). And in July, he appeared on the CBS Early Show (embedded above).
That CBS appearance set off NY Post film critic Kyle Smith. From his almost-800-word piece:
Leave aside that our latest cultural commentator is too young to see PG-13 movies. Forget the shouty nonsense he thinks equals a movie review. Let's get to the real issue: me. Am I jealous? As Jackson would put it, "Of COURSE!"
Being a movie critic these last five years has been like Act 3 of a slasher flick. What happened to all my friends?
If there are beaming 11-year-old stage monsters who can do my job well enough to be on national television, WHY DIDN'T I GO TO LAW SCHOOL?
Dude. A little touchy, huh.
Smith's piece did include this bit we hadn't known: Jackson Murphy is the son of former WTEN sport anchor Dan Murphy.
[via @Metroland]
My Exit: Leslie Stevenson
Every Monday night our friends at WEXT do this thing called My Exit -- local listeners get to come into the station and program an hour of music. So we thought it'd be fun to find out a little bit about these people and why they picked the songs on their play list.
Here's tonight's person:
Nine day manhunt ends in Rensselaer County barn, investigation into row house collapse, $150 for premature bike path ride, adios Willie Colon
State police say they found Abel Jimenez, the undocumented farm worker accused of injuring a state trooper in Washington County, Sunday morning hiding behind bales of hay in a barn in Brunswick in Rensselaer County. A group of law enforcement agencies had been searching for Jimenez for nine days -- using more than a hundred officers, helicopters, an airplane and dogs. [TU] [Troy Record] [Post-Star]
Troy police say an Albany man died in police custody Saturday after a traffic stop. They say it appeared the man had a white powder around his mouth and then vomited and went into convulsions in the back of a police car. They say they found a white powder and crack in the man's car. They say they suspect he overdosed. [YNN] [Troy Record] [TU] [Fox23]
Albany fire chief Robert Forezzi says the department is still investigating what caused the collapse of the row house at 600 Madison Ave. [TU] [AOA]
The Army report that concluded Colonie soldier Amy Seyboth-Tirador committed suicide said she appeared "different and defeated" in the weeks leading up to her death. [TU]
A quick recap of the week
Here are a few highlights from the past week on AOA:
+ Jess took in the 191 acres of land at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers (you may know it as Peebles Island).
+ The Palace released its classic movies schedule -- and it's solid.
+ A few of the items that caught our eye on EMPAC's fall schedule.
+ Bill asked about good local fishing spots.
+ We asked for nominations for the 2010 Tournament of Pizza field.
+ This year's LarkFest music lineup prompted some discussion.
+ We talked with one of the founders of Hannah's Hope Fund, a local org raising money for kids with a rare genetic disorder. It's in the running for a $250,000 grant.
+ Geese are so lazy.
+ What was up in the Neighborhood this week: horse patootie, a jockey on a bike, A to Z, the Altamont Fair, mall food, a caterpillar, Western Mass, the ER, cupcake trucks, and prized photos.
+ -S asked about finding a good local bank or mortgage broker to help with his refinance.
+ We watched the finishing touches go on a new mural in downtown Troy.
+ Shadi and Jason asked about finding whole sardines.
+ A few of the items found on Craigslist this week: role playing as the whale from Pinocchio, and unfortunate ride at the fair, awkward shirt removal, and adorable hedgehogs.
+ Albany's not dead, yet.
+ Sebastien and B's urban decay tour continued at the First Prize Center.
+ The side of a row house across from Washington Park collapsed.
+ And Jess bid a fond farewell to Albany. We miss her already.
If you'd just like the whole week unfiltered, check our listing of the last seven days of AOA.
Thanks to everyone who posted a comment or sent along an idea or photo this week!
Madison Ave row house collapse
The side wall of a row house at 600 Madison Ave in Albany collapsed Friday afternoon. There had been excavation going on in the empty lot next door when the wall came down. All the tenants were reportedly out of the building when it collapsed. [TU] [WNYT]
The street was closed from Robin to New Scotland.
Friday evening crews were on the scene preparing to demolish the building, which is across the street from Washington Park. The lot next door was vacant because the building that had been there burned down in 2007. Here's Google StreetView of what the row had looked like. The excavation was for construction of a new building. [CBS6]
A bunch of photos are after the jump.
This week was brought to you by...
Sardines, murals, geese, dog lovers, mountain bikes and the start of pizza season.
And of course, by our awesome advertisers.
The folks listed below made your AOA fix possible this week. Stop in and visit them, make a purchase or two -- and let them know AOA sent you.
If you've got a product or service you think would appeal to the crowd, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN ADVERTISE WITH AOA.
Food and Drink
+ New World Bistro Bar'sweekend specials feature fresh, local ingredients. A duo of New York goat cheeses (Nettle Meadows and Coach Farms), Bacon Wrapped & Herb Rubbed Pork Loin with bourbon jus, tomato-mango chutney, local fingerling potatoes and summer veggies. Featured beer: Old Saratoga Lager.
+ Mark your calendar for the Honest Weight Food Co-op's Local Food Festival, September 19th in Washington Park. Vendors from farms and restaurants all over the Capital Region will be there.
+ There's still time to grab a space on the patio and a glass of sangria at The Wine Bar and Bistro on Lark
+ Barbecuing this weekend? Don't go shopping without the exclusive AOA coupon for some Bilinski's chicken sausage at Price Chopper.
Stuff to do
+Restoration Festival starts at noon on Saturday. Sixteen fabulous local bands in two days. $20 gets you a whole weekend of great music!
+SPAC is gearing up for their big win and food festival, September 10-12. Mark your calendar.
+The AOA Tournament of Pizza is coming soon, and it's made possible by the pizza loving folks at Sunmark Federal Credit Union.
+There's still some time to check out the Free Fridays and buy one get one Saturdays this summer at The Albany Institute of History and Art!
+ The "EMPAC Fall 2010 calendar of events is here! Don't miss Filament on October 1st-3rd. More information can be found on the EMPAC website.
Stuff to see
+17 Chapel just started construction on their luxury condos, but you can check out their "model" in the on-site Sales Center on site in downtown Albany. Here's a look:
First Prize Center photos
That sign.
Sebastien and B's Urban Decay Tour of the Capital Region™ continues with the First Prize Center, that huge complex near Everett Road in Albany/Colonie. As Sebastien wrote on his site, "it's a story of pipes, broken catwalks, vats, giant letters, zombies in barrels, 80's toys & Bugs Bunny." (B thought it might be their white whale.)
Earlier on AOA: Jess looked at the backstory of the First Prize Center last year -- and peopled followed up with some interesting comments.
photo: Sebastien B
Not dead yet
Going on more than three centuries.
This whole "Albany is a dead city" thing just seems silly to us. Albany isn't dead. Unless this is some sort of Sixth Sense situation. Or maybe we're all zombies -- and Albany is actually an undead city. (What's for lunch? Braiiinnns...)
But, whatever... let's kick this around a little bit.
Stuff to do this weekend
The Mathematicians--one of 16 great bands playing Rest Fest this weekend at St. Joesph's
Yes, we know there is still plenty of actual summer left, but if, like ours, your brain still runs on the academic calendar -- you're scrambling to pack as much fun as you can into the next couple of weekends.
This weekend is overflowing with options.
After the jump, you'll find a few things we thought might be fun. Got something else in mind? Shout it from the rooftops. Or, you know -- just leave it in the comments. Yeah, on second thought, that would be better.
Have a great weekend!
Independent counsel: Paterson was "inaccurate and misleading" about Yankee tickets, bomb squad called in Saratoga, local apple crop coming in early
David Paterson was "inaccurate and misleading" during the investigation into whether he had intended to pay for tickets to a World Series game at Yankees Stadium last year, according to a report from independent counsel Judith Kaye. The report concludes that the evidence "warrants consideration of possible criminal charges" against the governor. It leaves that decision up to Albany County DA David Soares, whose office said the matter is "under review." Paterson's lawyer says the governor "did not lie when he testified about the Yankee tickets." NYPIRG's Blair Horner says Paterson apparent actions in the case have "made what was an ethical molehill into an ethical mountain." [NYT] [YNN] [NYS AG] [TU] [NYT] [State of Politics] [Daily Politics] [Fox23]
Scott Murphy and Chris Gibson met in a debate last night in Glens Falls. The economy was foremost in the discussion. They differed on the recent federal stimulus package (Murphy: in favor, Gibson against) letting some of the Bush tax cuts expire (Murphy: yes, Gibson: no) and the recent health care reform legislation (Murphy: improve it, Gibson: repeal it). The debate was closed to the general public, but organizers say the video will be posted on YouTube. [CBS6] [TU] [Saratogian] [Post-Star] [Fox23]
In a letter to his mother, Army Staff Sgt. Derek Farley -- the Rensselaer County soldier who died in Afghanistan while defusing a bomb -- wrote of his work: "... I keep fighting because there are thousands of mothers out there just like you who want to see their sons and daughters again." [TU]
Looking for more? Check out the archive. Or try searching for it:
... said Anonymous about The Albany metro area is "brainy"