The last week's worth of items on AOA
A quick recap of the last week
Frank, Paul, Barack, Owney
Here are some highlights from the past week on AOA:
+ We got a look at the Jerry Jennings bobblehead.
+ Albany's most famous dog is more than a hundred years old... and still standing.
+ Eat this: frankfurters from the Troy Pork Store.
+ Where cardboard cutouts of Barack Obama go to drink in Troy.
+ Steve Relles has a crappy job and loves it.
+ We compiled a list of Capital Region pools.
+ New on Lark Street: Lebanese restaurant Al-Baraki II.
+ Heather gave us the scoop on the Silver Birch Trading Post.
+ We saw Sgt Dunbar play at the Grand Street Arts.
+ Is a Rachael Ray memoir in the works?
+ The ballet's back in Saratoga -- here's what to wear.
If you'd just like the whole week unfiltered, check our listing of the last seven days of AOA.
Stuff to do this weekend
The holiday weekend is here! This is the time of year we dream about in February, so don't let it pass you by. Get out and do some stuff. Want some hints? We've got some.
What's up around the Neighborhood
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: swinging, specialing, garage saling, and probably a few other gerunds.
The Buzz about Serena and Anna
Serena Williams will be in town next Wednesday for a World Team Tennis match at the Washington Ave Armory, the new home of the NY Buzz (they had previously played in Schenectady's Central Park). And with a few breaks (tennis joke), Serena could very well be the new Wimbledon champ by next week.
The other big star on this year's Buzz schedule is Anna Kournikova. She'll be here July 22. Tickets aren't cheap for either match ($39, $49, $59). But if you're thinking you'd like to see both of them play, you might consider just buying a season pass to the Buzz. It's $99 for every game, which is only $20 less than tickets to see the two stars.
What to wear to the ballet at SPAC
Sure, these are fine if you're on stage, but what do you wear if you're more the spectator type?
Maybe you haven't been since your childhood, but the ballet is where it's at this month in Saratoga. And, since our Mommies and Daddies won't (typically) be picking out our clothes this go-round, Violet's of Saratoga and owner Laura Ferrar has a plan.
The one-year old boutique on Broadway is filled with some hip little delicacies that would leave a sophisticate with a stimulus check breathless. Perfect for ballet dressing, whether you're lawn-bound or reserved for an amphitheater seat.
Fireworks!
Ooooooooo. Ahhhhhhhhhh.
It's 4th of July weekend! Time for barbecues , picnics and fireworks. If seeing the fireworks is part of your patriotic duty, you'll have plenty of opportunity to fulfill it this weekend. Here's the list:
A Rachael Ray memoir?
There's a rumor floating around this week that The Ray is working on a memoir about her rise from North Country girl-next-door to national media brand. And the proposed titled? EVOhNo.
The best joke about all this comes from Robyn Lee at Serious Eats: "Whether or not you'll be able to finish it in 30 minutes or less is yet to be determined."
photo: CBS / King World
Troy's Prospect Park
You're never too old to play in the park.
Here's to feeling like a kid again on merry-go-rounds, swings and slides, and then having a grown-up picnic underneath a lazy tree (bring Kool-Aid and leave the wine at home). If it's still not worth playing hooky for, maybe the view--watching everyone hustle about their normal harried lives--might sway you to freedom.
McDonald officially in, Lyme disease settling in here, financial trouble ahead for SPAC?, here she is -- Mrs. New York America
Republican Roy McDonald, currently an state assemblyman from Wilton, has officially jumped into the pool for Joe Bruno's state Senate seat -- with Bruno's support. And it looks like Tony Jordan, an attorney from Washington County, will be the Republican candidate for the seat McDonald's vacating. That race already has a Democrat -- Wilton councilman Ian McGaughey. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
A federal court rejected an appeal by Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, the two members of an Albany mosque caught in the federal sting involving a fake plot to buy a shoulder-fired missile. [TU]
A state review of the Albany Police Department has concluded that there is "no evidence of systemic abuse of citizens' rights" by department. The review had come at the request of six Common Council members. [TU]
Lyme disease appears to be establishing itself in the Capital Region and north. [Daily Gazette]
SPAC officials are worried that financial troubles for Live Nation, the company that produces all the pop music concerts there, will end up hurting the venue. SPAC currently gets $1 million a year from Live Nation, but that contract is up next year and officials seem to think renewing the deal for the same amount will be tough. [Saratogian]
The Peerless Pool at Spa State Park still isn't ready to open. Wet weather has kept the pool's new surface from curing properly. Officials hope the pool will be able to open in a week or so. [Daily Gazette]
The new Troy Orchestra debuts tonight with a concert behind city hall. [Troy Record]
The new Mrs. New York America is Kerry Lyn Boettcher, a teacher from Schenectady. She'll go on to compete for Mrs. America in September. [Daily Gazette]
Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned live
Sgt Dunbar and the people from the Grand Street Arts were nice enough to let us come by Saturday night and record the show. The first song from the set is embedded above. A second song is embedded after the jump (see if you can catch the cameo by Matthew Loiacono). These clips are also available in HD here and here.
Sgt Dunbar is going on tour later this summer, but they'll be back in town September 19 to play the Albany Public Library's Garage Series. You should definitely check them out.
Many thanks to Frank, Jeff and Alex for their help.
4 day week
The Biz Review reports that the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce is giving four-day work weeks a shot this summer. As it turns out, they're not alone -- a bunch of orgs are trying this in an effort to save money on gas.
The Silver Birch Trading Post
Fair-trade art and gifts at The Silver Birch
A-Town's Delaware Avenue is home to a handful of gems that are adding to its up-and-comer image. Count fair-trade advocate The Silver Birch Trading Post among them. A hybrid of an art gallery and a boutique, the store's goal is to help support starving artists both around the way and around the world. So if you're a lawyer by day and pillow stuffer/wood ring carver/hot shot photographer by night, release your artsy output right here.
New to Lark: Al-Baraki II
Paul Chedrawee
Al-Baraki, the popular Lebanese restaurant on River St in Troy, opened a second location this week on Lark St in Albany. After being beckoned in off the sidewalk Tuesday evening for a few samples, we asked owner Paul Chedrawee why he set up shop on Lark. "Because it seemed like half my customers over in Troy were from this neighborhood," he told us.
And sure enough, not two minutes later, in walked a regular customer from the Troy location who lives just around the block from the new place.
Bush on Tour
The Bush Legacy Tour rolled into the Capital Region today. The tour bus, paid for by American's United for Change, has been making its way across the country sharing info about the Bush Legacy. The view is a little (or a lot) more Keith Olbermann than Sean Hannity. You can check it out for yourself this afternoon at the Capitol Building.
Capital Region Pools
Doesn't this make you want to take the rest of the day off?
Summer isn't summer without a little pool time. So where can you cool off and get a few laps or a good game of Marco Polo in around the Capital Region? You pack the beach towel and sunscreen, we've got the list:
School board walks out, money donated to Thomas family, it really was a rainy June, 12-year-old accused of stealing cars, Adelphi for sale
Hundreds of people showed up at the Guilderland School Board meeting last night to protest the transfer of two popular social studies teachers. Then the school board walked out of the public forum. [TU]
A meeting Tuesday night of the Albany Gun Violence Task Force provided more evidence that the community and law enforcement officials have trust issues. [TU]
The philanthropist who put up the bulk of the money for the Kathina Thomas reward has given $5000 to the girl's family. Rudy Ciccotti decided to give the money to the family after the APD didn't indicate anyone should receive the reward. [CBS6]
Lester Freeman is reportedly dropping out of the race for the 21st Congressional District (McNulty's seat). That still leaves eight Democrats and two Republicans in the race. [CapNews9] [AOA]
Yes, it has been a rainier-than-usual June. We've gotten about 45 percent more rain than in an average June. [Daily Gazette]
The City of Schenectady says it's out of money for graffiti removal. So a group of people of the Stockade and East Front Street neighborhoods pooled their money and painted over a bunch of graffiti themselves. [Daily Gazette]
The Saratoga Springs city council has approved a taxi fuel surcharge. The fee will range from 60 cents to $1.85 per person. [Fox23]
Albany police say a 12-year-old has stolen three cars during the last week. Apparently he's a pretty good driver. [TU]
The Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga is up for sale. List price: almot $7.8 million. [TU]
When doodie calls
Steve Relles
Think your job is well, crappy, sometimes? Meet Steve Relles of Delmar. His job is literally crappy, and yet ... he loves it.
Where cardboard cutouts of Barack Obama drink
Yes, that is a likeness of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. (Click for a better a look.)
We spotted this yesterday outside Burkes Blue Collar on Congress St in Troy. Burkes is a self-described "working class bar" with "cheap booze, nasty staff, and pretty good food."
Who says Obama has a problem with blue collar voters?
Aficionado
Aficionado -- all ten of 'em.
Tonight kicks off a regional tour for ten-piece local progressive rock band Aficionado at Savannah's. Yes, there really are ten full-time members, including a flautist and a member who plays the lights. If you haven't heard them yet, just wait until they play tonight. Apparently, listening to them without the visual experience is like "going to see Cirque du Soleil with a blindfold on."
Frankfurters from the Troy Pork Store
Sizzle. Snap. Yummm.
Perhaps it was the happy little pigs beckoning to us from the window of The Troy Pork Store that brought us into the 85 year old shop at 4th and Ferry streets (someone clearly hasn't told those pigs what goes on there), but it's the frankfurters inside that will bring us back.
Crisan hours
Here's the now-settled schedule for Crisan, the fab new bakery on Lark: Tuesday - Sunday 10 am to 10 pm; closed Monday. (Earlier on AOA: Crisan: at last, art you can eat)
Field for Bruno's seat coming together, Pataki snubbed, local bankruptcies up, dude - where's her car?
Mike Russo, who works for Kirsten Gillibrand, has officially announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination in the race for Joe Bruno's state Senate seat. He joins Brian Premo and Saratoga Springs supervisor Joanne Yepsen. The Republicans still don't have any official candidates, but that should change tomorrow when Wilton assemblyman Roy McDonald is expected to officially announce. Ray Seney, a councilman from the town of Nassau, is also circulating petitions in a bid to run. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
George Pataki will not be a delegate at the Republican National Convention later this year, even though the former governor was on John McCain's list of preferred delegates. The dis is apparently payback from state Republican committee chair Joseph Mondello after Pataki pushed to replace him. [AP] [NYDN]
Bankruptcy filings in the Capital Region are up from the same period last year and local bankruptcy lawyers report they're swamped with cases. [TU]
Three weeks ago, Kerri-Ann Vincent drove a stabbing victim to the hospital in Troy. And she hasn't seen her car since. Troy police are holding the vehicle as evidence. Vincent says she can't get to work without her car. The TPD has basically told her to deal. [CBS6]
Two apparently popular Guilderland High School teachers have been relegated to the middle school after a "culture climate inquiry" inquiry. The two teachers, one of whom is out on maternity leave, are accused of contributing to a "locker room" and "boys' club" atmosphere within the school's social studies department. [TU]
The stock of Feldman Mall Properties, one of the co-owners of Colonie Center, has been delisted from the NYSE. The company lost $17 million last year. [Daily Gazette]
Owney, postal dog and Albany ambassador
Owney was apparently some sort of terrier mix.
Just before the beginning of the last century, Albany was known all around the world. Because of a dog.
No, really. It's true.
That's just obscene
According to an analysis of Google Trends data by Silicon Alley Insider, Albany is the 9th most obscene city in the US. Be sure to check out the explanation behind the rankings. (Thanks, Erik!)
We are Jeneric
Jen and Eric from We are Jeneric. (Get the name now?)
We were lucky enough to catch a set from local duo We are Jeneric at the Grand Street Arts on Saturday night. We'd heard them a little bit on their MySpace page, but this was our first time seeing them live. And it was great -- funny and charming and more exuberant than we would have expected after hearing them online. Sgt. Dunbar was also there and they played along on a few songs, which was a lot of fun.
So, check 'em out. They have a bunch of songs on MySpace -- we recommend "O Albany We Hope" and "Deeper Than Our Love." NPR's site has a song they wrote for last year's RPM Challenge. And they're playing at Red Square on July 26.
The WEXT Top 15
From our friends at Exit 97.7 WEXT, the 15 most-played songs on the station during the last week:
- Dance With Me - Old 97s
- Fighter Girl - Mason Jennings
- Glad It's Over - Wilco
- Hollow Man - R.E.M.
- I'm Amazed - My Morning Jacket
- No Hiding Place - Elvis Costello & The Imposters
- Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
- Viva La Vida - Coldplay
- 1492 - Counting Crows
- Black & Gold - Sam Sparro
- Burn You Up, Burn You Down - Big Blue Ball ft. Peter Gabriel
- Do You Wanna - The Kooks
- Dream Catch Me - Newton Faulkner
- Fear - Paddy Casey
- Frankie's Gun - The Felice Brothers
After the jump, songs that will hit the playlist for the first time this week -- including stuff from Beck, Santogold and Mates of State.
Jerry Jennings bobblehead night
It's "Albany Night" at the ValleyCats game tonight and the first 1,500 people through the turnstiles will get their very own Jerry Jennings bobblehead.
But before you go running to line up at The Joe, you must know that the verisimilitude* of the Jennings bobblehead has been called into question. Judging from the image we've seen, Bobblehead Jerry is perhaps a bit more trim than the real thing. And apparently his eyes are the wrong color.
When confronted about the differences by Capital News 9 (the video's not online), here's what ValleyCats assistant GM Vic Christopher said: "The man is larger than life. How do you capture a personality like Jerry Jennings in a 7-inch ceramic doll?"
Well, we're guessing you start by picking a shade of orange.
*yes, this is most likely the only time "verisimilitude" will ever be used on AOA
image: Tri-City ValleyCats
Keehn not running for Bruno's seat, whither all the Bruno pork?, new high school has leaky roof, live grenade found
Val Keehn is now saying that she will not run for the Democratic nomination in the race for Joe Bruno's state Senate seat. The former mayor of Saratoga Springs will instead support Joanne Yepsen, who's currently Saratoga Springs town supervisor. Keehn says she decided not to run after hearing that Mike Russo, who currently works for Kirsten Gillibrand, is considering a run. Russo has not officially declared yet. There's already one Democrat who has -- Brian Premo. [TU] [Saratogian]
Now that Bruno's no longer leader of the state Senate, will the Capital Region go back to getting pretzels (Joe Bruno's word) from the state. Dean Skelos, the new majority leader, says no. Others aren't so sure. What is certain: Joe Bruno brought home a lot of pork -- and his name is on a bunch of stuff. So many things bear his name that his staff has lost track. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
Sixteen hours after a community anti-violence meeting in the neighborhood, two men were shot on the north end of Lark Street in Albany. [TU]
The new Rensselaer High School, just six months old, already has a leaking roof. And it smells weird. [Troy Record]
A construction worker found a live grenade while sifting top soil at a construction site in Milton Friday afternoon. The bomb squad destroyed it. Officials aren't sure where the grenade came from. [Daily Gazette]
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (the big church at Madison and Eagle in Albany), will soon be closing for 18 months of renovations. [WNYT]
Get your hands in the air, Duanesburg. Snoop Dog is coming to town. [Daily Gazette]
Looking for more? Check out the archive. Or try searching for it:
... said Katherine about Jerry Jennings bobblehead night