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PEOPLE & PLACES
Best Bartender Nick Ferrandino Justin’s, 301 Lark St., Albany Several years ago, Nick left town just before we were going to bestow this honor upon him for his work at Justin’s and other locales; now that he’s been back for a while and has reestablished himself at this popular Center Square hangout, it’s time to give him his due. His bartending meets all the prerequisites: He’s attentive and personable, he knows his way around the bar and can mix a fine martini or bloody mary, and he knows the regular clientele inside and out. But wait, there are bonus points: He’s a pop-music encyclopedia with great taste, which manifests in his conversation and his bar music selections; and he’s a fearless Red Sox fan in a region overrun with pinstripe envy. Whatever your stripe, you gotta admire him for that.
Best Environmental Victory Stop the Plant Hudson and Greenport This tenacious, broad-based, and successful-against-all-odds campaign to stop the massively bankrolled St. Lawrence Cement Plant—a proposed 1,800-acre complex with huge smokestacks, an open-pit mine, a riverside transport facility, and expected emissions of 20 million pounds of air pollution a year, plunked within the breathtaking landscapes of the Hudson River School—has prevented irreparable damage to the environment, public health, and the region’s burgeoning tourism economy. Thanks to the Hudson Valley Preservation Coalition (formed by Scenic Hudson with many other groups including Olana), we can all breathe a little easier. And Thomas Cole and Frederick Church can rest in peace.
Best Sisyphus Complex Guardian Angels There they are, the guys in red marching up and down the streets. There they are, all four of them, pushing that rock up the mountain. Fitting in patrols whenever their schedules allow, patrolling two cities and desperately hoping to patrol a third. While they claim there was a mandate from the public, it doesn’t seem much of the public is willing to put on the red vests and patrol with them. Still, with mounting public attention, they will try. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the rock rolling back down, but maybe just maybe a few volunteers will step forward to help them push it back up again.
Best Citizen Advocates (Actual Results) Friends of the Madison When one potential buyer after another appeared more interested in the vacant Madison Theater’s parking lot potential than its history as a neighborhood arts venue, local residents took matters into their own hands and formed Friends of the Madison. Whether lobbying local officials, investigating alternative uses for the building or pitching the property to community-minded buyers, there’s little doubt that this grassroots organization played a big role in the May 2005 reopening of the local landmark as a first-run theater, and not as a drive-through lane.
Best Orange Man Mayor Jerry Jennings No contest.
Best View of Albany While Listening to Stupid Jokes Albany Aquaducks We like the idea. We always did. And a little cutesiness is OK. We can tolerate that. But when your tour guides on Albany’s finest amphibious vehicles spend more time on the duck puns than on the facts (and when their facts are often historically questionable), that’s a little hard to swallow. There’s so much great stuff to know about Albany, it does a disserve to say nothing about the Egg except some apocryphal story about Rockefeller thinking of the shape after eating a grapefruit. But hey, driving into the river from the land is pretty darn cool.
Best City Under Construction Albany It happens, mysteriously, every four years. Roads and sidewalks all over the city of Albany are overtaken by repair crews in a kind of summer miracle. Then again, perhaps it’s not so miraculous after all. Maybe it’s just time for citywide elections again. (Note to Mayor Jennings: Those “sorry for the inconvenience” signs with your name on them are a nice touch. Have a nice campaign.)
Best Public Library Saratoga Springs Public Library 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs We’re not dissing the main branches of other public libraries. Schenectady’s has charm; Albany and Bethlehem have great collections; Guilderland has good videos and CDs; and Troy has a gorgeous building. Saratoga Springs has it all: location, a pleasing building and a solid collection. Special props to the folks in the Saratoga history room for being so helpful, too.
Best Unexpected Street Life River Street Troy Downtown Troy is still so quiet most of the time—in spite of the region’s most impressive architecture, and what, now, 37 coffeehouses—that when you turn the corner past Monument Square and suddenly come upon galleries and Lebanese markets and jewelry stores and antiques and funky musical artifacts—a lot of it out on the sidewalk, by the way—for a moment you wonder whether you just strolled through a space warp into the French Quarter or something. The folks who inhabit this neighborhood give the block an artsy, conversational flair—and give the impression, to those who don’t visit the block often, that there’s something going on that everybody else just doesn’t know about.
Best Automotive Rat Maze W. Averill Harriman State Office Campus Albany Sure, you can get in and out if you know where you’re going, but even if you do, god forbid you should daydream for a few seconds, lest you go around the thing twice and completely lose sense of which direction you’re headed (you’re going counterclockwise—that’s about all we can tell you). The office buildings and parking lots and the giant ring road have almost no relationship to the city around them—hell, it’s hard to tell which side of Washington Avenue you’re on. We’re certain this originally was built for some other purpose, like maybe chariot races.
Best WiFi Hotspot Uncommon Grounds 1235 Western Ave., Albany Since the dawn of the information age, tech geeks have had no better friends than caffeine and sugar. The folks at Uncommon Grounds appear to understand that relationship, and offer both a truly great cup of coffee and a chance to surf the Web while you’re drinking it. Best of all, it’s a free service—none of that per-minute pricing nonsense. So if you’re looking to sit your tech-savvy self down and have a cup of joe, there’s no better place than Uncommon Grounds to get on the grid.
Best Storefront Headlines Ltd. 248 Lark St., albany There’s a lot to see on Lark Street, but very little of it seems to change each year—the same wannabes, hipsters, artists and musicians with different faces in the same places. Thankfully, people making the Madison-to-Washington journey can rely on seeing something new and imaginative every couple of months in the window of the Headlines hair salon. Their creative use of one window, one mannequin and just a few simple props has become something of a local landmark, and we can’t help but applaud the way they help keep the face of Lark Street fresh and unique. The current window—featuring the nightshirt-clad mannequin hanging a rhinestone brassiere out to dry—is one of the best yet.
Best Undiscovered Space for Dancing Observation room at the Albany International Airport Around midnight, when there aren’t many planes expected, this huge room—fronted by a vast semi-circle of windows looking out over the runways—is empty and inviting. You don’t even need music.
Best Fireworks Mechanicville Family Day It’s not every tiny upstate New York city that can claim to be the home base for an internationally acclaimed fireworks company. The owners of Alonzo fireworks, around since 1939, call Mechanicville home. And that’s why Mechanicville Family Day is the Sunday after the Fourth of July. Alonzo’s a little busy on the big day. But the show they put on for the home crowd is worth a wait and a bit of traveling—the newest shapes, tricks, sound effects and colors are sure to be there, along with a spectacular mix of ground and aerial work. They let you get closer than you will at most shows too, so you get the full impact of every decibel and whirling sparkler.
Best Nonurban Carless Vacation Westport, NY So you want to leave the gas-guzzler behind when you vacation, but are a little tired of New York City and Montreal, and not quite up for dragging a tent 200 miles behind a bicycle? You’ve got options. Hop on the Montreal-bound train, but hop off at Westport (about three hours north), and you’ve got a wonderful lakeside getaway. The Westport Hotel is literally across the tracks from the station, which hosts the Depot Theatre in the summer. A short walk into town brings you to the shores of Lake Champlain, where you can swim, dine, rent boats, listen to concerts in the park, take the five-mile walking tour or wander up to the golf course. All without a need for wheels.
Best Cemetery Vale Cemetery Nott Terrace and Franklin Street, Schenectady Many 19th-century cemeteries were designed to be like parks, but for the scruffily historic Vale, you can enter through an actual park with picnic pavilions and a playground. From there, graveled paths wind through a lake-fed woodland with secluded memorial groves and beautifully overgrown statuary.
Best Park Central Park Schenectady Everything you could want in an urban park: great tennis courts, paddle boats, playing fields, picnic areas, ice skating in winter, a kids’ playground, and concerts on the Music Haven Stage—not to mention plenty of lovely open space to stroll or sunbathe or just get lost in your thoughts. A gem.
Best Local Hike Peebles Island State Park Confluence of Hudson and Mohawk Rivers Peebles Island is a gem hiding in plain sight. You can hike the perimeter trail in under an hour—one part atop a steep bluff overlooking the Mohawk, and the other along the furious rapids at shore level. There’s plenty of natural and New York state history to discover on the island, too. Take a picnic. In the winter, bring your skis.
Best Public Ice Hockey Elm Avenue Park 261 Elm Ave., Delmar An abundance of ice for pick-up hockey games and leisure skating isn’t the only reason the Elm Avenue Park continues to be one of the best places to get in a bit of free ice time in the region. Consider the availability of bathroom facilities, benches, hockey goals, evening lights, skate guards, ample parking and smooth (for a town park) ice, and you’ll quickly see why a visit to this park is a great way to regain your ice legs or perfect your deke. Separate areas for kids’ hockey, faster-paced games and lap skating make the park friendly to anyone with a pair of skates.
Best Nature Walk Within City Limits Tivoli Preserve Arbor Hill, Albany Rumor has it that a beaver was recently sighted around this nature preserve in the Arbor Hill section of Albany—proof that, as one Tivoli visitor recently laughed, no matter how much junk and cement we dump on it, nature will persevere. Walking around Tivoli Lake, surrounded by wildflowers, the buzz of insects and the occasional splash of an ambitious fish, it’s easy to forget that this area was once an urban dumping ground. The dedicated community groups that tamed Tivoli’s wilds in recent years have much to be proud of, as few cities can boast about hosting such natural beauty within their urban boundaries.
Best Swimming Pool Victoria Pool Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs The classic Victoria Pool, with its arched promenades, was once called the most beautiful pool in America; its current restoration is bringing it back to that grand state. Nestled in the tall pines of Saratoga State Park, “The Vic” is the premier destination for adults looking for a well-mannered pool crowd. The cool and crisp pool water is wonderful during heat waves (like the entire summer thus far). Get there early to grab a chaise lounge, then dine or have a cool drink in the outdoor café. Spend the day, shower in their on-site facilities, and walk across the lawn to catch a show at SPAC. Perfect!
Best Swimming Hole Taconic State Park Route 344, Copake Falls It’s a bit of a drive for most of us, but if you’re in southern Columbia County and your back is sticking to your car seat, you can’t beat this place: an old quarry with the requisite cool, deep water, plus a shallow kiddie pool, lots of green grass to lie on, changing rooms, lifeguards and two floating docks for diving. What are you waiting for?
Best Golf Course (Public) The Capital Hills at Albany O’Neil Avenue, Albany After years and years of renovations, this course has finally grown into itself. The recent name change is also very fitting. Yes of course it’s in Albany, thus the Capital moniker, but hills, now that’s an understatement. This is a good track for beginners and will also challenge the seasoned players. The most difficult aspect of the course is lying in the middle of the fairway and not having a level stance. Albany residents get a big discount and tee time priorities, but even the non-Albanians have to get a run at this course: You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Best Golf Course (Private) Mohawk Country Club 1849 Union St., Schenectady We’ve voted this course the best for so many years, you’d think they would give us an honorary membership, but no, we still have to test it out by bribing the kid in the pro shop. Just kidding—we actually get out with a legit member and we love it. If you ever wondered what it’s like to play a course like the pros play, this is the best this area has to offer. Even the professionals who come to town have a hard time with the greens and managing this tough track. So what are you waiting for? Go bribe that kid in the pro shop.
Best Golf Course (When the Boss Is Paying) Saratoga National Golf Course 458 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs Our boss is very generous and we love him very much but, yup, you guessed it. He doesn’t pick up the greens fees. Regardless, this $100-plus round of golf (prices vary based on day) is well worth the price of admission. Get out and play it now because after next week this track will be packed with the racetrack patrons, and you’ll have to wait till September. Wetlands and water hazards in play on all 18 holes and enough sand traps to start a public beach, and the greens—well, let’s just say we spent a little extra time testing the greens. This course is a must-play for any avid golfer.
Best Tennis Courts Central Park Schenectady It’s where the pros play when they come to town—enough said. Tons and tons of green-covered macadam, rarely a wait, and all in a setting that is beautiful. Yes, we know it’s in Schenectady, but deal with it, the pace is lovely. Make sure you check out the Buzz, Schenectady’s own professional tennis team.
Best Hotel The Desmond 661 Albany Shaker Road, Albany We’ve all had this happen: “Honey, did I tell you my mother is coming to town this weekend? Will you clean out the den?” Your answer should be, “Yes, I’ll clean out the spare room, but I’ll also make a reservation for my wonderful mother-in-law at a five-star hotel.” The accommodations are wonderful here: pool, billiards table, nice pub-style bar and a great restaurant. On second thought, let the wife’s mom have the run of your crib (she’ll love some special time with the grandkids) and you and your wife have a little getaway, Americana style.
Best Hotel (Grand Old) The Red Lion Inn 30 Main St., Stockbridge, Mass. Almost looks like a Norman Rockwell painting. . . . Um, actually, the Red Lion Inn was immortalized in Rockwell’s famous painting of Main Street (he did live here, after all). One of the few American hotels continuously operating since the 18th century, the Red Lion is known for gracious service, an excellent dining room, a cozy pub, and charming guest rooms that look and feel nothing like chain hotel rooms. There are plenty of old-hotel curiosities, like the library somewhere up on the second or third floor, and then there’s the front porch, arguably the best spot in the Berkshires to relax with a cocktail and watch the tourists go by (hint to locals: Since rooms will be hard to come by during high season anyway, try it after leaf season for a nice romantic getaway).
Best Hotel (Action) Governor’s Motor Inn 2505 Western Ave., Guilderland This alone deserves mention: The Governor’s has the only heart-shaped hot tubs within a 50-mile radius. Many of them, in fact. And lots of mirrors, too. This isn’t the kind of place where you’d put your parents up when they’re in from out of town. It is, however, the place to go for a spur-of-the-moment “honeymoon,” especially if you’re planning on vacating the premises before your partner wakes up.
Best Hotel Bar The Parker Inn 434 State St., Schenectady Don’t miss the lounge at The Parker Inn! With its deep, soft colors, long, gleaming bar, and clusters of tables and chairs, it is both romantic and urbane. Linger over martinis and split one of their tasty antipastos.
Best Gay Bar Oh Bar 304 Lark St., Albany We’ve checked out plenty of gay bars in our time, and we have to come back to our perennial favorite for this year’s pick. The community feel and friendly service of Oh Bar are aspects we value, and they have a kickass karaoke night on Thursdays.
Best Bar (Department Store) Saratoga City Tavern 19 & 21 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs This four-floored behemoth of a bar has Saratoga Springs’ only rooftop terrace. Each floor has a different vibe and different music; the huge picture windows allow for some spectacular views of the city; and the décor is refined and tasteful. Also, the City Tavern’s fancy pub fare (Italian egg rolls and Tuscan bean dip, for example) is sure to please late-night cravings.
Best One-Stop Shopping (for Hookups, That Is) Jillian’s 59 N. Pearl St., Albany One bar, all sorts of different types of people. Hooking up has never been easier. Whatever your taste, you’ll most likely find somebody who’ll do. You have the arcade on the bottom floor for the geeks and gamers; the restaurant on the first floor for the casual drinkers, diners, and various live-music attendees; upstairs, you have the Long Island crop of both guys and gals (a plethora of them hailing from the UAlbany campus during the fall and spring semesters) getting their groove on to Top 40 and radio hiphop beats. Something for everybody. But be warned: You probably won’t find the hipsters here (psst . . . climb the hill to Lark Street).
Best New Bar Ryan’s Wake 403 River St., Troy Chris Ryan has been tending bar at area bars and restaurants for many years, so it seems appropriate that he finally has a bar of his own. Ryan has done a fabulous job of transforming the old dance hall into a beautiful establishment with a gorgeous 26-foot mahogany bar as its centerpiece. The bar frequently attracts crowds from Albany, in addition to the local regulars. So if you haven’t yet, stop in and say hi and congratulations to the amicable Ryan, and tell him Metroland sent you.
Best Karaoke Bar Bourbon Street Bar and Grill 2209 Central Ave., Schenectady When a bar can schedule karaoke for more than half the week (including Friday and Saturday nights) and consistently draw a crowd, they’ve got to be doing something better than the rest. We’re not sure whether it’s the extensive song list, the cheap drinks (because really, who sings karaoke sober?) or the intensely earnest expression on the faces of Bourbon Street’s “singers” that bring in the crowds, but whatever it is, it’s working for them. Personally, we enjoy watching the karaoke regulars stop just short of self-flagellation when they screw up a line in “Sister Christian.” Whether you’re there as audience or participant, it’s worth a visit—don’t let the occasional sour note or mangled harmony prevent you from learning how much fun karaoke can be.
Best Dive Bar (Lifetime Achievement Award) Palais Royale Closed For more years than most of us have been alive, the Palais served cheap bottled beer and well drinks to all manner of drinkers, in an atmosphere that was part mom’s basement, part Elks lodge, and all class. Sadly, that era has come to an end. Proprietor Rocky Nigro passed away last winter, and some murky business dealings yanked the whole kit and kaboodle out from under Jeannie, who ran the place for the last 10 years or so. So it’s with a collectively heavy heart that we dedicate this final, posthumous award to the Palais Royale. There will never be another quite like it.
Best Bar (Resurrection) Franklin’s Tower 414 Broadway, Albany The Plaza Grill had a great run in this locale, but time took its toll and without a facelift the crowds drifted elsewhere. Well, now the bar is redone and the crowds are back. Live music fills the downstairs, a nice menu is served upstairs and a banquet is on the third floor. Come back and enjoy the rebirth of this institution.
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