Like many in the Capital District, I often rely on the good folks at All Over Albany to keep myself busy during the weekend. They uncover places that can be enjoyed in small, one hour bite-size diversions but also feature more involving road trips to the farthest reaches of the 518. Looking for some fresh air a few Saturdays ago, we decided to put one such trip to the test. Posted in 2010, the aptly titled “12 hours in Columbia ... Continue Reading

It has been a strange, snowless winter so far in the Capital District but this didn't stop the Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton from organizing their 27th annual Winter Festival last Saturday. A merciful deity delivered a few inches of snow that very morning but the bitter cold and unknown road conditions discouraged many from attending. Once again, kudos to the small dozen of adventurous people who jumped in the Long Pond, you guys made me ... Continue Reading

'Tis the Night after Christmas, hair flying, flames erupting, power-chords screaming, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra must be back in town. I'm not a progressive-rock fan but I'm a sucker for a good light show. When my friend R. mentioned she had two seats in a suite at the TU Center, I seized the opportunity to witness the visual debauchery that is TSO. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, I had filled my camera with 200 frames and heard the word “Christmas” ... Continue Reading

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année! I enjoyed my trip to France last winter but I'm staying in the U.S. of A for the holidays this year, comforted by a sizable amount of imports from French Feast. When I visited my mother last December, she showed me a large collection of French vintage postcards she had come into possession. If you are familiar with my interest in old buildings, you won't be surprised that I decided to preserve these memories of ... Continue Reading

I'm not a religious person but I wouldn't mind ending my days in a grave. Granted, I do hope to live forever once robot bodies are made affordable by 2027, but should I suffer a more tragic fate a modest, permanent home underground would do fine. Friends or family would appreciate a little nonsectarian walk, place a flower or two (hint: daffodils), and shake their heads at my epitaph: “Beneath this stone my husband doth lie. Now he's at rest ... Continue Reading

Two years ago I witnessed a beautiful phenomenon in Washington Park. It was around 11pm when I came back home from a quick walk in my neighborhood. The weather was clear and humid that night. Two hours later I left the house to grab a last minute item at the bodega on the corner of Lark Street. The temperature had mysteriously dropped about 10 degrees and a dense fog had taken over Center Square. The street lights all around me ... Continue Reading

In late 2011 Albany Barn Inc. will begin transforming the abandoned St. Joseph's Academy building located in the heart of Albany's Arbor Hill Neighborhood into a 40,000+ square foot creative arts incubator and community art space. Two months ago I was contacted by Craig Shufelt on behalf of a new gallery, “Stage 1”, located near the Academy. Craig, with the support of Albany Barn, was looking for new artists with an urban feel to showcase their work. I had donated ... Continue Reading

Once again, I headed to Windham, NY this past Saturday to watch hundreds of mud lovers plow through 3.2 hellish miles. The voracious 12 obstacles course ingested 40 waves of “Dashers” during the weekend, leaving few prisoners. Did I think I would be running this year? Maybe. Did I chicken out? Most likely. I enjoyed taking pictures of these intrepid runners jumping over fire last year, knowing that I wouldn't have to nose-dive in a pool of muck a minute ... Continue Reading

This past Saturday I headed to Mariaville, NY to rekindle with Camp Bisco, Northeast’s largest electronic-rock festival. It had been five years since I last attended Disco Biscuits's musical creation and I found myself in the middle of a much bigger and louder maelstrom. The 10th annual music and arts festival boasted more than 100 performances on five stages over the course of three days and three nights. I was still on the West Coast the first two days but ... Continue Reading

“GIVE HER YOUR CAMERA OR I'LL RIP YOUR FACE OFF!” is how I will remember my first foray into digital street photography a few weeks ago. Strong words, yelled squarely at my face by the gentleman above, a short instant after I took this photo. Granted, I did make a newbie mistake that sent my new camera flashing not once but three times at the young couple. There was no denying from there: I had, indeed, taken the picture and ... Continue Reading