“Ring Around the Park” Theme for Historic Albany Foundation’s 8th Annual Holiday House Tour

Contact: Susan Holland, Executive Director, 518-465-0876 ext.11

Albany, NY—“Ring Around the Park”, Historic Albany Foundation’s eighth annual Holiday House Tour, will take place on Saturday, December 11, 2010 to coincide with “Winter WonderLARK.” House tour hours are 12 noon to 4 PM.

“The excitement this year is tangible with so much happening around Washington Park and Lark Street area— houses never before seen, free trolley rides, Santa Speedo Sprint at 2 PM, and sites open such as the University Club, Albany Institute of History & Art’s Holiday Gift Shop, Lark Street businesses, and eba,” said Susan Holland, Executive Director of Historic Albany Foundation.

There are six houses and one business new to the tour while still having the traditional favorites. An exciting house premiering this year is a 2009 Historic Albany Preservation Merit Award winner. This two-story brick row house has a rich history; previously housing a slew of semi-permanent residents, suffering a fire, and weathering through sales and bank foreclosures. The house’s current owners researched and rehabilitated this historic building (constructed in 1895) to exacting standards. Two other houses along the tour are featured in Historic Albany Foundation’s 2009 book, “Architects in Albany” designed by prominent Albany architect, Albert Fuller and the other by Walter Dickson.

“People should make sure they are on time and take advantage of all the day has to offer. You won’t want to miss a thing,” stated Holland.

Presale tickets are slightly cheaper this year for members at $19 until December 7th, with the nonmember presale price of $24. Tickets then increase to $24 and $28, after December 7th up to the day of the event.

Presale tickets can be purchased at Historic Albany Foundation, 89 Lexington Avenue (only site for credit cards); Capital Wine, corner of Lark and State Streets and the Albany Visitors and Convention Bureau. Tickets pick up, the day of the event, and day of event sales all happen at the Albany Institute of History and Art, 125 Washington Avenue on Saturday, December 11th from 11 AM to 3 PM.

Free trolley rides will run on a continuous loop around Washington Park, on Lark Street and nearby streets. The trolley is sponsored by Albany Society for the Advancement of Philanthropy, Capital Wine, Lark Street BID and Historic Albany Foundation.

For more information, visit www.historic-albany.org, www.larkstreet.org or call Historic Albany’s Membership & Program Coordinator, Genny Faist at (518) 465-0876 ext. 10.