February 2006 Archives

Cupid, draw back your bow

By John Gray

It’s 6pm at the local gym and two women who don’t know each other share a momentary glance. Lady number one, Valerie, is married with three kids, ages 7, 4 and 18 months. The youngest is waiting patiently in the gym’s playroom for his Mommy to take him home for dinner. It will be chicken nuggets from the McDonald’s drive-thru because Valerie’s husband is working late again and there’s no way she’ll have time to cook. She barely has time to break a sweat on the treadmill when she realizes she has to go. As she struggles to work the zipper on her son’s winter jacket she catches a glimpse of Melissa just coming into the gym. She’s a lot like Valerie only single, and well...more put together. The hair and make-up just so, the $400 suit neatly pressed. Valerie loves her life and wouldn’t trade it for a basket of diamonds, but as she notices the men watching Melissa walk by there’s a pang of jealousy deep inside her baggy gray sweat suit. “That used to be me,” she thinks. Before 3am feedings and 18-hour days. Now happy hour has been replaced by happy meals. She loves her life but sometimes wonders what it would be like to have total freedom again. She envisions Melissa and her friends heading out for an evening of fun—cute guys buying them drinks, dancing past midnight, having the whole weekend to do everything or nothing at all. Oh, to do nothing. It’s been so long she can’t even remember what that feels like. Valerie is happy, but at moments like this, when she’s tired, she wonders what it would be like if she were single again. To be like her.
What Valerie doesn’t know is that at the same time these thoughts were running through her head, Melissa was thinking just the opposite. She’s 33, but looks 27, has a college degree that led to a six-figure salary in pharmaceutical sales, a house, a cat—a very busy life. Valerie is right about Melissa —she is going out tonight, but not because she really wants to. It’s Friday night and she can’t stand the thought of sitting in. A single woman at home on a date night watching re-runs of “Law And Order” just seems wrong. Sure she could have a date but there have been so many disappointments lately she’d rather be alone. As she makes her way toward the locker room she knows every guy in the place is watching her, but she can’t take her eyes off the pretty mom with the little boy—Valerie. She sees him take her hand, look up and smile, and in that instant she feels a pang of jealousy deep beneath the Armani suit. Melissa loves her life, but still she wonders what it would be like to have a husband, children, brownies to make for the school bake-sale. She wonders what it would be like to be her.
These two women, and many men just like them, can be found all around us. They go through life wondering what they are missing. Those who are single long to be married. Those who are married and mortgaged up to their ears wonder what it would be like to be single and come and go as they please. The grass is always greener, or so they say.
I’m 43, married twice now, and I’ve seen the grass on both sides of the fence. Here’s what I’ve learned—it isn’t the color of the grass, but the blanket you lay down on it and the picnic you make for yourself that matters. To think another life is better is a cruel trick we play on ourselves. A lie that makes us long to jump the fence.
Maybe you are single and approaching 30. All your friends are married with kids and you feel left behind. So you jump into it with the wrong person and a few years later realize you should have waited. You wonder what the rush was. Perhaps you are married with children and miss the reckless abandon of the 20-somethings in your office. So you jump that fence of fidelity just once or twice to have a little fun only to realize you are risking the very thing your single friends would give anything to have—a home and family. Eventually you wonder where the rush went.
February is the month where we set aside one day to celebrate love—Valentine’s Day. It can be a tough day if you are single. You see friends and co-workers getting flowers and making plans and wonder if the invitation to your fairytale got lost in the mail. I say embrace this time of your life, enjoy the freedom and don’t give up hope. Just when you think love has passed you by you’ll turn a corner and bump right into it.
And if you’re married and wondering what the single world is doing while you’re wiping noses and tying shoelaces, trust me, those little feet will grow soon enough and walk right out the door. When that day comes I’ll bet you all the sand at Million Dollar Beach you would trade a million free weekends for a chance to go back and have those babies be babies once again.
So in this month of love I wish you happiness wherever you find yourself in life at this very moment. Don’t worry about what you don’t have; appreciate what you do have. I firmly believe when this wonderful ride is over you’ll look back on this time and place and realize you were exactly where you were supposed to be all along.
John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writing at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com

I always refer to “averages” rather than “normals” when I talk about how weather might be any given time of the year. This winter certainly has not been normal thus far, with a mild January and more rain falling than snow. So, we’re going to take a bit of a detour from what I had intended to write about for February, which was skiing and the art of snowmaking. Instead, I’ll visit those topics in March, should February bring us some snow worthy of skiing upon and cold weather capable of allowing snow to be made.
Averages for February tell of cold and snow, but again, average is the operative word. In the span of the shortest month of the year, we’ll see our highs go from 32 to 38 degrees in any given year. Another piece of good news for those of you longing for spring: we gain 1 hour and 12 minutes of sunlight along the way as well.
Of course, there are those subtle reminders that February is nothing but pure unadulterated winter. There are plenty of record lows in the -10 to -20 range...24 in fact. And while we haven’t seen much snow this winter so far, we can easily make up for what we’ve failed to gain. February averages nearly 13” of snow each year, but has seen much more at times. The top 10 snowiest on record go from 40.7” in 1893 to 25.1” in 1910. Interestingly enough, of the top 20 biggest snowstorms of all time in Albany, only three have occurred in February. The most recent storm worthy of this distinction occupies number 16 on the list with 17.9” falling on the 15th and 16th in 1958.
This February is a special one, because we’ll witness something we see only once every four years. I’m not talking about leap year, but the 2006 Winter Games, which will be held in Torino, Italy from February 10-26. You might see or hear the Americanized spelling of the city as Turin, but many media outlets will refer to the hosting site as Torino. By the way, it’s the largest city ever to host a winter Olympiad. This year’s American athletes are being touted as the most talented in US history, which will make for very exciting games.
Torino is located in the Italian Alps in northeastern Italy, near the French border. The average temperature in Torino this time of year ranges from a high of 47 to a low of 31 and it snows about once a week. As of this writing, only about a third of the trails were open with about a 1 to 2 foot base. But by the time the events get started, I’m sure nature and/or man will load up the slopes and terrain upon which the world-class athletes will unleash their skills.
NBC will be covering the games with 416 hours of coverage to catch those events. In addition, NBC has come up with a fantastic website, www.nbcolympics.com. I don’t usually get excited about the World Wide Web, but this is a great site where you can spend a lot of time learning about every aspect of the Winter Games, and once they get started you can keep track of the events on a daily basis. Just log on, and enter your television service provider. You will be paired with WNYT to read about local coverage and even about Saratoga’s Kathleen Kauth, who is a member of the US women’s hockey team.
Enjoy the games, and the last full month of winter!
Jason Gough is a meteorologist with NewsChannel 13. He can be reached at jgough@wnyt.com.

Until next time-
Your pal,

Jason

With Valentine’s Day exploding everywhere you turn, it’s hard not to think about dating and relationships.
They say dating is a numbers game. Apparently, you are supposed to treat dating as if you’re in search of the perfect job. Go out there and network - tell everyone you know that you’re single. Nearly 40 million Americans have turned to online dating services to help them find love. Something called “Speed Dating” is becoming popular as well, and is offered at many local venues. You pay anywhere from $35-$55 to meet a dozen potential dates in a matter of minutes (no guarantee that you’ll click with any of them, of course). Nowadays, instead of exchanging telephone numbers on paper, people just whip out their cell phones and program in your number.
My question is this: What ever happened to finding love the old fashioned way? Just because we rely on technology for every other aspect of our lives, should we rely on it to meet “the one”?
With that chubby little cherub getting ready to aim his arrow on the 14th, don’t lament if you are without a Valentine. Perhaps this, our first Entertainment issue that showcases the many hotspots in the area, will help you land one for next year.
Though I’m not one to frequent bars, it may be a viable place to meet new people who share common interests—whether it’s listening to live music, watching sports, playing in a pool league or just sitting around and enjoying good conversation with friends. If you want to meet someone with like interests, you have to spend time in a place where those people might be. The Capital Region is full of great bars and restaurants—it’s up to you to put yourself out there and have fun.
Finally, I have one reminder. Though it’s only February, we’re already gearing up for our third annual “Best of the Capital Region” survey, which we publish in the May issue. Log onto www.capitalregionliving.com to vote for your favorites.

Italian dining in the heart of Troy

Overall rating on a scale of 1-10
Service 8 •Food - 8 •Ambiance - 3 •Price - $$$

By Victoria Moran

Troy has long been noted for its outstanding dining options and Anselmo’s certainly adds to this reputation. With the development of Troy’s “Little Italy” area and only a few short blocks from the Italian Community Center, the restaurant is perfectly situated at 95 Ferry Street.
Stepping into Anselmo’s restaurant in Troy is like stepping back in time. Somewhere between the front door and the bar, I began to think it was 1950; my husband thought it felt more like 1940. How wonderful it was to look up over the bar to see an old movie playing on the TV in black and white! Many years ago, this was the Volcano Restaurant, which I remember well as a child. It was always a popular place for good food and socializing with friends.
On his business card, owner Anselmo “Sam” Zoleo describes his place as a “No nonsense Italian restaurant”. While the décor (which can be considered either charming or shabby depending on one’s opinion) reflects that, it certainly isn’t true when it comes to the food, which is indisputably wonderful. It varies from standard Italian fare to innovative, creative dishes. If you know Sam, you know that any dish he gets his hands on turns out fabulous.
We arrived at Anselmo’s on a stormy, Saturday night. It’s typically packed (always a great testament to a restaurant’s cuisine) and you sometimes can’t get a table until 9pm. But, due to the inclement weather, we were escorted to our table right away.
Our dinner began with a recommended appetizer of mozzarella en carrolla, which is Italian bread with mozzarella sautéed in butter with capers and anchovies. It was fabulous, but can fill you up quickly. You also have to ignore the fat and carb contents to enjoy it, which we did. Please do not tell my cardiologist about this.
We each were going to order a house salad, but our friendly waitress told us it was large enough for two, so we shared. It was loaded with salami strips, green and black olives, mescaline greens, red onions and loads of garlic. The dressing, which had an oil and vinegar base, was extremely sweet. My husband loved it; but I’m not fond of sweet dressings and prefer the standard oil and vinegar. I inquired as to the secret ingredient that made it so sweet, but our waitress didn’t know. Many restaurants use orange segments to sweeten a dressing, but there was no evidence of that here (my guess is sugar). We were also served complimentary Italian bread and dipping oil; a standard at many restaurants these days.
The menu is varied with many outstanding options for veal, chicken, seafood and of course, pasta. My husband chose the seafood fradiovolo and I had the roasted salmon with a basil crust. The wine menu is quite limited, but they do offer an inexpensive bottle that is their featured wine on each table and they have a full bar. We both opted for a glass of Chianti to accompany the entrees.
The fradiovolo had shrimp and Mahi Mahi. It was appropriately spicy and the fish was perfect, not at all tough or rubbery as it can sometimes get. You could order this dish with marinara if you don’t like spicy sauces. However, if you’re fine with spice, this is outstanding, and not unbearably hot.
The roasted salmon’s basil crust was perfect, not overbearing. It was served with a lemon and spinach fettuccini that could have been a great meal in itself. Because the salmon was roasted it was very moist and not the least bit overcooked which allowed the flavors to settle well. The combination of basil pesto and salmon is always a good one, and roasting opens up the flavors beautifully.
As I sat spying on fellow diners and what they were eating, it was apparent that every entree was carefully and artfully prepared. The wonderful smells alone can make you gain a few pounds. The folks next to us raved about the braciole.
The desserts were light in the offering—cheesecake, tiramisu and cannoli. The latter was the only item made at the restaurant, or at least the filling was. My partner, the cannoli king, thought it was outstanding. It wasn’t too sweet and it wasn’t cluttered with chocolate chips and candied fruit, an affront to any reputable cannoli.
When it comes to the little taken for granted extras, Anselmo’s is a bit lacking. I ordered cappuccino, which was too watery and covered with whipped cream. If you use a sugar substitute, pack your own; they only offer straight sugar. That must be part of the “nonsense” that he is trying to avoid.
Dinner came in at $90.55 with tax, well worth the meal and the meal the next day that the portions allow.
Service was very good; however it was a stormy night, so it I wasn’t able to judge a normal busy Saturday evening. They are well staffed, though, so it should be fine.
Anselmo’s is located at 95 Ferry Street in Troy. Hours are Wednesday-Saturday 4pm-10pm. For more information call 272.6100.
Victoria Moran is a freelance food writer. She can be reached at vikki@capitalregionliving.com.

Parisi’s Steakhouse
Offering dishes to suit all tastes

Overall rating on a scale of 1-10
Service 8 •Food - 8 •Ambiance - 8 •Price - $$$

By Judith Power

When you hear an eatery described as a “steakhouse”, you might have visions of the following: a maitre d’ who looks like Andy Rooney, a black and white tiled floor so shiny you can fix your hair in its reflection, and steaks the size of small dogs. If this is your idea of a steakhouse, you won’t recognize Parisi’s as such. The downtown Schenectady restaurant has a huge menu, with something for every taste—even if you’re not a steak person.
Walking into the small lobby, you have no idea what you’ll discover around the corner—a very nicely decorated modern bar, complete with high tables, a well kept bar top and a mean Rob Roy. The dining area itself is laid out in three tiers. Granted the tiers are merely steps, but they open up (or cozy up) the space to accommodate plenty of guests who will feel neither crowded, nor out in another zip code.
The menu is huge and I mean that in a few different contexts. A wide range of appetizers is offered, everything from a simple bruschetta to escargot. I had the calamari, a stand-by favorite of mine. What the presentation lacked, the taste compensated for and then some. The rings were very tender and lightly breaded, served with an aioli and a marinara. Grant, my husband, had an interesting combination of shrimp and scallops that had been wrapped in a thin jacket of prosciutto before they were grilled and served with a grilled lemon and balsamic syrup. The syrup made the dish, as it was a perfectly reduced pairing of sweet and tang to accompany the seafood.
The wine list was succinct, but included varietals from New York, California, Italy, France and Australia, several of which were offered by the glass. I enjoyed the Maso Canoli, which turned out to be a good pairing to my calamari. Grant enjoyed an Orvieto, which also went well with his smoky appetizer.
At first glance, the dinner menu appeared to be suffering from an identity crisis. It offered many dishes and many types of dishes. But the more I studied, it became evident that everything was seemingly well thought out with interesting combinations of sauces, vegetables and meats. You can get anything from a simple pasta dish, a piece of salmon, lobster tails or even Chateaubriand for two. Though the lobster and tenderloin are over $30 and $50 respectively, the highest-priced entrée isn’t above $24.
Rather than venture into his usual territory of menu exploration, Grant had a filet. The steaks on the menu were of the usual variety, and there was actually a temperature chart above the selections to help you with ordering. He asked for it “Pittsburgh” style (charred on the outside, very rare in the center) even though that wasn’t offered on the chart. The server was all too happy to oblige, and it was perfectly done. The steaks come with an optional choice of one of eight dipping sauces served on the side. He tried the peppercorn/blue cheese sauce, which was outstanding. It was served with a salad (also with dressing on the side, so as not to drown the crisp Romaine) and smashed potatoes. The potatoes were not creamy or runny, rather lightly mashed to leave some lumps, the way potatoes should be done.
I had the halibut, lightly breaded and sautéed, served with rice that reminded me of some of the fabulous dirty rice recipes I’ve come across in Louisiana. A julienne of vegetables sautéed in (almost too much) olive oil, finished the dish. I couldn’t even think of cleaning my plate, nor could Grant. If you leave Parisi’s hungry, it’s your own fault.
That said, we had to try a dessert. The menu was loaded with chocolate, too heavy for us at the time. We were given a description of a fried banana cheesecake and were essentially talked into trying this described “light” dessert. Once again, our server was right on, and it was the perfect treat to share and satisfy a post-dinner sweet tooth.
A few other tidbits about the restaurant: a full lunch menu is served, and it has a variety of sandwiches (some on Panini!) and entrée-sized salads. Also, if you’re a fan of prime rib, it is offered on Friday and Saturday nights. If that is done as well as our dinner, you won’t be disappointed.
Parisi’s is closed Sundays and Mondays. The exception is the first Monday of the month when a pre-fixe wine dinner is offered (reservations are required...I’m told they sell out in a hurry) and Sundays during February, when “Phantom of the Opera” is performing at Proctors. n
Total price: $130.84 including 25 percent tip.
Parisi’s Steakhouse is located on 11 North Broadway, Schenectady. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 11:30am-10pm, Saturday 4pm-10pm. For more information call 374.0100.
Judith Power is a freelancer food writer. She can be reached at judith@capitalregionliving.com.

Surviving a crisis together

By Jim and Jeanne Caverly

Normal reactions to an abnormal situation
For the first time in your relationship, you may see a side to your partner that you’ve never seen before. It may seem as though you are living with a stranger. Major conflicts may arise over minor issues. Old unresolved conflicts or accumulated minor irritations bubbling just below the surface might erupt without direct provocation, adding more emotional debris to an already unbearable situation. These are normal reactions to an abnormal situation. To survive and grow closer through crisis requires relationship CPR:
Commit: mutually express your commitment to survive the crisis together. Commit to keeping your relationship intact. Commitment is the foundation of relationship survival. It needs to be verbally expressed by both partners to each other before and especially during a period of crisis. Each partner needs to know that the other wants the relationship to survive. Speak or write your commitment, but don’t assume—assumptions can be inaccurate.
Persevere: when times are really tough, persevere—do what needs to be done next. If you’re hungry, eat. If you’re tired, rest. If there’s a bill to be paid, pay it. Don’t try to think ahead, just do the next thing. In time, you will feel better. The intense emotional pain will not last forever. Honor your commitment to your partner and persevere.
Respect: each other’s differences. You and your partner may not handle the crisis in the same way—physically or emotionally. You may have different reactions, different grieving styles and different feelings. This does not mean that one of you is right and the other is wrong-it just means you are different. It is vital to respect and accept your differences. Allow your partner to handle the crisis and to heal in the way that is best for him or her.
Allow yourself and your spouse to heal
At some point you will know in your heart that you need to feel happy again. It may be necessary to give yourself permission to do this. Each of you will probably arrive at this point at different times. Respect for and acceptance of each other’s individuality is crucial during this phase of your healing journey.
C A R E suggestions for couples
Communicate and Compromise: Talk with each other. Schedule a private “talking time” (daily or several times a week) and stick to it. Just the two of you. No beepers, phone calls, TV, or other distractions. Grieve the way you need to grieve, while being as sensitive as possible to your partner’s needs and feelings. Try to reach compromises which give your spouse room to heal.
Activities together: Do something new and do it together. Join a bowling league. Play bridge. Join a support group for the bereaved: “Draw strength from their successes. Learn from their failures.”
Rest: Getting enough rest is extremely important—try not to ‘do battle’ in the bedroom or close to bedtime. Keep your bedroom sacred, free from conflict and tension.
Eat right and exercise: especially when you don’t feel like it! Prepare and eat healthy meals together. Ask your doctor about taking vitamin supplements and using homeopathic remedies for anxiety and depression. Exercise together—walk, hike, bike, etc. Walk 30–40 minutes per day. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. Avoid excessive use of sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
Relationship CPR works best when the lines of communication are kept open.“Keep talking and keep listening.” Just as CPR does the physical work of the heart, relationship CPR can help you do the emotional work of surviving an unexpected life crisis together.
Commit! Persevere! Respect!
Jeanne and Jim Caverly, married 33 years and still learning, run Crisis Options Consulting and Training. For more information visit www.CrisisOptions.com, email CrisisOptions@mac.com or call 573.7453.

Top 20 under $20; top 10 under $10

By Henry Klein

If you feel overwhelmed upon entering a wine store and find yourself struggling with the many choices, I’m here to help. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a good quality bottle of wine. In fact, some of the very best can be found at inexpensive prices. Below, I offer you my list of favorites (all red wines are in italics). Enjoy!

Top 20 under $20

Terre Rouge 2002 Cotes De L’Quest Syrah $17 Wild raspberry, pepper, wild gamey, cinnamon

Villa Mt. Eden 2002 Grand Reserve Mead Ranch Zinfandel $18 Caramel, toffee, chocolate, blackberry, plum, walnut

Kangarilla Road 2003 Shiraz $20 Berry, plum, dark cherry, oak, spice

Peter Lehmann 2002 Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon $17 Black currants

Tintara 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon $19 Currants, black fruits, leather, spice

Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot $15 Mocha, raspberry, nut, cinnamon

St. Supery 2001 Merlot $17 Black cherry, blueberry, oak, anise

Beringer 2000 Stanley Ranch Pinot Noir $20 Raspberries, plums, smoke, vanilla, Oriental spices

Da Vinchi 2003 Chianti Classico $18 Cherries, flowers, especially violets

Capcanes 2003 Mas Donis Barrica $15 Creosote, blackberries, kirsch liqueur, leather, meat

MacMurray Ranch 2004 Russian River Pinto Gris $19 Fig, pear, peach, tropical fruits

Kendall Jackson 2004 Grand Reserve Chardonnay $19 Honeyed tropical fruit

Clos Du Val 2003 Carneros Chardonnay $20 Pear, vanilla, butterscotch

J. Hofstatter 2004 Pinot Grigio de Vite $16 Apples, grass, lemon, vanilla

Jim Barry 2004 The Lodge Riesling $17 Floral, citrus

Chateau Souverain 2004Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc $15 Gooseberry, crushed nettles, mandarin orange blossoms, vanilla

Nitida 2004 Sauvignon Blanc $15 White grapefruit, gooseberry, mint, anise, lemon

Eroica 2004 Columbia Valley Riesling $20 Apple, lime, apricot, honeysuckle

Robert Hall 2004 Sauvignon Blanc $17 Pear, apple, lemon grass, lime, grapefruit

Belvedere 2003 Healdsburg Ranches $15 Roasted nut, pineapple, vanilla, lemon peel

Top 10 under $10

Four Sisters 2002 Shiraz $10 Loganberry, cooked meat, clove, vanilla

Columbia Crest 2003 Two Vines Shiraz $9 Black cherry, white pepper, chocolate

Turning Leaf 2002 Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $8 Berry, cherry, anise

Ravenswood 2003 Vitners Blend Zinfandel $7 Black cherries, mint, vanilla

Concha y Toro 2004 Casillero Del Diablo Merlot $9 Blackberry, chocolate, berries, spice

Covey Run 2004 Gewurtraminer $8 Floral, perfume, lemon

Rutherford Ranch 2004 Chardonnay $10 Apple, tangerine, citrus, French oak, spice

Placido 2003 Pinot Grigio $8 Fruity

Dr. Loosen 2004 Dr. L Estate Qba $10 Apple, citrus fruit, flowers

Casa Lapostolle 2004 Chardonnay $10 Tropical fruit, pineapple, peach, asparagus, oak

Henry Klein III is owner of Cabernet Café, 1814 Western Avenue, Guilderland. For more information call 452.5670 or visit www.cabernetcafe.com.

Experience positive, powerful, permanent change

By Jeanne Meyer Caverly, M.Ed., CH

As the new year progresses, are you finding it more and more difficult to stick to your resolutions? Is the stress of everyday living getting you down? Are there roadblocks that just seem to keep cropping up, blocking your way to success—in your relationships, in your work? If so, there’s good news! There is a way to make it easier to reach your goals and achieve your dreams. Whether you want to attain and maintain your ideal weight, stop smoking, improve your golf or tennis scores, increase memory and concentration, deal with other nagging issues, or become the world’s best public speaker—a unique blend of hypnosis and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) just may be the answer!
Based on the ancient principles of acupuncture, EFT is a simple tapping procedure that gently realigns the body’s energy system, without the needles. EFT was introduced in 1995 by Gary Craig, a Stanford Engineering graduate in lifelong pursuit of personal well-being.
Simply stated, negative emotional experiences disrupt the body’s energy system. The physical changes we feel from those disruptions, like nausea, anger, or “butterflies” in the stomach, become attached to the memory of that experience and affect the way we see the world and interfere with our thinking— until we heal that disruption. Properly applied, EFT quickly realigns and balances the body’s energy system with respect to a specific negative memory, disconnects the physical discomfort attached to it, and quite often removes the resulting symptoms. EFT often works where nothing else will. Once negative emotions have been cleared away using EFT, hypnosis can then be used even more effectively to implant positive suggestions in the subconscious to assist in reaching specific goals.
Hypnosis is very similar to the state of mind we experience every day just prior to going to sleep at night and getting up in the morning—the “twilight zone” between being awake and being asleep. It is a natural state of mind we go into when we daydream or “zone out” while watching TV or attending a boring meeting. Induced under the guidance of a hypnotist or by yourself in self-hypnosis, hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation which quiets the body and the conscious mind so that the subconscious mind can be reached through suggestion and visualization to effect change.

How hypnosis works
Your conscious mind is the part of your brain that looks, listens and learns. It reasons and judges, analyzes and criticizes, accepts and rejects, and makes decisions. Your willpower is a function of your conscious mind.
Your subconscious mind is the part of your brain that runs all your bodily functions, like breathing your lungs and beating your heart. Like a computer hard-drive, the subconscious also stores your permanent memory—all the ideas, experiences, and emotions you have ever seen, heard or experienced. Your subconscious mind also acts out any image, idea or concept you allow to be implanted in it, especially for 30 consecutive days or more. Your imagination is a function of your subconscious mind.
If you think of your mind as a computer, the only document you can work on is the one in the foreground, which, most of the time, is your conscious mind. Right now, your conscious mind is actively reading and interpreting this information.
Your subconscious mind is in the background most of the time. However, stored data in your subconscious may be sabotaging or interfering with your success in a particular area of your life (see sidebar). In order to re-program data in your subconscious mind so that it supports your rational conscious decisions, you need to send your conscious mind to the background and bring your subconscious to the foreground. This is exactly what hypnosis does!

Sabotaging your success
Let’s say you decide to eat a “good-carbs only” diet in order to lose that last 15 pounds and keep it off. Even though you’ve been unsuccessful in past attempts, this time you’re determined to use your willpower and make it work! That’s your conscious mind making that decision.
Meanwhile, your subconscious mind is saying: “Right! Like that’s going to work! You love pasta, you love bread, and you love chocolate. And you’ve been eating that way for 50 years! You really think you’re going to give all that up? I don’t think so! That’s not ever going to work.” And it doesn’t.
We all have programming in our subconscious minds from a lifetime of experiences from childhood through adulthood that has the potential to sabotage our wellness and success. Hypnosis can turn that around by replacing that negative programming with positive suggestions so that your conscious willpower and your subconscious imagination are “in sync”— working together to achieve your goals.

Facts about hypnosis
• You cannot be hypnotized if you don’t want to be.
• You are not going to blurt out any deep, dark secrets.
•You are always in control and cannot be made to do things you don’t want to do.
•You always have the choice to accept or reject any suggestions.
•You cannot get stuck in hypnosis —you can stop it or leave it at any time.
•You are not asleep—you are very aware of yourself and your surroundings at all times.
• You will remember everything you choose to remember about the session.
•Most people with IQ’s of 70 or higher can easily be guided into hypnosis as long as they want to be hypnotized, trust the hypnotist, and are willing to follow his or her instructions.
• Typically, hypnosis is not recommended for persons with severe mental illness.
Can hypnosis and EFT be used for pain management?
Although hypnosis and EFT often eliminate or minimize pain, you should not ignore the body’s warning mechanisms. Pain is a symptom of a problem and you should first check with your doctor before using hypnosis or EFT for pain management. Prior to teaching you how to use hypnosis or EFT for pain management, a Certified Hypnotist will ask you to sign a release to obtain your physician’s approval. In 1958, hypnosis was recognized by the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association as a healing modality. Since then hypnotism has become a valuable addition to conventional medical and mental health treatment programs.
By bridging the body-mind-spirit gap, Hypnosis and EFT work hand-in-hand to empower you, the client, to take charge of your life—physically, mentally and spiritually—to rally your subconscious troops to support your conscious decisions. Change your mind, change your life! Program yourself for wellness and success in 2006!
Jeanne Meyer Caverly, M.Ed., CH, is a Reiki Master, EFT Practitioner and Certified Hypnotist through the National Guild of Hypnotists. She works at A Peaceful Place for Massage and Wellness, Route 9, Clifton Park. To reach her call 371.2225, 573.7453, email applace@aol.com or visit www.apeacefulplace.com.

By Randy Cale, PH.D

How can you teach your children to handle money responsibly? What are the strategies that successful parents use, when teaching their kids about money? Do you pay kids for doing their chores? Should you remove allowances if they are acting poorly?
These are great questions, and ones that parents often inquire about. While your answers may differ from mine, I encourage you to consider the approach outlined below. My recommendations are based upon years of working with families who have developed successful strategies for dealing with money.
1. Never buy responsible behavior.
It is a mistake to pay children for completing basic responsibilities around the house. If you use allowance as a tool to “purchase behavior”, you always end up purchasing their compliance, which isn’t good. Your kids will never learn to “own” their behavior. Instead of this being a signal of responsibility, it is simply a signal that your parenting toolbox is empty, and that you can pay for maid service. It will not generalize to future patterns.
2. Commit to a reasonable allowance around 4th to 5th grade...NOT contingent on “good behavior.”
I strongly encourage you to give the kids an allowance that does not depend on their behavior. Let them know that they get an allowance because you love them and you want them to learn to take care of their own money.
Decide on a reasonable amount of spending money for your children, and include monies for treats that you might typically buy them. For example, if you normally buy the kids some juice when you are getting gas, include that portion in their allowance. As they get older, include their lunch money in their allowance. Include some extra spending money, for the small “stuff” they often want and that you pick up for them.
Let them know that it’s their money to manage each week and watch them learn from their choices. Begin early on, to allow children to experience the consequence of good judgment, as well as poor judgment in their use of their money.
3. Open a checking account for your kids and teach them to manage it.
The years between late elementary to early middle school is a good time to open a checking account for your kids so they can deposit their allowance. Teach them how to get their monies and how to write a check. This is a remarkably practical and powerful way to learn about basic money management. Set aside time weekly to help your kids balance their checkbook and to discuss how they might spend their resources. In today’s world, they will not only learn to balance their checkbook, but also learn to gain access to their records via their computer.
4. Open a savings or investment account for your children and teach compound interest.
When you open the savings account, sit down and show your kids the effect of compound interest. Make sure you repeat this on a regular basis and teach them how the bank will pay them to “store” their money there. Explain to your kids that if they start saving at an early age, they will have abundant resources by the time they reach the middle stages of their lives.
As an incentive to their savings program, let them know that you will match every dollar that they put and keep in their savings account. Show them the power of this as they look ahead to the next 10, 20, 30, and even 40 years. (If you haven’t played with a compound interest calculator, you may want to do this with your children, especially as they move into adolescence.)
5. Never model impulse buying.
When you continually buy impulsively, you are teaching them to do the same. In every arena of life, you simply can’t escape what you model. If you want them to make wise purchases, with forethought and consideration about the importance of the purchase, make sure that you model this.
Remember that your kids are always learning, and you are the primary teacher.
6. Buy the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money by Robert T. Kiyosaki.
Mr. Kiyosaki has written several books under the general title of “ Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, but the book written for teaching children about money is an excellent primer on this subject.
If you find yourself struggling with how to teach responsible patterns of behavior without paying for it, I encourage you to carefully review the materials on my website, www.TerrificParenting.com. The tools of effective parenting are much more powerful than money and the results are more enduring. As always, I encourage you to email me with your feedback, at DrCale@TerrificParenting.com.
Dr. Randy Cale, a Clifton Park based parenting expert, author, speaker and licensed psychologist, offers practical guidance for a host of parenting concerns. Dr. Cale’s website, www.TerrificParenting.com offers valuable free parenting information and an e-mail newsletter.

Spray your headaches away

Whoever would have imagined that a burst of pepper spray up your nose would eliminate headaches and allergies? Certainly not Wayne Perry, who would have tried that technique years ago while suffering from debilitating “cluster headaches” that produced one-sided nasal congestion and excruciating pain behind his eyes and temple.
For seven years Perry, a former marshal arts instructor, toured the country teaching women self-defense classes (he even appeared on Oprah) and teaching police officers how to use self-defense pepper spray. In fact, he also played a part in legalizing pepper spray in New York State.
Perhaps you recognize his name from the local media. Prior to his current career as president of SiCap Industries, Perry, 41, was a cameraman and reporter for Fox23 News and a reporter for radio stations 94.5 and 93.7. During a television segment about how to use pepper spray, Perry got a shot of the spray up his nose, which caused horrible pain. In an instant, however, his cluster headache, which had come on furiously minutes before airtime, was gone. His sinus passage was wide open and he could breathe like never before.
“It was just for me at first,” Perry said of his discovery. He still had to learn more about the science of oleoresin capsicum, a natural chemical that makes peppers hot, and figure out how to make it work without causing too much discomfort for the average person. After more than a year of research, he discovered an all-natural formula and launched Sinus Buster.
Even his doctor, who had given him just about everything for his headaches, was surprised at his findings.
“Once my doctor saw that it worked, he was intrigued and started sending it to other doctors so they could try it on their patients.”
In 2005, Perry started selling his product on eBay, averaging about 10 orders a week. But, it’s radio personality Howard Stern whom Perry credits for his big break. During a phone interview about Perry’s previous firing from Clear Channel, Stern asked how his career was going and Perry was given a 10-second plug for Sinus Buster. Soon after, he received 20,000 Internet orders.
“The rest is history,” said Perry, who started SiCap Industries in January 2004, with his two partners—his mother Joyce and friend Rob Sasso, who had worked with him at Fox23 News.
Together, Perry and Sasso make the formula in their lab, located in Clark Industrial Park in Albany and their crew of six employees bottles and labels it. Perry also handles the ordering, marketing and accounting.
Thanks to a feature article in First for Women magazine a month ago, Perry surpassed the 100,000 mark and was able to purchase an automatic filling machine. His product has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Prevention Magazine and on NBC News.
For many, Sinus Buster is nothing short of a miracle, especially for those suffering from severe allergies who have had little to no relief from other products. One woman in California claims she can smell again, after losing that sense nearly 10 years ago.
Use of the product will prevent headaches and ease menstrual headaches and hangovers. That is, if you can take the few seconds of stinging.
“It wakes you up and leaves nasal passages feeling soothed,” said Perry.
The Sinus Buster metered dose retails for $15.99; the original bottle for $12.99 and is sold in 1,000 stores across the US and Canada, as well as in Europe, Iraq, and “every country you can imagine except Mexico.”
“There are a ton of soldiers in Iraq who order from us,” said Perry.
Locally, it can be found in 70 Price Chopper supermarkets, the Center for Natural Wellness in 20 Mall in Guilderland, Green Grocer in Clifton Park, Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany and Fallon Wellness Pharmacy in Latham.
“They [Price Chopper] really gave us a shot and believed in the product,” said Perry, adding that half of the maintenance department uses his product.
With so many big pharmaceutical companies, it’s hard to believe that one hasn’t come out with a similar product, but Perry is confident his product will be a household name before that happens.
“Not even a top chemist can figure out the kinds of peppers we use, how we get capsicum to become water soluble, the temperatures we use and the way we mix them.”
Incidentally, Perry has been told from insiders working for pharmaceutical companies, that his inexpensive product is “ruining the price structure” for others.
“Now there’s no incentive for a prescription drug.”
In his years of researching peppers, Perry has found that capsicum is effective in other areas and has since come up with other products including a skin cream with a shea butter base and 14 other active herbs that relieves itchy dry skin, two weight loss supplements, a lime-based spray that can be used in beer, on salads or right on the tongue to take away a sore throat, a liquid face/body wash, an arthritis roll-on and a prostate syrup.
From a self-defense guru to a stint in the local media to producing his own all-natural products, Perry is proof that things happen when you least expect them.
“You never know where life will take you. Everyone thought this was an insane idea.”
For more information about Sinus Buster or SiCap Industries contact 869.1165 or visit www.sinusbuster.com.

Fashion forward

Ursula Garreau describes her personal style as simple and elegant. It’s a style that is reflected in her own line of clothing, Ursula of Switzerland.
“The line is soft, flowy and very feminine,” said Garreau, whose clothing, made in the USA, has been sold in over 5,000 specialty and major department stores across the country, including Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, and Lord & Taylor, and internationally in Canada, Europe, Australia and Mexico.
Born and raised in a small town in Switzerland, Garreau came to America 40 years ago, in search of adventure and the opportunity to get ahead. She discovered her talent for sewing as an apprentice in her native country. But, in order to foster that talent, she needed to move to the garment district of Manhattan.
“I needed to be in a bigger city; I needed to be in New York,” she said.
Arriving in 1961, with just a suitcase and her experience as an apprentice, Garreau took an office position and started making hats on the side.
“I didn’t have the financial means to work on my clothing line, so I sold hats,” she said.
Her first hat cost $.48 cents to make and she sold it for $5. Eventually, stores such as Henri Bendel and Saks Fifth Avenue sold them. With her profits, she began working on her clothing collection.
She peddled her line to the boutiques along Madison Avenue, but the buyers all told her the same thing—it was too hip for the 1960s.
Finally, her big break came around 1966 when Women’s Wear Daily published a photo of a Yves Saint Laurent pantsuit consisting of a tight top, wide pants and wide belt—similar to one Garreau had designed and shown to a buyer in a small boutique a few weeks earlier, but was turned down. This time, the buyer was interested. Garreau brought it over, it sold within a week and her career had begun.
Married in 1965, Garreau’s husband wanted to leave the city a few years later and head up north to Schenectady, a name, she jokes, that she couldn’t even pronounce. For 25 years, she and her husband ran four dress shops, called Ursula of Switzerland, in Schenectady, Albany, Troy and Saratoga.
Originally, her line was strictly sportswear, but she changed over to special occasion dresses.
“You have to go with what’s sellable,” she said.
In 1969, the basement of the retail shop in Schenectady became too small to produce clothes, so she purchased a building on Yates Street, also in Schenectady. In three short years, she outgrew that spot and moved into her current building, a 30,000 square foot former 19th century ribbon factory located on Mohawk Avenue in Waterford, on the banks of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers.
“I am very proud to be here,” she said. “The community is absolutely great.”
After parting ways with her husband, Garreau sold her retails shops in 1994 because the work became too much for her.
Throughout her career, Garreau attended fashion shows in Paris and Manhattan. Today, she keeps abreast of the latest fashions through the Internet.
In for spring 2006 are low cut dresses, jackets and shawls, as well as pencil and bias cut skirts and clothes embellished with beadwork.
Her favorite year for fashion? “The late 1970s, and early 1980s because everything sold. It was a fashion crazy time.”
Up until a few years ago, the design, pattern making, cutting and creating was done in Waterford, but due to expenses, Garreau decided to outsource the latter two to cutting and sewing contractors in Manhattan.
“A quality assurance person works alongside the contractors to ensure the clothes are made to my standards,” said Garreau.
Her line of clothing retails for $220-$400 and includes Mother-of-the Bride and guest of the wedding dresses, dinner dresses, pantsuits and separates. She carries missy, plus, petite and petite plus sizes.
“I like that everyone can wear my stuff,” she said.
Ursula of Switzerland clothing is sold in specialty shops across the country and locally at Bridal Gallery by Yvonne in Latham, De Anna’s in West Sand Lake and Lily Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, to name a few.
Running a successful business takes “hiring very talented people,” and Garreau is quick to credit her 22 employees for her success.
“I have wonderful people,” she said, obviously proud of the contributions they each make.
Garreau, who won’t disclose her age, isn’t planning to retire from the business any time soon.
“Oh no, I have no intention of retiring,” she said. “As long as I can make the stairs two at a time, I’ll be here. Even if get very old, I would still like to come in, check on things and advise.”
Full of energy, she’s up at 4am, out the door by 6am and works at least an eight-hour workday. Just this year, however, she resolved to scale back her workload a bit, depending on the demands of the business.
On weekends, this self-described “quiet person” enjoys reading, planning, listening to classical music and visiting with friends.
“I’m never bored,” said Garreau, who resides in Troy.
Back when she was a child, it was a dream for many to move to America for greater opportunity and Garreau is a perfect example of turning a dream into a reality. As an American citizen, she is grateful for the opportunities. Hard work, persistence and having ideas pays off, “she said.”
For those future fashion designers, Garreau has some advice: “Learn pattern making. You can’t be a designer unless you learn pattern making.”
Ursula of Switzerland is headquartered at 31 Mohawk Avenue in Waterford. For more information call 800.826.4041 or visit www.ursula.com.

Say it with stones

“I’ve never taken a business class. I’ve always operated on commonsense.”
Those are the words of Katherine DeLong, new owner of Signature Stones, a West Sand Lake company that has been producing etched stones and stone products since 1996.
DeLong, 31, and her brother John, 27, purchased the company just six months ago. They relocated to the Capital District from Dallas and New Mexico (respectively) and have been working non-stop to turn the once floundering company around.
If you’re not familiar with the company, take a walk along the Hudson River Way in Albany, which connects Broadway to Corning Park. Signature Stones provided the nearly 12,000 fundraising bricks. Two other projects currently in the works are granite walkways for local fundraising projects—one for WMHT’s Capital Campaign, the other for Colonie Youth Center’s new recreation center.
Other products the company produces includes garden rocks with phrases such as “Garden of Weedin’” or “Shhh! Flowers Sleeping”, word stones with inspirational messages such as “Dream”, “Believe”, or “Courage”, magnets, coasters, paper weights, nightlights and more.
But, it’s their Totem Power Stones, which are stones engraved with different animals (150 designs available) that are their biggest sellers, and one of the original products the previous owners developed.
“They’re sold as tourist gift novelties,” said DeLong, explaining that they’re quite popular in Hawaii, Arizona and Alaska. In New York, you can find the stones at many Thruway rest stops in the concession areas.
The brother and sister team are still producing the previously existing products, but have added a line of affordable memorial stones. Typically, they range in price from $2,000-$3,000. Theirs will run between $600-$1,000.
“Ours are extremely affordable comparatively,” she said.
Out of the 1,140 wholesale customers, DeLong estimates that 40 of them are customers she’s brought on since taking over the business. Her typical customers are businesses that purchase the stones for fundraising programs or corporate promotional items. All products can also be made using corporate or other types of logos. Signature Stones will produce anywhere from 100 to 10,000 stones in any given week and they ship nationally and internationally, with many customers in Europe.
DeLong, who works on developing new business, has previous experience running successful wholesale businesses. John, a former electrician, runs the day-to-day operations.
How did two people, who knew nothing about the stone business, learn so much in such a short time?
“We really just dug into it and followed the employees around,” DeLong said. “We’ve learned every aspect of production, from creating and working with the designs to getting the designs on the rocks.”
Their products are made from a wide variety of materials including semi-precious stone to marble, granite, slate, glass and ceramic titles, which come from India, South Africa, Brazil and China. Garden stones are purchased locally.
The stones all go through the same process— they’re stenciled by hand, sandblasted, painted and cleaned. But before the process even begins, workers have to sift through the stones to find ones that will even work.
“I have a great deal of respect for our employees who sit there and work for hours on end,” said DeLong, adding that work areas are ergonomically correct.
Turn around time is generally one week, but depends on the size and type of order. A recent last minute “emergency” order of 70 coasters that were being used as awards for a 5K race was completed in one day.
“We usually sandblast only once or twice a week because of high fuel costs.”
In time, DeLong hopes to upgrade from their current 5,000 square foot building to a larger one so they can start laser engraving the products, in addition to the sandblasting.
“We would be able to increase product line, increase productivity because it’s a faster process and be able to offer customers items at a lower cost.”
The biggest challenge the business faces is competition from the many imitations, which are produced in China. Though Signature Stones is a registered trademark, DeLong said it’s been “quite an adventure” trying to enforce it.
“Ours are unique. The copies almost look machine made.”
As far as competition with the fundraising bricks, DeLong isn’t worried.
“We’re the only company that can produce at the level we do,” she said. “I don’t think that anyone can compete with us as far as quality, turn around time and customer service.”
Signature Stones is located in West Sand Lake. For more information, or to purchase products, call 674.1548 or visit www.signaturestones.com.

By Jerry Pittz

Now that we’re in the midst of tax season, you may be anticipating a tax refund, if you haven’t already received one. Of course, not everyone receives a refund, but among those who do, the amount can be sizable. In fact, in 2005, the average tax refund was about $2,125. If you’re going to get a refund, start planning now on how to use it. By making the right moves, you can help speed up your progress toward your financial goals.
So, what should you do with your refund? Here are a few ideas:
Put the money in your IRA. To achieve a comfortable retirement lifestyle, you will need to draw on a variety of financial resources, one of which may be an IRA. In 2006, you can contribute up to $4,000—or $5,000 if you are 50 or older—to a traditional or Roth IRA. So, if you received a $2,125 refund—last year’s average—you’d be well on your way toward “maxing out” on your IRA contribution. If you think that this amount can’t really make that much of a difference to your long-term savings, consider this hypothetical situation: If you put that $2,125 in an IRA that earned 7 percent a year, and you never invested another dime in your account, your money will still grow to more than $16,000 in 30 years. Not a fortune, to be sure, but nothing to scoff at. And in all likelihood, you would not just make a one-time contribution to an IRA. (At the end of 30 years, you’d have to pay taxes on your earnings, but by then, you may be in a lower tax bracket; even if you’re not, you might be able to spread the tax burden over several years. And if you had invested in a Roth IRA, your earnings will grow tax-free, provided you’ve had your account for at least five years and you don’t begin withdrawals until you are age 59-1/2.) Keep in mind that these rates are hypothetical only and do not reflect the rates of any investment currently available.
Contribute to a Section 529 plan. Many people contribute to Section 529 plans to save money for their children’s (and grandchildren’s) college education. You can put in large amounts each year to a Section 529 plan, and your earnings will grow tax-free, provided withdrawals are used for qualified higher education expenses.
Pay down high-rate debt. Short-term interest rates have been rising over the past few months. This could mean that you’ll be paying a higher rate on your credit cards—which probably carried a fairly high rate to begin with. If you use some of your tax refund to whittle down this debt, you’ll be making a wise move, as this debt is typically not tax deductible, and, therefore, of no benefit to you.
Build up your “rainy day” fund. You might want to use your tax refund to build your emergency fund. Generally speaking, you should set aside six to 12 months worth of living expenses to pay for expenses such as car repairs, new appliances and unexpected medical bills.
You can’t always count on a tax refund—but when you get one, make the most out of it. You’ll be glad you did.
Jerry Pittz is an investment representative for Edward Jones Investments in Main Square Shoppes in Delmar. He can be reached at 475.7642 or visit www.edwardjones.com.

Estate planning and your pet

By Carolina Minetto Lazzari, CFP®, EA

Considering that Americans spent $35 billion on their pets last year, it seems that many of us consider our pets to be part of the family. This goes as far as an owner actually including a pet in his estate planning to secure a safe home for it in the event of death or disability. It may sound unusual, but numerous studies have been done on this topic, and it is estimated that between 12 and 27 percent of pet owners include their non-human companions in their wills. If you have been concerned about the care of your animals in the event you are no longer able to care for them yourself, here are some things to consider.

Choose a replacement caretaker
Choose a trustworthy adult who is familiar with your animal and is an experienced pet owner. The two of you should discuss the responsibilities and expectations of caring for your pet ahead of time. These should be updated if the designated caretaker’s personal situations change. It is also important that you clearly identify the chosen caretaker in your will. If something should happen to this caretaker, the administrator of your estate can place your animal with another responsible person. Wills can even specify that a new pet caretaker, also referred to as the animal’s trustee, can be elected and approved by a majority of the estate beneficiaries.

Provide sufficient monetary support for your pet
You already know there are various costs associated with keeping a pet, including veterinary expenses, food, grooming, housing and other unforeseen expenditures that you may want to provide monetary support for in case of your absence. Costs may run anywhere from $500 annually to into the thousands, so it is important to set aside enough funds to cover such expenses for the duration of your pet’s life. Use the annual total of your pet-related expenses
Then, you need to decide if you will provide funds beyond these support costs for the benefit of your caretaker. In other words, will you need to reimburse the caretaker for the inconvenience of taking on the care of your pet? Some owners may feel that bequeathing funds to your pet’s new caretaker contingent on continuous appropriate care may persuade them to continue to take exemplary care of your pet.

Do you want to establish a trust for your pet?
Many pet owners are actually establishing legal trust funds for their animals, which according to the American Society of Prevention and Cruelty to Animals, is “a legally sanctioned arrangement providing for the care and maintenance of one or more companion animals in the event of a grantor’s disability and/or death.” An appointed trustee is given the duty of monitoring the designated caretaker, thereby ensuring that the animal is receiving proper attention as instructed by the previous owner.
Pet owners who set up trusts for their animals do not receive federal tax code benefits because beneficiary designations are limited to a person, trust, estate, partnership, or company. However, more and more states are adopting laws that allow pets to be named as beneficiaries of trusts.
When setting up your trust here are some important things to remember:
• Provide the name and address of a caretaker and trustee (as well as successors for both) for each of your pets. These can be individuals or corporations.
• Determine the funds needed to adequately cover your pet’s expenses for the duration of the animal’s life. This amount should reflect the type of care you want the pet to receive, but should not reasonably exceed the expected standard of living since some courts have cited over-funding as a reason to overturn a pet trust fund.
• Describe in detail the directions for your pet’s care and require that the trustee perform regular inspections on the pet to ensure the desired level of attention is being upheld.
• Determine the amount of property needed to sufficiently cover the costs of administering the pet trust.
• Designate a beneficiary in the event the pet trust funds are not exhausted.
Be sure to seek the guidance of a qualified attorney to ensure that your trust is set up correctly. Because trusts are legally enforceable and can contain specific instructions on the type of care you want for your animals, pet owners can rest assured their loyal companions would still be well cared for even after they are gone.
Carolina Minetto Lazzari, CFP®EA is a financial advisor in Schenectady, offering a full array of investments and planning services as a registered representative of Commonwealth Financial Network-a member firm of the NASD/SIPC. She can be reached at 346.2726 or plan@carolinalazzari.com.

Small business tips to keep in mind when tax time arrives

By Judy Dievendorf

When thinking of starting a small business, a little common sense can save you time and money. Below are five things that new business owners should consider, as well as important tips on deductions.

1. Separation: Keep your personal finances and your business finances separate no matter what. Get a business checking account and checkbook binder system with a spreadsheet check register built right in (around $90). It’s extremely important that all the income and expenses of your business flow through your business’s bank account, even if you are paid in cash.
2. Banking: Find a bank that fits your needs. Make sure that the account features fit with what you need and what you want to pay. Since it is not uncommon for business owners to have issues with their bank account at some point, forming a strong long-term banking relationship is essential for any small business.
3. Organization: Perhaps the biggest problem that people have with a small business is getting it organized. Avoid the “shoebox” full of receipts route. There is no rule that says it has to be a complicated system. Something as simple as a three-ring binder and monthly dividers can be a great start. Inside your binder, keep your important documents like bank statements, payroll reports and check registers catalogued by the month. If your business requires that you spend much of your day in your car or truck, keep a coupon file in your vehicle for your cash receipts. Label each pocket with an expense category and once a week make a summary of those receipts. Be consistent!
4. Bookkeeping: Another thing that business owners have trouble with is bookkeeping. Hiring a professional bookkeeper can be costly, but purchasing bookkeeping software is time and money well spent. If you decide to go this route and aren’t computer savvy, have a professional help you install the software and teach you how it works.
5. Business Entity: Before you commit, do your homework. Visit the NY website www.dos.state.ny.us or call 518.474.8275 to see what regulations you need to abide by. You want to find a business form that fits best with both your personal tax situation and what you want to do. Consulting with a tax professional can help you make an informed decision. Whether the choice is a corporation, an LLC, a partnership or a DBA, they can also help you file required paperwork with the taxman that can save time, money and hassles in the future.
Although the most efficient tax planning is done before year end, it may not be too late to take advantage of some tax -deductions for 2005. If you are willing to put in the time to reconstruct your record keeping, then there are some things you can do to decrease your taxes for 2005. Continuing the same record keeping in 2006 will continue to insure you pay the lowest legal tax.

Deductions for the self-employed
Deducting your house: If you use a portion of your home exclusively and regularly for business purposes, you may be able to take a home office deduction. You’ll need to know the total square footage of your office and the total square footage of your home, so that you can apply the resulting business use percentage to expenses like utilities, trash removal, maintenance and repairs. If your business income is greater than your regular business expenses, this can be a very useful deduction; if you have a business loss these deductions can be carried forward to a future year.
Deducting your vehicle: You may deduct business miles at a rate of $40.5 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005. In September, the IRS made a special one-time adjustment for the last four months of 2005, raising the rate for business miles to $48.5 cents per mile in response to a sharp increase in gas prices. Beginning January 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
• $44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
• $18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
• $14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The IRS requires you to keep track by use of a mileage log or an appointment book from which the business miles can be reconstructed. Total miles the vehicle was used for the year is a necessary number as well. So while it’s fresh in your mind—it’s time to reconstruct and start keeping track of your odometer.
Deducting your retirement: Self-employed individuals have the opportunity to set aside funds into qualified retirement plans specially developed for them. Although many of these must be established prior to year-end, one type of retirement plan, the SEP, can be established before the filing of the return, including extensions. In 2005, the deduction works out to 20 percent of your net self-employment income up to $42,000. This is a great tool for reducing taxes and paying yourself at the same time. One thing to note: if you have employees, you must contribute for them as well. Ask your tax advisor about those rules.
Judy Dievendorf is president of Dievendorf & Company, located at 318 Delaware Avenue, Main Square, Suite 2-2, Delmar. For more information call 439.1040.

Don’t be a “Groundhog Day” investor

By Jerry Pittz

This month, the spotlight is on Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous groundhog. As the folklore goes, if Phil sees his shadow, he anticipates six more weeks of bad weather, and he retreats underground. If the day is cloudy, he thinks it’s spring and he stays above ground. Of course, many of us would say that Phil is never right. If you live on the East Coast, or in the Midwest or the Great Plains states, you probably don’t view the weather as “springlike” in early February, or six weeks later, either. But Phil is not alone in reliving his errors. Many investors also keep making the same mistakes, year after year. How can you avoid being a “Groundhog Day” investor? Here are a few suggestions:
Don’t chase after “hot stocks.” You can find “hot stocks” featured in financial magazines and touted by “experts” on television. Even your next-door neighbor may have a “can’t miss” tip for you. But you’re probably better off by turning the pages, flipping off the television and redirecting your neighbor to a different subject. In the first place, by the time you even hear about a hot stock—much less buy one—it may already be cooling off. And, more importantly, it just may not be appropriate for your needs. For example, if you already have several stocks quite similar to the “hot” one, you may find that adding it to your portfolio may not boost your diversification—which is essential to investment success.
Don’t “buy and sell” too frequently. If you don’t hold stocks for at least a year before selling them, your profits (if there are any) will be based on your current income tax rate, rather than the capital gains rate, which is likely to be more favorable. You’re much better off buying high-quality investments and holding them for the long term, until either your needs, or the investments themselves, have changed.
Don’t load up on company stock. If you have confidence in your employer, you might be tempted to put a good percentage of your 401(k) dollars in company stock—but this move could be a big mistake. To look at an extreme example, nearly 58 percent of Enron employees’ 401(k) assets were invested in Enron stock as it fell 98.8 percent in value during 2001, according to the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). But even after the fall of Enron, many employees have maintained even larger percentages of their 401(k) assets in their company stock. Don’t make that mistake. Instead, diversify your 401(k) dollars among your various investment choices in a way that reflects your risk tolerance, long-term goals and time horizon.
Don’t stop investing when the market goes down. The financial markets will always go through “ups” and “downs.” Some people bail out when the going gets tough, preferring to wait until things turn around. But the most successful investors continue to invest through good times and bad—and, if they choose good investments, and hold them for the long term, they are frequently rewarded.
By following these tips, you can avoid making those repetitive investment mistakes that can prove so costly. And even it’s cloudy this Groundhog Day, your financial future can look sunny indeed.
Jerry Pittz is an investment representative for Edward Jones Investments in Main Square Shoppes in Delmar. He can be reached at 475.7642 or visit www.edwardjones.com.

Worth keeping score: the power of your credit rating...and how to protect it

By Anthony J. Lanzillo

Cash is king. At least that’s how the saying goes in the business world, where operating cash flow is a true measure of a company’s health. However, in personal banking, where most individuals don’t have enough cash flow to buy a house, car or finance their children’s education outright, the true king is credit. And just as our high school SAT scores categorized our potential and for many of us narrowed down our choice of colleges, our credit score is a measure of our financial health and often dictates the extent of our financial freedom.
In fact, the difference between poor credit, good credit and excellent credit can be the difference between what type of housing you are able to secure for yourself, the type of job you can work, and/or thousands upon thousands of dollars in increased interest when financing your house, car or child’s education. In some cases, a weak credit rating can prevent an individual from receiving any financing at all.

So what, exactly is your credit rating?
In short, your credit rating is a report on your ability to repay a loan based upon your prior financial history. A credit report is the first place that potential lenders, insurance agents, employers or landlords look in deciding whether to lend to, insure, employ or rent to you.
For most of us (some 18-year-old college freshmen aside), we are well aware of how our use of credit can impact us financially. So we make our best effort to manage our debt responsibly and keep a clean credit report. What many of us do not know, though, is that maintaining a strong credit rating often takes more than responsible money management. It takes due diligence and attention to detail. Why? Because a recent U.S. Public Interest Research Group survey found that 79 percent of the credit reports on 200 adults surveyed had mistakes. Of those, 54 percent had obsolete information or information on the wrong people, and 30 percent had information on accounts that were closed, but were still being reported as open.
In a perfect world, such important information would be perfectly correct, but problems are common in credit reports and if uncorrected they can remain on your record for seven years.
While The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that obsolete information be deleted from credit reports, gives us access to our credit reports and provides the right to have mistakes corrected, this process often takes time and may affect your ability to get the loan you need when you need it. Therefore, to maintain your financial freedom, it is imperative to protect your own credit ratings. Three national private, for-profit businesses provide credit reports:
Equifax—P.O. Box 105851, Atlanta, GA 30348
800.685.1111, www.equifax.com
TransUnion LLC—Credit Bureau Services
P.O. Box 1370, Buffalo, NY 14231-1370
800.632.1765
Experian—475 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714.830.7000 or
955 American Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60173
847.517.5600, www.experian.com, 888.397.3742
Contact one of these credit bureaus annually (at least) to check your credit rating or to request corrections. By law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months. For more information, visit www.annualcreditreport.com. Also, anyone who refuses you credit must notify you in writing of the decision and the reason. They must also tell you what credit bureau issued the report used in making that decision.
If you find that the decision was based on a flawed credit report, the credit bureau must help you make corrections. First, you’re entitled to add a written statement (100 words or less) explaining your view of the mistake. Also, the credit bureau must send that explanation to anyone who requested your credit report within the past six months (if the request was for credit purposes) and within the past two years (if the request was for employment purposes).
Be persistent and precise in making challenges. Record dates when you contacted the credit bureau, names and phone numbers of those you contacted, and ask for an amended report after receiving assurances that corrections have been made.
To correct these errors by creditors, contact the creditor within 60 days after the erroneous bill was mailed to you, but pay any part of the bill that is not in error. You deserve a reply within 30 days, will not have to pay any finance charges on the disputed amount until a final resolution and your credit rating cannot be threatened while the matter is being decided. Even if no error is found, the creditor must explain that in writing.
Again, in a perfect world such information would always be correct. Then again, in a perfect world we could pay cash for everything. But the world is not perfect and we have to work hard for our money, which at various times throughout our lives is not enough to finance our needs. Credit can help us through these times and open the door to much greater opportunities. And unlike the elusive perfect score on the SAT, which is reserved for the brightest of the bright, an excellent credit rating—and thereby increased financial freedom—is attainable for everyone.
Anthony Lanzillo is senior vice president of KeyBank and heads the Capital Region’s Retail Banking team. He can be reached at 257.8598 or anthony_lanzillo@keybank.com.

What you don’t know may stop you from getting results!

By Judy Torel

In my work as a personal trainer, I have noticed a disturbing, yet increasingly common phenomenon in my new clients: cardio machine mythitis. This is the term I have coined for people who have been diligently working out on the elliptical machines, the recumbent bikes and the treadmills, yet are increasingly frustrated over a lack of weight loss. What I have discovered in most cases is the client is unaware of one of the elements built into the machine or doesn’t understand how to combine the various overload settings in order to produce adequate overloads.
Let’s make sure you are not suffering from cardio machine mythitis. Read on!

Elliptical machines
The elliptical machine took the fitness industry by storm about 10 years ago. Today, industry surveys show that elliptical machines are one of the most highly utilized cardio machines in gyms across the country.
There are a various brands and models of elliptical machines. My personal favorite is the 546 Precore model. The company has done its research and has engineered the most user friendly and close-to-life movement pattern of all the elliptical machines on the market today.
Elliptical machines in general have three overload settings that the user must adjust in order to achieve the training effect he/she is after. These three settings are: the ramp height, the resistance level and the strides per minute.
On the Precore 546 there are 20 ramp elevation levels varying from 1, a 0 percent gradient, to 20, which creates an incline of approximately 160 degrees. Most of the pre-set programs built into the machine will vary the ramp elevation at various times during the workout in order to establish a change in overload effect. For instance, if the ramp is lower, the total workout load will be lower. If the ramp is raised, the calories per minute burned increases because the higher the ramp the higher the intensity.
The second setting on elliptical machines is the resistance setting. On the Precore 546 there are 20 resistance levels. The first level is the lightest setting. As the resistance number increases so does the force necessary to push the pedals. The higher the force, the more calories burned per minute.
The final setting on the elliptical machines is the strides per minute. This is not something that you are prompted to program into the machine at the beginning of the workout. The strides per minute will be displayed on the console once you start to exercise. Strides per minute is similar to the speed setting on a treadmill. The higher the strides per minute, the more calories you will burn.
Most clients aren’t aware of the strides setting. This lack of awareness is probably the single most common factor for not achieving the weight loss and fitness gains desired.

Below is an example to help to clarify my point:
Amy is a 45-year old woman who desires to lose 30 pounds and has little to no experience with exercise. She has been told that the elliptical machine is a good one to use because of the smooth, comfortable, non-impact movements that won’t hurt her joints. Amy works out on the elliptical machine for three months for 30 minutes a session four times per week. She uses the manual program and sets the machine at a ramp of 10 and a resistance of 4 but she has no idea of what strides per minute she is maintaining. With guidance Amy could find the proper stride cadence that gets her heart rate into her target heart rate zone. With the proper strides per minute, Amy will get the maximum calorie burn while maintaining a level of output that keeps her in her proper intensity zone. Without it, she may be getting a sub-maximal workout.
If your goal is to burn calories to lose weight, then you would set the ramp at a comfortable level and try to emphasis the strides per minute over the resistance level. What this means is that you want to have a resistance that allows you to feel like you are working, but you want to be able to feel as if you are striding at a slightly higher level then you would comfortably set.
If your goal is to increase muscular endurance and power and increase your fitness level, then you want to find the strides per minute that is in your comfort zone and then increase the resistance one level above your comfort zone while holding the same stride cadence.
The ramp has the least effect on the total intensity and can be used to enhance the overload effects once the resistance and strides levels have been established. The ramp is a great feature to help people suffering from knee, hip and back injuries and joint conditions. You can adjust the ramp to avoid “glitch spots” in various joints that will then enable you to get a great cardiovascular workout, pain free!

Recumbent bikes
The recumbent bikes are very popular in gyms today. On these bikes your legs are out in front of your body as opposed to underneath you like on a traditional upright bike or indoor cycle bike. These bikes are ideal for people with lower back and lower body joint issues because they are non-weight bearing and the recumbent position reduces the pressure loads on the lower body joints.
There are two intensity settings on recumbent bikes and on bikes in general. They are the resistance level and the RPMs (revolutions per minute).
The resistance level is generally 1 to 20 with the resistance load increasing with each increase in level. If you think of the resistance level as simulating hills if you were riding on the road, then each increase in resistance is comparable to biking up a higher and higher hill.
The RPMs per minute is the number of times that your foot goes around in one minute. This is not something that you pre-set into the machine. You must be monitoring your console as you are riding to assess your cadence.
Most people think that the higher the resistance the more intense the workout on the recumbent bikes, but this is not the case. There has to be an appropriate combination of resistance and RPMs in order for you to achieve the proper overload levels for your personal goals. Generally speaking, if you have a high resistance but your rpms are only 25 you will be burning less calories per minute then if you increased your rpms to 50 and kept the same resistance.
A general rule of thumb for weight loss is to try to maintain 70-90 rpms and then set the resistance at a level that you feel you are working to maintain the rpms but you CAN maintain them for at least 10 minutes. As you get fitter, you can increase the resistance while maintaining the same rpm level. The higher the resistance at the same rpms, the higher the calories burned per minute!

Treadmills
The treadmill is the premier cardiovascular machine. It has been the corner stone cardio machine in the fitness industry for many years and continues to be so today.
Treadmills have two settings: speed and incline. The incline is the gradient at which you are walking or jogging. The machines start on a 0 percent gradient and most can be raised to a 12 percent incline. Generally speaking, the higher the incline, the more calories burned per minute. This is true whether you are walking or jogging.
The speed is the miles per hour (3.5 for example) or minutes per mile reading (7:52). Generally, treadmills will give you both readings on the console, but you program the miles per hour when setting your workout levels.
On the treadmills it is usually best to achieve your highest speed that you can maintain either walking or jogging before you start to add inclines to the workout.
All people are aware of the speed on the treadmill because it is something that you must program into the machine for your workout. On the ellipticals and the recumbent bikes, the speed is not pre-programmed into the machines, but must be executed by the user during the workout.
Once you know the various overload elements for each machine and how to combine them, you are set to achieve your workout goals. Good luck!
Judy Torel, owner of Judy Torel’s Sweat Shop, is available by appointment and phone for lifestyle coaching. You can contact her at 459.6942, www.judytorelsweatshop.com or jtorel2263@yahoo.com. She is also the fitness consultant for WNYT-News Channel 13.

The low-key hustle of workers during the day in the downtown areas of Albany and Saratoga turns into an excited buzz once the sun goes down, as many hit their favorite bars and clubs. There are many places around the region to unwind and meet new people, but the hot spots are North Pearl Street and Lark Street in Albany and Caroline Street in Saratoga.

After a long workweek enjoy a few spirits at The Pearl Restaurant & Lounge, Blue 82, a martini bar just a few doors down, or the latest—Noche’s—in downtown Albany. All three places offer great happy hour drink specials and an upscale lounge-type atmosphere that will make you feel as though you were toasting with the best of them in Manhattan.
How does a romantic dinner accompanied by live music or a night of laughs at a comedy club sound? One Caroline Street Bistro in Saratoga and 677 Prime in Albany offer the best in fine dining and live jazz music, and The Comedy Works, also in Albany, will have your stomach aching—not from the full-course dinner, but from laughing so hard you’ll fall out of your chair!
If you’re looking for a late night of dancing or a low-key sports bar where you won’t be rubbing elbows with college freshmen, The City Tavern and The Parting Glass in Saratoga are two great choices, as well as Savannah’s and The Skyline (formerly the Big House Brewing Company) in Albany. If something sweet is what you have in mind, check out Caffé Lena in Saratoga, where you can enjoy a decadent dessert and sip hot chocolate while watching a live acoustic performance.
So, don’t let the cold weather keep you holed up at home! The Capital Region offers a ton of great venues all with various types of entertainment. Get out and warm up among the crowds!

Compiled by Arcangela Mele

DOWNTOWN ALBANY

Blue 82
82 N. Pearl Street, Albany
445.8082
Relax on the sofa of this small, yet cozy lounge—a great place to meet friends after work to enjoy a martini or a glass of wine from their extensive wine list. Keeping with its name, the wall behind the bar is lit with blue lighting, as is a side wall. Between 4pm-7pm, Blue 82 attracts a mature, quite crowd. Monday night is Pitcher Night, featuring $6 Michelob Light, and $8 for Blue Moon, Stella Artois, and Magic Hat #9. Get half off any pizza when ordering a pitcher. Wine Tasting Tuesdays feature Flight and Cheese specials. Wednesday is Trivia Night sponsored by New Castle, featuring $2.50 New Castles (registration begins at 6:30pm). Thursdays are Ladies Night from 10pm-close - $4 martini’s, champagne flutes and wines. Friday is the Classic Happy Hour Special from 4pm-8pm, featuring $2.50 Bud and Bud Light bottles, $6 classic Skyy Martini’s, $4 for the house wine.

The Skyline
4 Sheridan Avenue, Albany
472.8150; www.skylineofalbany.com
Highlights of the Skyline (formerly the Big House Brewing Company) include live music, a bar and cozy lounge on the first floor, games and a brick oven that serves pizza on the second floor and a third floor dance club, overlooking downtown Albany. Lunch Buffet every weekday from 11am-3pm. Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3pm-8pm featuring $2 imported drafts and $1 domestic drafts. Hours are Monday-Friday 11am-close; Saturday 5pm-close; closed on Sunday.

Noche
895 Broadway, Albany
434.4540; www.nochealbany.com
Located in downtown Albany, this new, upscale lounge brings a touch of sizzle to the warehouse district. A red carpet leads you inside where you can kick back and socialize in the big black leather seats and munch on Spanish Tapas. Noche is open daily from 4pm-4am, and Happy Hour starts each night with 2 for 1 drinks. Learn how to salsa dance on Wednesday nights—classes are taught beginning at 7:30pm followed by open salsa dancing. You may also want to enjoy bottomless glasses of wine during Unwined on Friday nights.

The Bayou Café
79 N Pearl Street, Albany
426.8550; www.Bayoucafe.com
With a great Cajun and Southwestern menu and possibly the best live music downtown, you can expect a crowd at the Bayou almost every night. Wednesday’s are open mic with Joey “Pots and Pans” Pucci and the Butt Cheek Band. Various rock, country, and blues artists take the stage beginning most Thursdays and also Friday and Saturday nights. Happy Hour specials vary weekly, and the dance floor is open and kicking on busy nights. Restaurant opens 11:30am Monday-Friday and Saturday at 4:30pm.

Angelo’s 677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany
42-PRIME; www.677prime.com
An exquisite upscale steakhouse, 677 Prime, located near Capital Repertory Theatre and The Palace Theatre, offers two floors of exceptional fine dining. The first floor is a modern, stylish dining room and bar area, and the second a private event gathering room. A great place to enjoy Happy Hour before seeing a show. Jazz on Thursday nights at 7pm and occasional Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm-12pm, enjoy Frank Sinatra cover singer Eddie C. Lunch hours are Mon-Sat 11:30-2, and dinner is served from 5-10.

The Pearl Restaurant and Lounge
1 Steuben Pl., Albany
433.0011; www.pearlalbany.com
Blond wood and stylish, elegant chandeliers and abstract artworks dominate this martini bar, a popular hangout for busy professionals. There are two dining rooms, offering American cuisine such as veal, duck, chicken, seafood and pasta. With two bars and an outdoor patio, dinner can extend into late night fun. Often featured are half-price drink specials from 5pm-7pm, and 2 for 1 Martini’s on Fridays.

Mad River
86 N Pearl Street, Albany
433.8338
Located in the heart of Albany’s downtown nightclub and restaurant scene, Mad River offers three floors of former warehouse space designed especially for spacious socializing, dancing, dining and live entertainment, which is reserved for the summer months. Thought the late-night scene tends to be a young, hip crowd, the bar is said to be a hot spot during the week for local professionals looking for a comfortable place to relax after work. The atmosphere is casual, and the menu is traditional American pub fare— burgers, steaks, sandwiches and finger foods. Right now, for those who may be looking to host their own party, currently featured is a Friday night Happy Hour special from 8pm-11pm, in which guests are offered mixed drinks for only $2 and domestic drafts for only $1.

The Albany Pump Station
19 Quackenbush Square, Albany
447.9000; www.evansale.com
The C.H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station, known to most as simply “The Pump Station”, is in an historic large brick building located downtown across from Broadway and the Palace Theatre. The award winning restaurant and brewery serves over seven varieties of its authentic Evan’s Ale, including the “ Kick Ass Brown”, which was twice awarded The Great American Beer Gold Medal for the best Brown Ale in the country. Beer is not all there is to enjoy here—the restaurant offers quick seating with an extensive lunch and dinner menu, and the warmth of a fireplace. Happy Hour specials on Thursdays and Fridays are $2 off appetizers and $1 off pints and wines. Full-menu hours are Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30am-11pm; Sunday noon-8pm.

McGeary’s
4 Clinton Square, Albany
463.1455; www.mcgearys.com
Celebrating over 21 years in downtown Albany, McGeary’s is a downtown favorite. From the Celtic themed dining room to humorous and historical memorabilia that line the walls, McGeary’s mixes Irish tradition with contemporary specialties. Featuring live bands throughout February—Hair of the Dog, Bobby Vandetta, The Heaters, and the Burner’s UK are regulars. Happy Hour runs from 4pm-7pm and features $3 23 oz. beers.

Savannah’s
1 S. Pearl Street, Albany
426.9647
If you’re looking to hang out among a mature crowd while enjoying delicious food and great music, then don’t pass up a night at Savannah’s. Every night is lively beginning at 8:30pm when this low-key, intimate jazz club welcomes great talent to its stage. Every Monday night sing along with piano man Nate Buccieri, or get in on the open jam on Tuesday nights featuring Tommy Love and the Buckidellics. Every second and fourth Wednesday The Shanghai Cowboys and Me perform and every third Wednesday it’s The Swing Docs turn to take the stage. Three different bands featured every Thursday. Friday and Saturdays are a mixture of blues and funk, and Happy Hour is from 5pm-8pm with free appetizers, various specials and occasional live music. Food is served from 11:30am-10pm on weekdays, and beginning at 7pm on Saturdays. Bar hours are 1pm-4am.

The Red Square
388 Broadway, Albany
432.8584; www.redsquarealbany.com
Music lovers interested in exploring the local hip and upcoming music scene, should head to The Red Square (formally Doc McCutchen’s). This new, live music venue and bar is looking to improve Albany’s art and music scene by introducing an eclectic mix of music such as indie rock, acid jazz, funk and soul. Every Tuesday is Eclectic Night beginning at 7pm, an invitational open mic featuring all original music from all genres; on Wednesday’s The Brother’s Wheeler throw down a mix of organic and electronic music beginning at 9pm, and Friday’s feature Rise: A night of eclectic music and culture. This late night party extravaganza of live bands and a DJ also features an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet starting at 3:30am.

Junior’s
1094 Madison Avenue, Albany
935.2024
With multiple big screen TV’s, a bar and electronic table games, Junior’s is a place to kick back, relax and have a little fun. Watch your favorite sports or just chat with friends in the booths and take advantage of the drink and food specials. Happy hour runs from 3:30pm-6:30pm. $2 drink specials on domestic and imported beer offered after 9pm. Cheeseburgers are $2 after 9pm on Mondays after 9pm; $.20 cent wings on Tuesday’s.

Jillian’s
59 N. Pearl Street, Albany
432.1997; www.jillians.com
Known for its three floors of fun, Jillian’s is a popular favorite offering a little something for everyone. Late night weekends the restaurant turns into a “clubbing scene”, but Jillian’s is also a favorite for lunch or some after work fun. The Video Café on the main floor features giant TV screens for optimal sports viewing, and there is a new menu with an eclectic blend of appetizers, entrée’s and desserts. There is also a nine-ball lounge with tournament quality billiards and The Amazing Games Room filled with the latest electronic and simulation games. Live music every Friday and Saturday night. Events for February are: Chippendale’s: “The Ultimate Girls Night Out” (February 11, 8pm-10pm) and Fat Tuesday: An All Day Event (February 28). Jillian’s is open Sun-Wed 11am-2am, and Thurs-Sat 11am-3am.

LARK STREET

Tess’ Lark Tavern
453 Madison Avenue, Albany
463.9779; www.larktavern.com
A traditional Irish pub-style bar and restaurant “Where Good Friends Meet”. Centrally located between Madison and Lark, The Lark Tavern attracts an eclectic mix of business professionals and students alike. The atmosphere is friendly and casual; the food is classic, all-American—fried and grilled. Happy Hour is five days a week from 3pm-7:30pm, with $2 drafts, $2.50 well drinks, and $3 Stoli’s. Wednesday’s are open mic, Thursdays are Nouveau Chill, a lounge and dance. Friday is hip hop night, and every last Monday of the month is Poet’s Speak Live, a poetry open mic that starts at 7pm. Cabaret and comedy shows also happen every so often.

Justin’s
301 Lark Street, Albany
436.7008 www.Justinslark.com
A quiet and romantic restaurant with dim lights, lush plants, modern art and live entertainment. They serve a traditional American cuisine with duck, lamb, chicken, beef, pork and seafood entrees. Live jazz music Wednesday-Sunday, including occasional special guests on Friday and Saturday. Food is served from 11:30am-1pm. Hours are Monday-Friday 11:30am-1am; Saturday & Sunday 11am-1am.

Bomber’s Burrito Bar
258 Lark Street, Albany
463.9636; www.bombersburritobar.com
Notorious for their gigantic burritos and delicious wings, Bomber’s highly casual atmosphere and unconventional style is a staple of Lark Street. Silverware is hard to come by, and napkins are substituted for a swinging paper towel roll above the front counter, yet for many, this is the beauty of Bombers. So if you’re looking for cheap food that’s double the size of most places, and carefree self-service, then Bomber’s is the place to be. The basement is quick and more casual, yet the upstairs bar and restaurant serves Mexican American favorites until 11:30pm. $.25 cent wings on Mondays, karaoke on Wednesdays. Hours are Monday-Saturday 11:30am-11:30pm, Sunday 11:30am-10pm.

SARATOGA

One Caroline Street Jazz & Blues Bistro
One Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs
587.2026; www.onecaroline.com
If you’re in search of a relaxing evening of fine dining and jazz music, this quaint, intimate bistro located in downtown Saratoga is a great choice. The menu is French and Italian inspired, featuring both traditional and original dishes, and there are 22 varieties of world-renowned wines to choose from. If you start your night with an early dinner around 6pm, you will be graced with light classical piano music, and at 7pm or 8pm you’ll be front row to some of the best jazz and blues acts the Capital Region has to offer. Performers featured are Masters of Nostalgia, Chuck D’Aloia, The Brian Patenaude Trio and many others. Performances are most days of the week, and a day-by-day performance schedule is available on the website. Reservations suggested. Hours are Monday-Thursday 5pm-9pm; Friday-Saturday 5pm-10pm.

Gaffney’s
16 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs
587.7359; www.gaffneysrestaurant.com
Casual gourmet dining and live music are the highlights of this popular bar/restaurant. The first floor of this four-story building has a large bar and plenty of seating, including an additional indoor heated patio. The large outdoor area known as “The Garden” is open during the summer. Live entertainment, including solo artists and local bands, take place on the second floor Wednesday-Saturday, free of cover charge and Tuesday nights are open mic. Happy Hour special on Mondays is from 4pm-7pm, featuring $1 off draft beer. Hours: Lunch 11:30 am-3pm; dinner 5:30pm-11pm; Sunday brunch 10:30am-4pm.

Saratoga City Tavern
19 and 21 Caroline Street,
Saratoga Springs
583.3661; www.saratogacitytavern.com
With four floors and a rooftop terrace, The City Tavern has something for everyone, including a bar, restaurant, dance floor, and its very own private party room. The first floor, known as “ The Tavern” captures the “old Saratoga” feel with its mahogany bar and relaxed atmosphere, and gives a full view of the action taking place on both Caroline and Maple Streets. The second floor is more intimate and pub-like, featuring a small stage for live music and a bar. Menus are available on the first and second floors. The third floor is a unique apartment-style lounge with couches, armchairs, pool table, bar and fireplace, and is available for private parties. The fourth floor features a three windowed open-space dance floor that looks down over the city, and becomes a full out dance party with a live D. J. on Friday and Saturday nights. Happy Hour is every Wed-Fri from 6-10 pm, various drink specials. Friday and Saturday night live music by various artists, including Jeff Walton, Tim Wechgalaer, Rick Bolton, and Mikki Bakken.

Circus Cafe
392 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
583.1106; www.circuscafe.com
The theme at this place is characteristic of its name—an “over the top” vision of an old-fashioned circus that creates an exciting dining and drinking experience. Rest assured there are no goofy clowns running around here! The décor is colorful, but sophisticated with murals and lights that transform the walls from pale yellow to deep red, Venetian chandeliers and red and gold velvet curtains that hang above the tables to create an air of privacy. The American menu features “comfort food” entrées and there is also a colorful drink menu. Every Wednesday throughout February “The All Star Jazz Series” plays from 7:30pm-10:30pm, and every first and third Saturday karaoke begins at 10pm. Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 4pm-7pm featuring Guinness, Bass, and Magic Hat #9 for $3.50, and house wines, well drinks, Margaritas, Mojitos and Cosmos for $4.

Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill
Corner of Nelson Avenue And Gridley Street, Saratoga Springs
587.4909; www.thehorseshoeinn.com
Located directly across from Gate 10 of the Saratoga Racetrack, The Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill features fine Italian and American entrees and smokehouse favorites, the best breakfast trackside, and the best blues music in town. Enjoy an evening of live music with Jeff Walton every Thursday night, or join the Super Bowl Party on February 5th featuring great food and drink specials, contests and giveaways all day long. Open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 4pm for dinner, and Saturday and Sunday at 9am for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Caffe Lena
47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs
583.0022; www.caffelena.com
A nationally recognized acoustic music venue since 1960, Caffe Lena has lent its stage to classic greats such as Bob Dylan, Don McLean, and Arlo Guthrie. It still continues its tradition in a relaxed, intimate, alcohol and smoke-free setting, serving coffee, tea and fine desserts. Performances by national musicians weekly. Reservations are often necessary. Open mic night every Thursday—admission $3.

The Parting Glass
40-42 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs
583.1916; www.partingglasspub.com
Known as Saratoga’s original Irish pub, The Parting Glass offers traditional pub style grub for lunch and dinner, and a wide selection of domestic and imported beer. The music room presents regular live traditional Irish and American folk music, and The Game Room features a large English dart hall, which is home to the Parting Glass Dart League. There is a new full service bar, Backgammon, tournament sized shuffle board, and televised sporting events. Live music takes place on Friday and Saturday nights, featuring bands such as Hair of the Dog, The McKrells, Sirsy and Jeff Strange. Hours are Mon-Thurs 11am-1am and Friday and Saturday 11am-3am.

The Wine Bar
417 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
584.8777; www.thewinebarofsaratoga.com
The Wine Bar is a comfortable environment where people can share a casual evening with friends and choose from a list of 50 wines by the glass. It offers a full 40-seat bar, separate smoking lounge, entrees and a selection of gourmet cheeses and fine desserts. Live piano music is played every Friday and Saturday night from 7pm-10pm. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 4pm until last call, and dinner is served until 10pm.

DOWNTOWN TROY

The Taproom Restaurant at Brown’s Brewing Company
425 River Street, Troy 273.BEER;
www.brownsbrewing.com
The Taproom at Brown’s Brewing Company (formally The Troy Pub and Uncle Sam Brewery) is still serving a wide variety of it’s own freshly brewed ales and lagers and multi American pub fare, yet now under its very own brand name, “Brown’s”. The menu is smaller to ensure better quality food, and there are a few new beers on tap, like the Imperial Stout and E. S. B., or Extra Special Bitter. Happy hour is from 4pm-7pm weekly featuring $3 pints and local live music is featured every Thursday and Friday from 8pm-11pm. You may even want to join The Mug Club for an annual fee of $50 and drink 22-ounce mugs of ale at happy hour rates anytime. Restaurant opens at 11:30am on weekdays, and Sunday at 12pm. Food is served until 11pm on weekdays, later on weekends.

The Ale House
680 River Street, Troy
272.9740
The well-known and cozy Irish neighborhood pub serves award-winning wings, homemade soups, chili, clams, burgers and sandwiches. There is a full bar featuring microbrews and imported drafts. Live roots rock, blues, and alternative music takes place on Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 9pm. Food is served 1am-midnight Monday-Saturday; noon-10pm on Sunday.

Positively 4th Street
46 4th Street, Troy
271.9190
Formally Artie’s on River Street, Positively 4th is at a new location, yet is still serving a lunch of classic bar food with daily specials, a happy hour from 4pm-7pm with $1 off domestic and well drinks, and live entertainment several days a week. Wednesday’s and Sunday’s are open mic. Hours are until 1am daily.

CLIFTON PARK

The Rusty Nail
1781 Route 9, Clifton Park
371.9875
A fun, homelike bar with a nice atmosphere and free popcorn, the Rusty Nail is known for great food and service. Various bands are welcomed on Thursday nights, and Happy Hour is from 4:30pm-8pm with weekly specials on draft beers.

Northern Lights
1208 Route 146, Clifton Park
371.0012; www.northernlightslive.com
This Capital Region premier concert venue has welcomed some of the area’s favorite national recording artists, such as Michelle Branch and Ryan Cabrera. Northern Lights offers an intimate and memorable concert experience in a small lounge and bar.

The Old Dublin Inn
130 Meyer Road, Clifton Park
877.0100; www.olddublininn.com
A refreshing mixture of an upscale restaurant with the boisterousness and goodwill of a local pub, The Old Dublin Inn is a great place for satisfying Irish fare accompanied by a fine selection of beer and wines. Happy Hour is from 3pm-6pm and features $3 20-ounce drafts. Features well-known Irish bands, such as Hair of the Dog, Jeff Strange and Kevin McKrell. The Polar Beer Club meets fireside every Sunday. For a monthly band listing, visit the website.

SCHENECTADY

The Van Dyck Restaurant and Brewery
237 Union Street, Schenectady
381.1111; www.thevandyck.com
This 58 year-old historical building has been recently transformed into one of the country’s premier restaurants, breweries and jazz clubs. Well-known musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea have even played here. Located only a few minutes from Proctor’s Theatre, plan your afternoon with a pre-theatre luncheon or dinner, or spend your night enjoying cocktails and a one of a kind jazz performance, in a comfortable and charming setting with excellent food and freshly brewed beer.

Ambition Café
154 Jay Street, Schenectady
382.9277; www.ambitioncafe.com
This artsy café is also a meeting place for local musicians and actors alike. From the painted murals on the walls portraying American classic film stars to the giant stiletto shaped chairs, Ambition provides a comfortable and stimulating atmosphere for creative minds. The menu is described as ‘light fare with a gourmet flare’, and an extensive mixed drink list is available as well as a full bar. Live music on Thursday at 5:30pm, featuring local bands, such as Erin Quillinan playing acoustic alternative easy listening, Joe Nacco, who plays alternative mid -90’s covers, and the Stringdusters, a well known mountain bluegrass band.

Moon & River Café
115 S. Ferry Street, Schenectady
382.1938 www.rkstar.com
Non-alcoholic café featuring live music seven nights a week, always free. Music begins at 8pm and includes folk, jazz, blues, and acoustic. Featured February guests are Aaron Civic (2/4) The Stringdusters (2/7) Jazz Trio (2/15) and a belly dancing show on the 11th. On Valentine’s Day poet Melinda Perrin will read from her book Love Poems for the Old and Foolish. Open mic every Sunday. Modestly priced vegetarian cuisine. Open Monday-Sunday 4pm-11pm.

Performance Schedules

The Bayou Café
426.8550; www.Bayoucafe.com
February 1-Open Mic Night with Joey “Pots & Pans” and The Buttcheeks Band.
February 2-Big Stage: Atomic Johnson. 9pm.
February 3-Big Stage: Black Tooth Grin. 10pm. Front Bar: John Repko. 5pm.
February 4-Big Stage: Rum Rats. 10pm.
February 8-Open Mic Night w/Joey “Pots & Pans” and The Buttcheeks Band.
February 10-Big Stage: Insignificant Others. 10pm. Front Bar: Franklin Micar. 5pm.
February 11-Big Stage: Cell 213. 10pm.
February 15-Open Mic Night w/Joey “Pots & Pans” and The Buttcheeks Band.
February 16-Big Stage: Crawdaddies. 9pm.
February 17-Big Stage: Square Pegs. 10pm. Front Bar: Mitch Frazier. 5pm.
February 18-Big Stage: Philip The Meatbox. 10pm.
February 22-Open Mic Night w/Joey “Pots & Pans” and The Buttcheeks Band.
February 24-Big Stage: Good For The Soul. 10pm. Front Bar: Schmoozak. 5pm.
February 25-Big Stage: River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs. 10pm.

The Lark Tavern
463.9779; www.larktavern.com
Monday (every last of the month): Poet’s Speak Loud open mic at 7pm.
Tuesday: Family Tree Improv. Featuring Steve Candlin and Ryan Lucas.
Wednesday: Open mic with Mother Judge and John Brodeur, no cover.
Thursday: Nouveau Chill Lounge and Dance Party, every Thursday night, no cover.
Friday: Hip-hop and various dance music.
Saturday: (every 3rd of the month): The Brew Ha Ha, A Professional Stand-up Comedy Showcase hosted by Greg Aidala, 8:30pm

Bomber’s Burrito Bar
463.9636; www.bombersburritobar.com
Monday: Monday Night Football
$.25 cent Wings All Day
$2 Coors Lite & Newcastle Drafts
Tuesday: 2 for 1 Drafts & Smart Ass Trivia Night— Sponsored by Newcastle (prizes & giveaways every week), hosted by Tequila Jeff and his loyal sidekick, Paco.
Wednesday: Karaoke Night with King Entertainment—Sponsored by Sauza Tequila (prizes & giveaways every week) $5 jars of margaritas, $2.50 Corona and Corona Light.
Thursday: Martini Night/Theme Night $5 Special Martinis. New flavor and new theme each week. $2 Molson Bottles.
Sunday: BINGO 9pm, with hosts Tequila Jeff and Scooch.

Justin’s
436.7008; www.justinsonlark.com
Wednesday: Sensemaya at 9pm
Thursday: Adrian Cohen at 9pm
Sunday: Brunch with Lee Shaw 11:30am -2:30pm

The Circus Café
583.1106; www.circuscafe.com
Every Wednesday in February 7:30pm-10pm
February 1: Brian Mellick Trio with Doug Moody
February 8: From New York City, Jazz Vocalist Jeanne O’ Connor will be singing the classic American songbook standards of Gershwin, Kern, Loesser, and Rogers & Hart with swing and soul.
February 14: Valentine’s Day Special with soul artist Garland Nelson
February 15: Brian Mellick Trio w/ Howie Brown
February 22: Jazz Vocalist Sonny and Perley

The Skyline
472.8150; www.skylineofalbany.com
Wednesday: EQX presents local live bands
Friday & Saturday: Live bands downstairs; regulars are The Schmooze, Hair of the Dog, and The Refrigerators: Pizza and appetizers served until 4am

Gaffney’s
587.7359; www.gaffneysrestaurant.com
Tuesday: Open mic with host Pete Pashoukos at 9pm
Wednesday: Jeff Walton at 9pm
Thursday: Starting Gate Songwriter Series at 9pm featuring local musicians who write their own music.
Friday and Saturday: Live Acoustic rock music from 10pm -2, featuring one artist a night. Regulars are Tim Wechgelaer & Sherri Nolan, Rick Bolton and The Dwyer Sisters, The Ginger Brothers and Erin Harkes.

Northern Lights
371.0012; www.northernlightslive.com
February 5-Super Sunday Super Bowl Party, featuring 20ft TV screen and an all you can eat buffet supplied by Bennigan’s, 2$ beer specials, and great prizes and giveaways.
February 10-Brian Kaplan Band, Hector On Stilts, The Winter Pills, and My Last Sunrise.
February 19-Sponge
February 20-Live
February 23-Channel 103-1 Presents: The Winter Fresh Sno Core 2006 Tour, featuring Seether & Shinedown with Fly Leaf and Halestorm
February 24-L.A. Guns
February 25-“Dr. Dirty” John Valby
Also, Thursday nights, open bar with DJ and drink specials.

The Van dyck
381.1111; www.thevandyck.com
February 3-Hudson River Delta, hot blues duo. $8. 8pm.
February 4-Annie & The Hedonists “Best of Capital Region” rock band for 2005. $12. 8pm.
February 9-Furious Improv—Working without a script, without a net, and with no regard for their own personal safety, {The Insert Something Funny Players} create scenes and songs inspired by audience suggestions. A new show every night, with brilliant improv that’s mostly intelligent. $10. 8pm.
February 10-The Riverview Ramblers—An up-and-coming area bluegrass band that play a variety of tunes ranging from straight-ahead bluegrass to newgrass and a few things in between. $5. 8pm.
February 11-Country Joe MacDonald. $22. 7pm & 9:30pm.
February 16-GEGR Whitney Club Mid-Winter Music Night— Employees of GE Global Research will perform music ranging from folk to roots to pop and rock, and everything in between. Featuring solo acts, duos, trios and full bands. 7pm. No charge.
February 17-Paddy Kilrain Band. $6. 9pm.
February 18-The John Klein Combine, a blues band on tour from New Jersey. $15. 8pm.
February 25-Rachael Z Trio with Bobby Rae—Rachael plays keyboard for Peter Gabriel, but will be performing with her jazz trio tonight. $15 two shows. 7pm & 9:30pm.

Caffé Lena
583.0022; www.caffelena.com
February 3-Rachael Sage and Pamela Means—this show will pair a couple of dynamic young women whose do-it-yourself style has won them fans and press accolades coast to coast. $12/10. 8pm.
February 4-Professor Louie & the Crowmatix—this Woodstock quintet has got to be one of the best darn bands anywhere, anytime. $15/12. 8pm.
February 5-Lowen and Navarro—They’ve been writing and performing together for 16 years and playing Lena’s for the past six. $20/18. 7pm.
February 10-Trio Pamplemousse—led by French cabaret singer Nicole Peyrafitte, trio Pamplemousse is a voco-musical-visual adventure. $10/8. 8pm.
February 11-Foothills Trio—this beloved folk, Irish, maritime band returns to Caffé Lena as part of their annual post-retirement tour (their fans simply won’t let them quit!). $15/12. 8pm.
February 12-Torey—this Saratoga Springs artist wraps together soul, classic country, garage rock and folk into a show that draws power from the roots of American music, but twists them into a whole new form. $10/8 students. 7pm.
February 17-Beppe Gambetta—Italy’s charming and personable Beppe Gambetta has received worldwide acclaim for his distinctive blend of traditional European and American acoustic guitar styles. $15/12. 8pm.
February 18-Guy Davis—he’s got some blind Willie Mctell and some Fats Waller, some buddy guy and some Taj Mahal, plus some Zora Neale Hurston and Garrison Keillor. $18/16. 8pm.
February 19-Genticorum—2006 will bring the 19th annual dance flurry to Saratoga Springs. Taking over much of the downtown area, the flurry offers thousands of participants dancing of every variety, plus concerts and lessons. $16 ($15 with dance flurry pass). 7pm.
February 24-Anglefoot —this five-man Canadian band is bounding with high energy, big vocals and fine songcraft. Using Celtic, maritime and French Canadian influences, they have created an extensive repertoire of traditional sounding new ballads that bring down the house everywhere they play, both here and abroad. $18/15. 8pm.
February 25-Sloan Wainwright band—A deep woman who offers more than just music at her concerts. $12/10. 8pm.
February 26-Full Frontal Folk—this quartet from Philly offers amazing vocal harmonies and a fresh, fun-loving attitude that takes audiences off guard. $12/10. 7pm.

Dinner and a show!

The Lake George Dinner Theatre
Route 9, Lake George
668.5762; www.lakegeorgedinnertheatre.com
Celebrating its 39th season of quality dining and entertainment, The Lake George Dinner Theatre is a great place to go if you’re looking for something fun and a little bit different. The theatre, located at the Holiday Inn & Turf is currently featuring the production Power Play: A Corporate Comedy by Richard Strand.” The play is described as a fast paced, modern farce about three candidates competing for a position at a Chicago corporate sales department, in which cordial office behavior is thrown out the window. Dinner shows ($53) run Tuesday-Saturday. Dinner served at 6:30pm; show at 8:15pm. Luncheon Matinee ($45) every Wednesday, Thursday, and selected Saturdays. Lunch served at 11:15am; show at 1pm.

Reel Meals Dinner and a Movie and Cabaret
86 Congress Street, Saratoga Springs
583.8883; www.reelmeals.biz
At Reel Meals (formally Broadway Joe’s), you can catch a current flick while enjoying a full course dinner or a few drinks. The restaurant requires that all guests purchase a minimum of $8.50 from their expansive dinner and drink menu, but the movie tickets are only $6 for adults $5 for seniors. Bring the kids along (12 and under) for a movie, kids meal and beverage for only $11.95 per child. Theater reservations are recommended on weeknights and required on weekends. A credit card is required to hold a reservation for a party of five or more on weekends. You should plan to arrive at the theater 30 minutes before the listed show time.

The Saratoga Comedy Club
86 Congress Street, Saratoga Springs
792.LAFF (5233); www.thesaratogacomedyclub.com
Reel Meals is also the home of the Saratoga Comedy Club, and you can enjoy dinner or drinks along with this option as well. The Comedy Club features three nationally known comics each week and a Dinner and Show package for $39.95, or a show for $15. Show times are Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 8: 30pm. Those who are eating dinner should arrive an hour before show time.
February 3 and 4-Aaron David Ward and Tim Gage.
February 10 and 11-Joe Bronzi, Jody Wiener, Rick Colon.
February 17 and 18-Mark Riccadonna and Paul Bond.
February 24 and 25-Vanessa Hollingshead and Mark Demayo.

The Comedy Works
142 State Street, Albany,
689.0490; www.thecomedyworks.com
Albany’s only premier first-class comedy show, The Comedy Works offers fine dining and laughs in a formal, intimate setting. You can enjoy a full course dinner and show for $39.95 on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 6:30pm (reservations required), Showtime is from 8pm-10pm. Or, if you want something lighter, you can order snacks, sandwiches and drinks.
February 3 & 4-Jackie Martling and Tom Briscoe
Show $25, dinner and show $49.95.
February 10 & 11-Rich Vos and Bonnie McFarlene
Show $25, dinner and show $49.95.
February 10 & 11-An evening with Paula Poundstone at The Palace Theatre, 8pm.
February 17 & 18-Otto and George and Mitch Walters
Show $20, dinner and show $45.95.
February 24 & 25-Jim Norton and R.C. Smith
Show $25, dinner and show $49.95.