February 2007 Archives

By Mary Beth DeCecco

The opening of Colonie Center in 1966 marked the shift from shopping in downtown areas to shopping in suburban malls. Forty years later, the mall is in the midst of a $75 million renovation that has turned it into an upscale shopping center.
Owned and managed by Feldman Mall Properties, an Arizona and New York based company that buys malls and breathes new life into them, Colonie Center has turned into an upscale lifestyle/entertainment center in just one year. The transformation is part of a trend among many shopping malls in the area, including Newton Plaza in Latham and The Clifton Park Center in Clifton Park.
For Colonie Center, the construction project is broken up into two phases. Phase I, which began last November and wrapped up in July, consisted of refurbishing the interior of the mall. The $10 million project included all new hand rails, new tile floors, new lighting, new paint, 11 seating areas for weary shoppers or husbands-in-waiting (three with fireplaces, three with televisions), a newly built staircase by the upper level of Macy’s, a children’s play area on the lower level near Sears and a family room near the restrooms. The improvement has been dramatic: demolition of large staircases has opened up sight lines throughout the mall so that shoppers can see from one end of the mall to another. The California-based Cheesecake Factory, a much anticipated restaurant for the area, recently opened, and gives the exterior of the mall a whole new character. Phase II, currently in progress, includes the addition of L.L. Bean, Barnes & Noble and PF Chang’s, a Chinese food bistro, all set to open next fall. Still under construction is the food court, which will be expanded to increase seating from 315 to 450, as well as a third level over the court which will house a 12-screen, 2,800 seat Regal Cinemas.
In keeping with the overhaul of the mall, Victoria’s Secret and Spector’s, both revamped their store (Spector’s built a new 7,000 square foot store), while a handful of other stores were temporarily displaced pending completion of the final construction.
The man who oversees the day to day operations of the 1.2 million square foot mall (1.3 million when the project is completed) is General Manager Joseph Millett. I decided to spend a day with him to learn the ins and outs of his job.
One thing that was evident from the start is that Millett is a busy man. Three times I had to wait for him to come out of meetings, including when I first arrived at 10am on a Tuesday. As I sat in the mall office, which is located at the end of the Cheesecake Factory corridor on the first level (near Foot Locker), I made small talk with a man (who happened to be reading CRL, always nice to see) also there for an appointment.
During my time in and out of the office that day, I noticed the hint of frenzy – there always seemed to be people coming and going, including employees, all of whom are equipped with two-way radios so they have access to each other.
Upon meeting Millett, we went to his office, where we talked for about an hour before embarking on a tour of the mall. Not one to let the phone ring through to voicemail, he picked up all his calls. His office resembled that of an architect’s with maps and blueprints of the mall hanging along the walls. A few family photos line the top of a bookshelf and a photo of him in his choral group hangs on another.
An amiable guy, Joe is the authority figure in the office, but not in an intimidating way. He has an “open door” policy so anyone can pop in at any time.
A Long Island transplant, Millett has been in the business of managing malls since 1980. His career has taken him to Massachusetts, Connecticut and the mid-West. Admittedly, managing a mall is a high-pressure job, but Millett seems to thrive on it. He has been the Manager of Colonie Center for three years.
“I love it. I love the business,” said Millett. “It’s a rewarding job.”
Moving to the area was a change from downstate, but Wolf Road wasn’t all too unfamiliar to him. He once worked for Herman’s Sporting Goods, Inc. as Vice President of Operations for the Northeast, so his work often brought him to the area.
“My wife and l love the area. We find the people to be very friendly and very congenial. We also love the central location of Albany to get to other places that we like to visit.”
Typically, malls are either run by owners of a mall or by a third party. What Millett likes about working for Feldman is that they own and manage their own company.
“Decision making at this level is instantaneous,” he said. One such decision was to revamp their holiday decorations. “The previous program was outdated.”
A new, quarter-of-a-million dollar program was purchased (and designed) through Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, based in Michigan (which also includes the Easter set).
Like elves working into the wee hours of the night, it took over a dozen employees (including Millett) five days to transform the mall into a festive shopping area. This year they had help from the designer of the set, but next year they’re on their own.
New this year is a 26-foot tree at Center Court with snowmen, Santa’s Woodland Retreat (Sear’s end) with animated figurines, a giant kaleidoscope, a large Fun Mirror, a Writing Desk to compose a letter to Santa and a Santa Mailbox for eager children to mail their letters. Also, the lower level fireplace is adorned with a five foot wreath.
When asked how he deals with the possibility of offending non-Christians, he said, “We try to maintain the holiday theme.”

The one day mall manager
During the course of the day, there were a couple of times where I had to make myself scarce while Millett was in meetings I couldn’t be in. So, I had the difficult time of having to kill time….in a mall of 120 stores (including 18 carts and a half-dozen kiosks). As a female, it might be unfathomable for some to hear that I’m not a mall shopper. I typically only hit Macy’s, and rarely venture into the enclave of stores. But, this day I decided to take advantage of my extra time and walk around.
Once Millett was free again, we headed to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Even the mall manager has no clout here – we still had to wait for a table. In the meantime, he took me on a tour of the mall.
Seeing it in the eyes of the manager, rather than just a shopper, was enlightening. As we walked and talked, Millett straightened a larger flower pot that was a couple of inches out of place. He showed me the new Turner Construction Playland and Santa’s Woodland Retreat. He greeted a few older men by name who sat in a seating area. “They come here every day and they always buy something,” he said.
When we encountered a few rowdy teens, he went up to them and in no time was laughing with them and patting them on their backs. We passed two women wondering aloud where a certain store was and Millett was eager to help them out. Other shoppers were looking for the Cheesecake Factory, which he highly endorsed as a place to dine.
After only 15 minutes our buzzer went off and we enjoyed a nice lunch and easy conversation. Following our meal, we went back to the office to meet John Hudak, the mall’s interior landscaper, from Plant Designs in Rochester.
After we were introduced, he immediately praised Millett.
“Most people in my position might not see the manager,” he said. “But, they truly work as a team here.”
Hudak was right. Joined by Operations Manager Rob Gailor, Hudak, Millett and I ventured out into the mall once more (at this point, I could easily be considered a mall walker) to check on the horticulture and decide where the Christmas poinsettias would go. It truly was a team effort. Stopping at each planter Millett would debate Hudak about the condition of some of the plants. Hudak agreed with some of Millett’s observation, but insisted that others were doing fine despite their color. We all areed that one plant was a goner, most likely the victim of some foul substance having been poured into it.
Whatever the case, I learned that successful mall manager has to be a jack of all trades. Part architect, part salesperson, all team-player, a manager’s job is never done. And, with all the improvements being made at the mall, I’m proud of my own small contribution; you might notice it: around the fireplace mantels are some poinsettias. That was my idea.
Not bad for a one-day mall manager, huh?
Read on to learn more.
What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome? The biggest challenge was changing the perception of the mall. It was a tired mall and stores were leaving. But, Feldman takes C-level malls not fully tenanted and turns them into A-level malls. We want to provide a more pleasurable shopping experience for the customer and have done this through redevelopment.
What is your typical day like? It’s different everyday. I get here early and sometimes don’t leave until 6pm or 7pm. Some nights I leave and then come back. I deal on a regular basis with town supervisors and the Town of Colonie Building Department. My main job these days is to drive construction and help stores maximize their income. Turner Construction is very safety oriented. Every week I walk around the mall with officials from the Building Department, Fire Department and construction workers to ensure that we are compliant with life safety issues for the customers.
Do you hold regular tenant meetings? Yes, we have monthly meetings and cover marketing, status of construction and anything else. Typically, the outcome is good, about 50 percent in attendance.
What will your days be like when this construction is complete? I will be more involved with the everyday running of the office. I’ll also visit stores more often and track sales.
Does the certain positioning of stores affect sales? Yes. Sometimes the flow of stores might not be right. You might have to take the junior’s stores and keep them together, rather than spread them throughout the mall.
Are you selective about which stores you let in? Yes. When deciding on a specific store, I have to be sure that I am filling a merchandise need.
Has shoplifting increased or decreased in the past few years? It has decreased, but I generally find that most shoplifting occurs internally, by the workers.
Does the mall open early for mall walkers? Yes, we open at 9am. We also have a Mall Walkers Club that comes in on Wednesday and Friday mornings and uses our conference room to do their stretches. The program is part of the Colonie Senior Service Center.
Do you receive many complaints from shoppers? I’ve received about a half-a-dozen complaints in three years. There are complaint forms at Customer Service. Typically complaints have to do with a specific store.
Who makes the call on when to close the mall during inclement weather conditions? I do. There are 5,000 mall employees, including the anchor stores. I look out for the best interests of the employees.
What do you do with all the poinsettias after the holidays? We hand them out to shoppers after New Year’s as a thank you for shopping here.
Does the mall support any local charities? We host the American Heart Association Heart Walk and offer gift wrapping with proceeds benefiting the Capital City Rescue Mission.
What do you do when you’re not working? I sing and direct a barbershop music group called the Electric City Chorus in Schenectady and the River Valley Sweet Adelines, also in Schenectady.

I need more chips please!

By John Gray

I’m a superstitious person. For example, if I was on the way to the store to buy a lottery ticket and accidentally stepped in dog doo-doo and then won $10,000, every time I was going to buy a lottery ticket in the future I would go to the same store, park in the same exact spot and before I went in to buy my ticket I would deliberately look for Fido’s calling card. This may explain why people insist I take my shoes off whenever I enter their homes.

Anyway, superstitious—that’s me. I believe in good karma and bad, I believe in lucky streaks and I absolutely believe if you pay attention there are signs all around you to tell you what kind of day you are going to have. Which leads me to this month’s column and the topic of gambling, casinos and luck.

Once, while I was on the way to Atlantic City I was feeling extra lucky. As my car made its way down the Garden State Parkway I had that extra little bounce in my step, or should I say tires. I was visualizing myself at the black jack table doubling down on an 8 and 3 and catching the queen of hearts giving me 21. I then moved to the roulette wheel where every number I chose came up. Then to the slots where I won so many quarters Donald Trump himself came over to shake my hand and congratulate me. Positive visualization! If you can see it in your head and believe it, it will happen. I took a break from all this positive thinking to hit the rest stop and use the bathroom. That’s when my day changed.

That’s when I saw the dead guy. Now I know this is the point of the column where you say to yourself, “Oh stop it John, you’re making up stories now. There’s no dead guy.”Oh, but there was. There I was using the men’s room when I noticed two cops standing outside a bathroom stall. At first I thought they were waiting in line, then I noticed the two feet sticking out from under the door. Not vertical like feet are supposed to look when someone is standing tall, but horizontal like when someone is taking a nap. A permanent nap. Oh yes, it was true. Some poor guy stopped at the rest stop and right there, in stall number two, he went to that big casino in the sky. And before you ask, no, it was not Elvis.

As I left the bathroom and got back on the parkway I thought to myself, “Well that can’t be good luck, seeing a dead guy.” I was right. When I got to the casino the check-in line was unusually long; my room wasn’t ready, and every slot machine I cozied up to seemed to be mocking me. The money that was supposed to last me two days was gone in two hours. They say, “Dead men tell no tales,” but apparently they can put a jinx on you.

Despite that one bad trip, I do like casinos. Notice I said casinos, not gambling. To be honest with you, I get bored sitting at a slot machine or craps table for hours. Maybe it’s because I’m usually losing. I imagine if I was like James Bond in a tuxedo with a pile of chips in front and a beautiful woman looking over my shoulder I’d like it more. Some people can’t get enough of it. I’ve known people who will toss and turn in bed at 4am and then just get up, get dressed and hit the casino floor with their slippers still on. That’s dedication.

My favorite thing to do at a casino is ‘people watch’. It’s wild to stand at a high stakes table and watch someone bet what you spend on your mortgage on one hand of poker. Don’t you just want to say to them, “Hey buddy, can you just skip this next hand and give me the two thousand dollars?”
You do see your share of rude people at casinos as well. Ever run into someone who is sitting in front of one slot machine, but they are playing the machines on both sides so they won’t let you sit down in any chair? I had an old lady who looked like she couldn’t even walk suddenly throw her leg up on a seat to block me. I thought about taking her leg out with a karate chop, but they have those security cameras everywhere and well, I did have about 200 pounds on her, not to mention my youth.

Another problem at the casino is leaving a machine that’s ‘cold’. I am always convinced that the minute I walk away the slot machine that I just pumped $50 bucks into is going to give a jackpot to the next person on the very first pull. Then I’d be forced to go back to them and say, “Excuse me, but that bucket of quarters and the free car you just won are really mine.”

Eating at the casino is also a spectator sport. People who drop a thousand dollars gambling will search far and wide for the cheapest buffet. Hmm…$4.95 for all I can eat. No way! Caesar’s Palace has the same spread for $3.95. I remember watching a woman who just ate enough food to feed a small village stuff about 10 brownies into her purse. She tried to take 20, but the thing wouldn’t close.

I’ve only been to Las Vegas once, for my honeymoon. That didn’t work out—the trip or the marriage. I did enjoy the big water show at the Bellagio, though, and I was fascinated by the hedges. Did you know during the summer when it’s like 112 degrees the hedges spray a cool mist? No kidding. I asked the people at Hewitt’s if they sold any of those kind of hedges (you know, to make the neighbors jealous) and they suggested I lower the dosage on my daily medication. Feeling sorry for me, they did give me a great deal on a rose bush so I guess you could say I was lucky.

Which leads us back to the beginning, luck, karma and dog doo doo. If you want to stay out of the doo doo and not lose all your money, I suggest the next time you go to the casino that you spend an hour or two at the spa. Sure it’s expensive, but dropping $100 on a massage sure beats losing $200 on blackjack. Your wallet and your back will both thank you. I’d like to close this month’s column with a gambling riddle: What do poker and a toilet have in common? A straight flush always beats a full house.I’m very proud of that joke. Feel free to steal it. I know I did.

John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writing at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com

Everyone always says that the summers fly by, but, if you think about it, so does the winter. It’s already February. In just about two months, we’ll be in the midst of Spring Fever. Of course, the fact that retail stores have started putting out their spring line and garden stores are lining their shelves with outdoor tools seems to hasten this “ailment”.

So, before it’s time to put on your short sleeve shirts and tend to your flowerbeds, enjoy winter while it’s here. The Capital Region is brimming with plenty of activities to keep you busy.

Beginning on page 10 is our Winter Fun feature. If you’re looking to keep warm, there is a full schedule of listings for concerts, galleries, museums and theatres. Incidentally, three Tony-award winning musicals are coming to Proctors in March and April: Hairspray, Rent and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Looking to get away for a romantic weekend? We have ideas on where to go. There is the always fabulous Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, which is wonderful during any season; the Central Leatherstocking region, where you can enjoy a weekend by the fire at the Brewster Inn; and, for a day or an overnight stay, there is the nearby Red Lion Inn, in the heart of Stockbridge, MA. There are also a few unconventional places to get away to—such as the beach. Love Cape Cod in the summer? Why not take a visit during the winter and take advantage of the off-season rates?

Gambling anyone? The Capital Region is centrally located within easy driving distances to many casinos, including Turning Stone in Verona, NY and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. And we’re lucky enough to have a casino right in our backyard, the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway right in Saratoga Springs.
Finally, for the winter sports enthusiasts, there is an array of mountains to choose from in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. If you’re a true snow lover and plan to take a ski vacation this winter, find out the latest hotspots.

One last note: we’re gearing up for our 4th annual Best of the Capital Region survey and need your input. Visit www.capitalregionliving.com soon to vote for your favorites. Results will be published in the May “Best of” issue.

Enjoy!

Mary Beth DeCecco
marybeth@capitalregionliving.com

The first book I finished this year: Decca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford, edited by Peter Y. Sussman (Random House – $35) started my year’s reading off on a high note. Jessica Mitford, for those unfamiliar with her name, was one of the famous (and infamous) Mitford sisters from an aristocratic English family. In addition to a brother, Tom (killed in World War II), there were six sisters, only one of whom managed to live her life in relative obscurity. Nancy became a best-selling novelist and lived in Paris; Diana married Bryan Guinness, heir to the brewing fortune, then scandalously divorced him and became the mistress (later wife) of British Fascist leader Oswald Mosley. Unity lived in Germany before the outbreak of World War II. She was a fascist and a devoted admirer of Hitler who shot herself in the head when England declared war on Germany in 1939. (She lived, but was brain-damaged for the rest of her brief life. She died in England in 1948.) Deborah, the youngest sister, became the Duchess of Devonshire after her marriage, and became an effective administrator of her husband’s estates, which included Chatsworth, the stateliest of stately English houses. And Jessica/Decca? She rebelled against her family early on in life. At the age of 11, she started her “running away” fund, and at the age of 15, she declared herself a Communist. When, in 1937 at the age of 19, she ran away with her cousin (later husband) Esmond Romilly, her independence from her privileged background was complete. They headed to Spain to cover the Spanish civil war, then moved to America. Esmond was killed fighting in World War II, and Jessica moved with her young daughter to California, where she married Bob Treuhaft, a left-wing lawyer. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, Decca was a Communist Party and labor organizer; she was also active in the civil rights movement. At the age of 40, she began writing The American Way of Death, a scathing exposé of the funeral industry. It catapulted her into literary stardom when it hit the bestseller lists in 1963. From 1963 until her death in 1996, she was a writer, a teacher and a sometime rock star. Her letters reflect her passionate, humorous and idealistic personality. Beginning with a letter written in September, 1923 to her mother when Decca was six or seven years old, and ending with a letter to her sister the Duchess on July 13, 1996, 10 days before her death, this collection encompasses all facets of Decca’s tumultuous life. There are letters to famous people—Winston Churchill (Esmond’s uncle), Julie Andrews, Katharine Graham and Maya Angelou, to name a few. Her letters to her husband, daughter, son, and grandsons are loving, funny, and practical. Letters to her sisters (mostly Nancy and Deborah, with an occasional epistle to Pam; she wasn’t on speaking or writing terms with her fascist sisters, Diana and Unity), are always entertaining; they are liberally sprinkled with “Mitford-speak” and references to their unconventional childhoods. Decca’s letter writing style has an immediacy and charm that make her correspondence as entertaining as a novel. Peter Sussman’s introductory notes to each section provide ample background information for readers unfamiliar with the Mitfords, and his footnotes are a splendid enhancement of the text. I predict that Decca’s earlier works will come back into print if this collection whets public interest, and I, for one, will happily read anything else she has written. Do yourself a favor and read this book. You won’t regret it.

On the fiction front, Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (GP Putnam’s Sons - $25.95) is a wonderful medieval mystery. Set in England during the 12th century in the reign of Henry II, the tale begins with the arrival of Adelia in the city of Cambridge. Tensions are running high; three children have been murdered, and the townsfolk blame the local Jewish community for their deaths. The Jews have been herded behind the castle walls for protection, but the situation is volatile. Adelia, an Italian-trained “doctor of the dead” is in town to see what the bodies can tell her in order to solve the case. What the bodies tell her is that there is a sadistic monster on the loose in Cambridge who must be stopped before he can kill again. She joins forces with one of King Henry’s tax collectors who has been chasing the same man for several years, and together they manage to see justice served. Franklin’s writing is robust and evocative; you can almost smell the overcrowded castle and the stink of the streets while reading. There are several cameo appearances by King Henry II, who is most concerned that his tax revenues are adversely affected by the economic downturn in Cambridge since the Jews have been put into protective custody. Despite his seemingly grasping nature, the king is also portrayed as a hero—the hero who started the system of English common law, which applied to all men equally, no matter their station in life. Reading about a case in which fear and hysteria almost won the day certainly makes the reader give thanks for his pragmatism. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book just as much as mystery fans will.

Susan Taylor has been in the book business, in one aspect or another, since 1982. She recently returned to the Capital District after 14 years in the Boston area (which included stints at the Harvard Bookstore and the Wellesley Booksmith), and is happily re-employed at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.

Overall rating on a scale of 1-10
Service - 10 •Food - 10 •Ambiance - 6 •Price - $

By Danielle Pitanello

My first impression upon entering this restaurant on North Allen Street in Albany was that it was spotless, warm and smelled great. Owner/chef Rita Rahal was behind the counter with a broad and beautiful smile. In business for less than a year, she is enthusiastic about her restaurant and having guests try her wonderful food.
Our group of five visited the restaurant on a cold weeknight, but we were instantly warmed by the welcoming atmosphere and great smells.

My friend is Lebanese and is quite familiar with this healthy, wholesome way of cooking. Before we arrived, we already decided on appetizers and some “must have” dinner items to share. With my friend’s knowledge, he served as our host and guided us through the menu. We had additional guidance from Rita and her husband Tony, as well as our wonderful waiter, and settled on our main entrees while trying hard to sample as much as we could.

We started with Labini, Hummus and Baba Ghanous spreads with baskets of pita bread that flowed throughout the evening. We also shared a platter of Grape Leaves. Here, they are served with olives, pickled turnip and lemon sauce for dipping. By far, the Labini was the table favorite. Made with yogurt, mint and garlic, it is light and has a very refreshing taste. These items are on the cold appetizer list on the everyday menu, as well as some hot appetizers, like meat pies and spinach pies.
Not on this menu, but served from time to time as specials, is Hashwey, made with rice, ground beef, shredded chicken and walnuts. Rita explained that it’s a layered chicken dish with dressing, served with a light garlic sauce. I thought that it was great on its own, as it was full of great textures and flavor. We also shared some Lubi, green beans with tomatoes. It was excellent and I highly recommend this side dish with anything on the menu.

Constant companion and my friend ordered the mixed grill kebab. It consisted of chicken, beef and kafta kebabs. For those unfamiliar, kafta is ground beef with parsley and onions. My two cousins had the Kibbeh Sineyeh, a baked dish with a crust of ground beef and bulgur, filled with ground beef and onions. You couldn’t help but think that this dish was true Lebanese comfort food. Since the portions are so large, they were looking forward to enjoying it for lunch the following day.
I loved my choice of Mjadara. It’s made with lentils, rice, onion and spices. Like the other entrees ordered, it was full of spices, but did not overwhelm you.

Each entrée is served with a generous side salad (fatoush) with Rita’s own dressing comprised of garlic, lemon, mint, cinnamon, and I suspect, some secret touches. It is a new favorite of mine and if she ever bottles it, I will be her first and best customer!

Though we all had leftovers and were quite full, my friend insisted that we share Rita’s Baklawa (Baklava). Most of the Baklava that I have tasted is made with honey and is very sweet; this version is made with rosewater. The end result is a fabulous nutty desert without all the teeth-aching sweetness. Because I’ve been spoiled, I doubt I’ll ever enjoy Baklava any other way.

Two of us finished with cups of anise tea. The strong vibrant taste of anise was a terrific way to end the meal. The tea is soothing and stomach settling.
Dining at Rita’s was a night of many explorations, and like many mind-opening experiences, we are all better off for having enjoyed it. This food is not only excellent, it’s good for you!

Worth noting: No alcohol is served. Portions are very large. There are approximately 8-10 tables for inside dining. All foods can also be ordered ahead by fax or phone.

Rita’s Lebanese Restaurant is located at 188 North Allen Street, Albany. For more information call 434.3543

By Diane E. Lykes, LCSW

A group of friends are sitting around a table at the local coffee house talking about the elusive and often misunderstood thing called LOVE.
Julia has just shared with her friends that she and her husband have decided to get a divorce. She feels a great deal of hurt and bitterness and wonders whether she will ever marry again. She has decided that most men cannot be trusted.

Brendan indicates that women are a puzzle to him. He wonders why each time he meets a woman and thinks he has fallen madly in love, all of her baggage emerges.
Caitlin listens to her friends with a compassionate ear but cannot relate to them in the slightest. She just knows that she has found “the one”. After two intense months with her new boyfriend, she is certain that they will live happily ever after.

Holly is the veteran of the group. She has been married for 10 years. There have been many good times, but there have also been some frustrations and sacrifices. However, she and her husband are best friends and they are committed to their life together. Holly knows more about love than her three friends…she knows that love is a verb.

We live in a culture that reinforces the idea that true love is a blissful state of union between two people who were meant to be together. Many people strive to find “the one” or their “soul mate” and often times move through many relationships in a quest to find their perfect match.
Popular culture’s myths can be dangerous for relationships today. The lyrics of songs we hear, as well as television and talk shows, provide a confusing picture of what we should expect from relationships.

Just look at all the celebrities who tell the world that they have found their soul mate only to read a few years later (or a few months, for that matter) that they are involved in a bitter divorce and battling over custody of their children, assets, etc.

How can two people who are so in love wind up in divorce court a short time down the road? How is it possible that by the end of the seventh year of marriage every other marriage will end in divorce? And when these divorced individuals remarry, there is a 70 percent chance that this second marriage will also end in divorce.
Below are some of the myths that surround love, and tips on what produces long-term happy relationships.

Love myths

Myth # 1: Relationships should not be a lot of work.

Relationships require a good deal of attention, nurturing and even hard work. Couples will often report in marriage counseling sessions, “If it has to be this hard then it’s not worth it.” In fact, the reverse is true. If partners are working hard on themselves and the relationship, the fruits of their labor will be a better union.
It is also important to understand that each person brings to the table their own beliefs from their family of origin. Prior to getting married couples should discuss the expectations they have for the marriage. For example, who will control the money, which religion will take precedence, how will duel careers be managed, where will vacations be spent and even which families they will see for the holidays.

In discussing these topics, couples begin the real work of a long-term commitment, rather than living the romantic (and false) assumption that “love will conquer all”.

Myth # 2: A great relationship is a peaceful one

The healthiest couples argue, and it is not a sign of weakness in the relationship. Most experts agree that instead of focusing on how often you argue, worry about how you argue.

John Gottman is renowned for his extensive research on predicting behaviors that will lead to divorce. He studied more than 650 couples and found that the key to a marriage’s success is being caring and respectful friends in the face of disagreements.

Unhealthy marriages are characterized by one partner attacking the other’s personality and character, rather than the issue. In addition, partners who become defensive or walk away during a conflict are more likely to have problems in the future

Conflicts will occur and they are a useful way for couples to gain a better understanding of one another. As Gottman states, “couples who are deep friends choose not to experience their spouse’s emotions as personal attacks. Deep friends can quarrel with the understanding that the other’s emotions are to be accepted: the issues are what must be negotiated.”

In other words, stay focused on the issues and not on your partner’s shortcomings, and conflict will have a meaningful and happy ending. Or you may just agree to disagree peacefully.

Myth # 3: Changing a relationship requires two people.

One of the most important things we can learn in our lives is that the only person you can change is yourself. Many people share the belief that both partners have to work equally hard for the marriage to improve. Couple’s counselors know that great changes can occur in a relationship even when only one person is doing the work.

Trying to change your spouse or not working on the relationship unless your spouse is also willing to do his/her share of the work is falling into the myth that a relationship can only change if two people work at it.

Instead, focus on changing your own potentially negative patterns in the relationship. In their book The Couple’s Survival Workbook authors David Olsen and Douglas Stephens offer a checklist for improving your self-focus. Ask yourself these questions: “Do I maintain eye contact when talking or listening?” “Do I speak to my partner in a normal tone and volume?” “Do I show respect for my partner even when I am angry?”

All it takes is for ONE person to change in a positive direction and most often the entire relationship will follow suit.

Myth #4: Love is a feeling

This is the most important and most destructive myth of all and it brings us back to the title of this article, “Love is a Verb”.
Many people believe that once you fall truly in love, you will have all that is needed to sustain a long-term happy relationship. In fact, those early feelings cannot be trusted completely. In the first months of a relationship, many people have fallen in love with love. As Olsen and Stephens point out: “they may be more ‘in love’ with this feeling than in love with the person they are about to marry.”

It is quite normal for partners to idealize each other early in the relationship and it is also quite normal for these perceptions to fade somewhat over time. Of course love is a feeling, but it is also a series of actions. Couples who want a successful and happy relationship need to work hard to achieve this. A good relationship takes time, commitment and work. This is what makes it so special and rewarding.

Now that we are armed with this new information about relationships, what advice can we give to Julia, Brendan, Caitlin and Holly?
For Julia, it will mean taking the focus off of her soon-to-be ex-husband and placing it back where it belongs…on herself. A wise colleague of mine once said, “It is not about finding the right person, but becoming the right person.” This is where Julia needs to keep her focus.

Brendan falls prey to the first myth. He believes that a relationship should be simple and without problems. When it comes time to dealing with issues and better understanding his partner’s feelings, he makes a quick exit. Brendan needs to understand that like anything worth having, relationships take a lot of effort.
Caitlin has a long road ahead of her. She is still caught up in the feeling of falling in love and will either grow with her partner into a deeper and more meaningful relationship, or like many people, she will believe she has fallen out of love when this powerful infatuation phase ends.
As for Holly, she has learned from experience…she knows that love is indeed a verb!

Diane Lykes is a Principal of Synergy Counseling Associates in Albany where she specializes in individual and couples counseling, educational training and clinical consultation. Synergy is a unique counseling practice providing compassionate, solution-oriented treatment for adults, children, adolescents and families. She can be reached at 466-3100 or at lykes-synergy@nycap.rr.com

Calm, caring and consistent

By Randy Cale, PH.D

As parents, you want to do the best you can to raise your children to be loving, caring successful adults. The foundation for this begins in childhood. In my years of consulting parents, I have found that good parenting is the result of a calm, caring and consistent approach. I invite you to consider the power of the Three C’s.

Calm

This is, of course, about remaining calm in the face of difficulty and struggle. It’s not about remaining calm when things are easy. Most of us can do that.
When life isn’t giving you what you want, this commitment is about keeping your cool in the face of challenges. You may often find that your children don’t give you what you want (in terms of behavior and emotion). When you can stay calm in the face of parenting struggles, you can begin to use reasoning, intellect and the skills that you’ve learned throughout the years to solve the problem in front of you. However, when you lose your cool, none of those resources are available to you. The tools you have learned about all go flying out the window!

Staying calm in the face of turmoil provides an additional benefit. You provide a healthy model of how to walk through the world. Our children will often find that the world doesn’t give them what they want…and keeping our cool is essential for success.

Caring

This may seem obvious, as I have never met a parent who has stated that they didn’t care about their children. Of course we care, but the secret here is about how and when we show that we care.

It’s not about unconditional love for our children, as that is a given. It’s about the caring behavior that flows from that love and learning to master how we offer our caring. For example, nurture lots of caring and attention for the moments that you value. If you care about kindness, be attentive to it. If you care about hard work and effort, notice it. If you care about cooperation, give your attention to it. If you care about healthy eating, nurture it.
On the other hand, make sure that you don’t show lots of caring for things that you don’t value. If you don’t want more drama, whining or negativity, then don’t show lots of caring attention.

The lesson here is to learn to care with discretion, when it comes to specific moments and behaviors.

Consistency

Let’s imagine you put some fleas in a jar and put a metal lid on it. You would hear this “ticking” sound as the fleas jump up against the lid of the jar. They are quite literally bumping against the limits of their reality at that moment.

But, within a few moments, the ticking noise will calm to a complete quiet, and you would see the fleas still jumping in the jar, but only coming within a half inch or so of the lid.

Even with their tiny “flea brains”, they have learned to respect the limits imposed by the lid on the jar. Every now and then you might hear an occasional tick, but then it is eventually completely silent. The learning is complete.

If you take the lid off the jar, you’ll see that the fleas keep jumping, but stay within the limits they just learned moments ago. How did they learn to honor this limit so quickly? They learned because there was a consistent limit.

This metaphor is remarkably important as you consider the role of consistency in your parenting. Just think about it…a flea learns to honor the limits when limits are consistent. But let’s imagine for a moment that the lid on the jar kept changing—moving up and down when the fleas would jump. Would they ever learn with an inconsistent limit? Doubtful.

The same is going to be true for your children. If you place limits on their behavior, and the limits keep changing from day to day, or from parent to parent, children have trouble learning where the limits are. If bedtime is at 7:30, but it moves to 8:00 when you have a “good day”, then you are going to be in trouble. The same is true for homework routines, healthy eating and all the rest. If you are inconsistent, your children will be constantly negotiating and pushing the limits.
Bottom line: The three C’s set a solid foundation. When you remain calm, you show discretion in your caring, and you’re impeccable in your consistent setting of limits. This will undoubtedly establish a solid foundation for your children.

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 new website, www.TerrificParenting.com offers valuable free parenting information and an e-mail newsletter.

By Judy Torel

What is worse than trying to diet and exercise to lose weight? Being on a diet and regularly exercising and not seeing results! When this happens, most people attribute the lack of success to a slow metabolism. Most of the time this is not the case, but there are ways to increase your metabolic rate so that you can facilitate weight loss. Here are my top five ways to fire-up your metabolism, listed in order of effectiveness.

#1: Do aerobic exercise

It is common knowledge that when you rhythmically move the large muscles of your body for an extended period of time, it is called aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise helps facilitate weight loss because you burn more calories per minute then you do during normal activity. A 140-pound woman burns about 1 calorie per minute sitting at her work desk, but can burn upwards of 20 calories per minute on an elliptical machine!

In order for the aerobic exercise to have the most positive effect on metabolism, it needs to be done at a minimum of 70% of your maximum capacity. The more intense you can run, bike, elliptisize, swim, etc., the more you are sparking your metabolism. You don’t want to hit this level for a few minutes, however. The longer you go, the more you are stoking those metabolic fires. You should try to sustain 70+ percent of your maximum for a minimum of 30 minutes to get the best results on your metabolic rate.

Here is more really good news! The harder and the longer you do your aerobic workout, the longer you continue to burn more calories even after the workout is over. One research review found that exercising at 50% of your maximum resulted in a post exercise extra calorie burn of 5-10 calories. In contrast, a strenuous workout was shown to increase post-exercise calorie burn by a whopping 180 calories! So get out of the fat burning zone and pump up the intensity to rev up your metabolism both during and after your aerobic workout!

#2: Do strength training

Strength training involves working with free-weights or machines in order to increase the demand on your muscles as you contract them. Although there is less research on resistance exercise then there is on aerobic exercise, we are learning that doing a workout of resistance exercise does have a positive effect on resting metabolic rate (independent of any increase in muscle mass) especially on individuals over 50 years old. This is good news since once we hit age 50+ we begin to really see a decrease in lean muscle if we are not doing anything to counter balance the loss.

The high intensity of strength training creates a higher utilization of carbohydrate during the workout. During the post exercise recovery period, energy expenditure can be elevated for a period of 2 to 15 hours, or more! The more carbohydrate used during a workout, the more fat burned after the exercise! This appears to be true for both aerobic workouts and anaerobic, or strength workouts.

#3: Add muscle to your body

We know that when properly done, strength training will result in the development of muscle mass on a body. Basically, this entails using resistance forces that are more than what you use in everyday life. The more demand on the muscle, the more development that will occur. You can gain muscle mass using resistance forces of at least 50% of your maximum 1 repetition capacity, but better results occur at 70% or higher.

Adding muscle to your body will increase your metabolism in two ways. First, the more muscle on a body the higher the resting metabolic rate. Why? Because 1 pound of muscle needs 35 calories a day to stay alive and function, while 1 pound of fat needs a mere 2 calories to stay functioning. If you add 5 pounds of muscle to your body you will have increased your resting metabolic rate by 175 calories every 24 hours!

Secondly, more muscle results in a higher post exercise calorie burn! So more muscle means a higher resting metabolism AND a higher calorie burn during and after your workouts!

#4: Do not under eat!

While we were evolving as a species and had to survive during extended periods of famine, our ancestor’s bodies became very efficient when food was in limited supply. When little food was available, their metabolisms slowed down and became super efficient at getting the energy necessary for life with less food. While that led to survival in the past, in modern times “crash diets” of as little as 20% below your daily energy usage will result in a temporarily slower metabolism. This means that when you sharply reduce your caloric intake or go long times between meals, you are actually teaching your metabolism to become more efficient and you will need less calories to maintain your weight, let alone to lose!

In order to avoid this slowing of metabolism, the best strategy is to target a maximum of a 500-1,000 calorie deficit per day and to never go below 1,200 calories per day. For example, if you burn 2,000 calories per day through the combination of your resting metabolism, daily activity and exercise then you should aim for 1,500 intake calories. This will result in weight loss without creating a situation where your metabolism slows down due to too little intake.

Also, it has been demonstrated that the actual act of eating and digesting food expends calories. Have you noticed that when you eat you get warmer? This is called the thermic effect of food and is due to the work involved in digesting, absorbing and assimilating food. You can take advantage of this effect by eating several meals a day because each time you eat you are revving up your metabolism due to the digestion process. This is one of the reasons it is better to eat several small meals through the day verses one big one. You can eat 2,000 calories in one meal and have an energy cost of digestion of 200 calories or you can eat 2,000 calories in five meals and result in an energy cost of digestion of 350 calories. The more times you eat the higher your metabolic rate. That is, as long as you are not over eating and staying with a 500-1,000 calorie deficit each day.

#5: Eat protein

Many people who are trying to lose weight tend to minimize eating protein because they believe protein has too many calories. Research is showing that the digestion of protein can result in a 25% thermogenetic effect as compared to a 10% for carbohydrate and fat. What this means is that it costs your body more to digest protein then it does to digest carbs and fat. Therefore by making sure you include low fat protein in all your meals, you will be boosting your metabolism!
Or course it is important to make sure that you are consuming low fat protein options. Some examples include white fishes, egg whites, non-fat cottage cheese, ham, turkey (without skin), 93% or higher lean beef and chicken products, and the various vegetable protein products available in grocery stores.
You are now armed with information on how to put your metabolism into turbo drive!

Judy Torel is a therapist/personal trainer with a Master’s degree in psychology. She is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as a fitness trainer and works out of Planet Fitness and Deb's Sweat Shop Extension. She can be reached at JTOREL2263@yahoo.com

 

Health & Wellness Winter Weekend Getaways 2009: Resolve to make it a great career year Boys will be men Parenting on purpose Orlando & Las Vegas: Non-stop fun destinations Horoscope Book Review Last Page with John Gray Editor's Letter

The Algonquin—Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, 644-9442; www.thealgonquin.com. Will be opening March 31, 2006. Right on Lake George facing the mountains, The Algonquin serves a variety of soups and burgers for lunch and dinner, and tasty choices in chicken, seafood and steak for dinner. $$$

Gardens—Main Dining Room at Copperfield Inn, 307 Main St., N. Creek. 251-2500. In season, serving breakfast and dinner daily; off season, open on weekends only. Reservations appreciated. Enjoy delicious appetizers and meals from the continental grill menu. Be on the lookout for holiday and seasonal specials!

The View—Rt. 9N, Hague. 543-8038; www.indian-kettles.com. Will be re-opening for the 2006 season on May 5. The View offers not only an impressive view of Lake George, but appetizers and meals ranging from soups and sandwiches to prime rib and crab cakes. $$$$

The American Hotel—Main St., Sharon Springs. 284-2105. Lunch: Thur-Sun 11am-2pm, dinner from 5pm. Brunch: Sat and Sun, 8am-2pm. Choose from an array of classic American comfort foods, such as Reuben sandwiches and enormous turkey clubs. Just leave room for a delicious desert! $.

Aashiana—118-120 Jay St., Schenectady. 370-3664. Mon-Sat, 11-9. Indulge in delicious Pakistani dishes, such as pakoras and Chicken Talfrazie, and during the noon hour, eat your fill at the daily buffet. $

Bayou Café—507 Saratoga Rd. Glenville, 384-1568. 79 N. Pearl St. Albany, 426-8550; www.bayoucafe.com. Glenville: Mon-Fri 11:30-close, Sat 12-close, Sun 3-close. Albany: Mon-Fri 11:30-2 AM, Sat 4:30-2 AM. On-premises catering. Reservations recommended. Featured on the menu are items from the Mexican, Southwestern and Cajun persuasion, including jambalaya, gumbo and fajitas. Full bar with 32 beers on tap and over 30 types of bottled brew. $$

Brandon’s Ritz Terrace—1725 VanVranken Ave., Schenectady. 347-1329. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, dinner: Mon-Sat 5pm-10pm. Closed Sunday. This elegant and semi-formal restaurant gives patrons a taste of the past, with classic American fare. $

Carrabba’s—675 Troy-Schenectady Rd., Latham. 785-8886. Mon-Thur 4pm-10pm. Fri 4pm-11pm. Sat 3pm-11pm, Sun 3-9:30pm. Carside carryout available. The menu includes Italian and American favorites, such as lasagna, steaks and “create your own pizzas”. $$1/2

Castelo’s—183 Nott Terrace, Schenectady. 374-0581. Sun 11-10, Mon-Thu 11-10, Fri-Sat 11-11. Takeout available. Off-premises catering. Reservations appreciated. This eatery offers a variety of Italian, Greek, and American dishes, from seafood, steak, and chicken to pasta, deli sandwiches and burgers. Don’t forget about the daily specials and the selections of beer, wine and other spirits! $$

Civitello’s—42 N. Jay St., Schenectady, 381-6165. Tues-Sat 8:30-5:30 (lunch served 11-2) Tues-Sat; open till 9 PM after Memorial Day. Civitello’s is a great place for a sweet treat. It’s known for Italian ice, spumoni and tortoni, all made in-house. Italian sandwiches, homemade bread and pizza, pastries, cookies, espresso and cappuccino are also offered. Takeout available (pizza is eat-in only). Dessert catering. Cash only. $

Cornell’s—39 N. Jay St., Schenectady. 370-3825. Dinner: Tue-Thu 5-9:30, Fri-Sat 4-10:30, Sun 4-9:30. Reservations suggested. With both Northern and Southern cuisine on the menu, Cornell’s offers Italian favorites of all kinds, including braciola, calamari and homemade cavatelle. $$$

DaVinci’s Ristorante—1414 State St., Schenectady, 372-4208. Dinner: Tue-Thur 4-9:30, Fri-Sat 4-10, Sun 4-9. Homemade pastas, hand-cut veal and steaks, and chicken are favorites here. Other menu favorites include vodka rigatoni and seafood fra diavolo. Chicken parmesan night every Thursday; pasta night every Monday. Full bar. $$

DeAngelo’s Ristorante—1510 Chrisler Ave., Schenectady, 393-1364. Sun-Thur 4-10, Fri-Sat 4-11. A family-style restaurant featuring fresh ingredients and huge portions make this the perfect place for a family dinner or special occasion. Full bar. On/off-premises catering, takeout available. Reservations suggested. $$

Ferrari’s Ristorante—1254 Congress St., Schenectady, 382-8865. Mon-Thur 11:30-9, Sat 4-10. Ferrari’s offers authentic Italian cuisine with specialties including veal Pepe and chicken Antonio with wine-and-mushroom sauce. Great for a big celebratory dinner. Full bar. Banquets for up to 65 guests, off-premises catering. Open on Sunday for private parties and banquets of 35 or more. $$$

Fireside Pizzeria—1631 Eastern Parkway, Schenectady, 382-1616. Mon-Thur 11:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11:30am-1am, Sun 1-midnight Come here for some of the best pizza in Schenectady, or try their burgers, steaks, pork chops, salads and traditional Italian-American dishes, to stay or go. Full bar. Delivery available. Reservations suggested. $

Francesco’s Ristorante—108 Jay St., Schenectady, 372-4333. Mon-Fri 11:30-9, Sat 4-9. Specialties include hot seafood antipasto, veal saltimbocca and chicken champagne and the breads and salad dressings are all homemade. Make your own pasta special by choosing what you like from a huge menu selection. Full bar. Catering and banquet facilities, takeout available. Reservations suggested. $$

Glen Sanders Mansion—One Glen Ave., Scotia. 374-7262; www.glensandersmansion.com. Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30-2. Dinner Mon-Sat 5-10, Sun 4-9. Brunch Sun 10:30-1:30. Pub menu Mon-Fri 2-10 PM, Sat 5-10, Sun 4-10. Reservations recommended. The Glen Sanders Mansion is host to gourmet cuisine, full bar and banquet facilities, and on/off-premises catering. $$$$

Mallozzi’s—1930 Curry Rd., Schenectady. 355-0340; www.mallozzis.com. Wed-Thu 4:30-9, Fri-Sat 4-11, Sun 1-9. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations suggested. The Northern and traditional Italian dishes complement its beautiful location at the southern end of Saratoga Lake. Check out the specials, which include shrimp, lobster, Angus steak, and prime rib. $$$

John Riccitello’s—1687 Foster Ave., Schenectady, 374-1574. Wed-Fri 11-10, Sat 4-10, Sun 4-9. John Riccitello’s is a true family restaurant with great Italian food. Try the veal parmigiana. Wed-Thu night specials. Full bar. Reservations suggested. $$

Petta’s 134—Duane Ave., Schenectady, 346-7324. Daily 4-9.For over a half century, Petta’s has been serving up great Italian dishes. American dishes are also featured on a menu known for its veal dishes. Full bar, banquet facilities. Takeout available. Reservations suggested on weekends. $$

Pinhead Susan’s—38-40 N. Broadway, Schenectady, 346-6431. Mon-Fri 11-10, Sat noon-10.This classy bar offers great pub food, such as burgers, sandwiches and homemade soups. $

Scotti’s Restaurant and Pizzeria—1730 Union St., Schenectady, 393-7440. Tue-Sat lunch: 11:30-1:30; dinner: 4:30-9:30. Since 1966, Scotti’s has been known famous for its delicious marinara sauce. The menu features Italian dishes, as well as beer and extensive wine list. On-premises catering and full menu available for takeout. $$

The Turf Tavern—40 Mohawk Ave., Scotia. 393-3344; www.turftavern.com. Sun 11:30am-8pm. Lunch: Tue-Fri 11:30-2pm. Dinner: Tue-Fri 5-9pm, Sat 5-10pm. On/off-premises catering. Reservations recommended. Start your meal off with superb soups and shrimps, move on to mouth-watering meals such as Veal & Shrimp and Prime Rib, and then dive into delicious desserts! $$$

43 Phila Bistro—43 Phila St., Saratoga Springs. 584-2720; www.43philabistro.com. Mon - Sat, lunch 11:30-3, dinner 5-10. Continental menu—something for everyone. $$$$.

Beekman Street Bistro—62 Beekman St., Saratoga Springs. 581-1816. Tues-Sat, 5pm-9pm. The menu at Beekman Street Bistro features modern American fare and regional ingredients. While savoring the delicious food and extensive wine list, patrons are also treated to exhibitions of local art that are featured on two-month rotations. $$

Bellini’s Italian Eatery—19 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park, 348-2090. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-4, Sat noon-4. Dinner Sun-Thu 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11. Featuring authentic Italian dishes such as pizza, bruschetta, pappardelle and sautéed chicken, as well as sweet desserts. Be sure to check out the Slingerlands location as well! $$

Brindisi’s—390 Broadway, Saratoga. 587-6262. Mon-Sat 5pm-10pm, Sun 4pm-9pm. Brindisi’s offers a full and savory Italian menu, as well as lamb chops, beef filets and succulent shrimp, as well as delicious homemade desserts. $$$$

Chez Sophie—2853 Rt. 9, Ballston Spa. 583-3538; www.chezsophie.com. Tue-Sat 5:30pm-close. Mon-Sat 5pm-close in July and August. Reservations recommended. At this French dining establishment, seasonal menu items are based on organic ingredients. With over 400 French wines and three dozen Belgian-style beers, the cuisine here is bound to be a success. $$$$

Forno Toscano—541 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 581-2401. Daily, lunch: 11:30-3, dinner: 5-9:30. Menu includes Tuscan-inspired wood-fired, thin-crust pizza, homemade pasta, soups, salads and panini. Full bar, takeout available. $$

Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa—Georgian Dining Room. 24 Gideon Putnam Road, Saratoga Spa State Park. 584-3000. $$$$

High Rock Steakhouse and Pub—Prime Hotel, Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 583-7625. Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6:30-11, Sat-Sun 7-11. Lunch: Mon-Sat 11-2. Dinner: 5-10 daily. Bar open until 2 AM Fri-Sat. Reservations suggested. On/off-premises catering. Takeout available. Located inside the Prime hotel, this menu features steak, seafood, and pasta, as well as nightly specials. $$$

Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill—1 Gridley St., Saratoga Springs. 587-4909. Mon, Wed-Fri 4-midnight. Sat-Sun 9am-midnight. Takeout available. Reservations recommended. The main menu includes a pub menu, seafood, pasta, and steak, among others. Be sure to check out the daily specials! $$

Lanci’s—68 Putnam St., Saratoga Springs, 581-1973. Tue-Sat 5:30-9. This family-run restaurant brings you the best of Italy. Dinner menu changes seasonally, serving the best the season has to offer. Also try the delicious homemade desserts and premium Italian-roasted coffee. Takeout available. Private parties and cooking classes. $$$$

Mangia Café—Shoppers World Plaza, Clifton Park. 383-6666; www.mangiarestaurant.com. Serving 11-9 Mon-Thu, 11-10 Fri-Sat, 4-9 Sun. In addition to the scrumptious pizza and toppings and fresh pastas, the menus features modern world cuisine. $$

The Parting Glass—40-42 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs. 583-1916. Mon-Thu open at 2pm, Fri open at 3pm, Sun open at noon. This Irish restaurant serves not only pub fare, but homemade soups and specials ranging from lamb stew to corned beef and cabbage. More than 100 beers available at the full bar, live music on weekends and dart league on Tuesday nights! $

Pennell’s—284 Jefferson St., Saratoga Springs. 583-2423. Wed-Thu 5-9, Fri-Sat 5-10. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations suggested. On-premises catering. Takeout available. Specials on this Northern and Southern Italian menu include veal marsala and shrimp Genovese. $$$

PJ’s Bar-B-Q—Route 9, S. Broadway, Saratoga. 583-CHIK, 583-RIBS. www.pjsbarbq.com. A seasonal restaurant, PJ’s Bar-B-Q will open its 23rd season on April 16th, 2006, and will be open every day at 11am. Indulge in the bar-b-q chicken and ribs, as well as hot dogs, hamburgers and sloppy joes! $

The Publik House—Rt. 9 and 9P, Malta. 587-7479. Sun-Thu 11am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12:30am. (Serving pasta until 9:30, full menu until 11.) Takeout available. In addition to the great pizza, The Publik House has a complete selection of entrées including pasta and calzones. $

Ravenswood Pub—1021 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-8771, www.ravenswoodpub.com. Mon-Sat 11:30am-midnight, Sun noon-10. This pub offers a menu of light meals including homemade soups, salads, pub fare and great chicken wings. Full bar, on-premises catering and banquet facilities for up to 75. Takeout available. $

Romeo’s—4253 Route 50, Saratoga Springs, 580-1974. www.romeosbrickoven.com. Daily 4-9 Romeo’s is great for delicious fresh pizza, subs and salads. Ice cream is available for dessert. $

Saratoga Lake Bistro—511 Rt. 9P, Saratoga Lake. 587-8280; www.saratogalakebistro.com. Lunch and dinner: Thu-Sat 11:30-9:30. Brunch: Sun at 11. Reservations suggested. Catch a meal in the sunset at the Saratoga Lake Bistro and enjoy some classical French and continental cuisine dishes, and French desserts. Live entertainment on the weekends. $$$

Saratoga Rose Inn & Restaurant—4136 Rockwell St, Hadley, between Saratoga Springs & Lake George. 696-2861. www.saratogarose.com. Summer Hours: Sunday Brunch: Noon – 2PM; Sunday Dinner: 4PM – 7PM; Dinner Tuesday-Saturday: 5PM – Close. From Labor Day – Father’s Day: Dinners Thursday – Sunday: 5PM – 8:30PM. Candle-lit dining in our air-conditioned dining rooms and, in summer, on our Lantern-lit Porch. Menu changes seasonally with daily specials, featuring Regional American and Mediterranean cuisine including Black Angus beef, duck, lamb, pork, veal & chicken dishes, fresh seafood, home-made pastas & desserts. Monthly Wine & Beer Tasting Dinners, Ghost Story Dinners. Extensive Wine & Beer Lists. Full Liquor Bar. 10 Single Malts. $$$

Shalimar—15 Park Ave., Shoppers Plaza, Clifton Park. 348-1494. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat noon-11,Sun noon-10. Reservations accepted. This reasonably priced Indian restaurant serves a variety of both vegetarian and meat dishes. $

Sperry’s—30 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs. 584.0342. Lunch: Tue-Sat 11:30-3. Dinner: Mon-Sat at 5:30, Sun 5-9. Takeout available. The menus features delectable sea-faring creatures, including soft-shell crabs (when in season). Be sure to try the steaks and pasta specials, and top it off with some homemade desserts! $$$

Sushi Thai Gardens—44-46 Phila St., Saratoga. 580-0960. Lunch: 11:30-3 daily. Dinner: Sun-Thu 3-10, Fri-Sat 3-10:30. Takeout available. The Sushi Thai Gardens offers exotic and fresh Thai food, including vegetarian options. $$

Tiznow—84 Henry St., Saratoga. 226-0655. Dinner: Wed-Sun at 5:30. Bar open Mon-Sat 5-4. Reservations accepted. Enjoy daily changing specials from all around the globe in this renovated machine shop. Large bar, ideal for late-night dining and drinking. $$$$

Weathervane Seafood Restaurant—3368 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 584-8157. 11-9 daily. Takeout available. Seafood menu include specialties such as crab cakes, salmon, lobster, and swordfish. Other dishes include prime rib on Fridays and Saturdays, beef, chicken, and sandwiches. $$ (no checks)

The Wheat Fields—440 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 587-0534; www.wheatfields.com. Mon-Fri 11:30-10, Sat 11-10:30, Sun noon-10. Reservations accepted. The Wheat Fields serves veal,

The Arlington House—47 Werger Rd., West Sand Lake. 674-1880; www.thearlingtonhouse.com. Dinner Tue-Fri 4:30-9, Sat 5-9, Sun 4-8. With a seasonally changing menu, the former Arlington Hotel has delicious desserts, fantastic seafood, and a full bar. $$$

The Cottage Café—705 Columbia Turnpike, E. Greenbush. 479-7282. Features sandwiches, soups, and salads.

DeFazio’s Pizzeria—266 Fourth St., Troy, 271-1111. Mon-Fri noon-10, Sat 4-10.Choose from a selection of twenty-one gourmet wood-fired pizzas, 21 pastas, antipasto and salads. No alcohol. Off-premises catering available. Cash only. $

Monument Square—254 Broadway, Troy. 274-0167. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5-10. Italian and Mediterranean cuisine ranges from appetizers and salads to pasta and small or large plates. $$

Paolo Lombardi’s—104 W. Sand Lake Rd., Wynantskill. 283-0202. Mon-Thu 4-10, Fri-Sat 4-11, Sun 1-9. Paolo Lombardi’s features spectacular pasta, chicken, veal and seafood entrees, plus an extensive wine list and elegant setting. $$$$

Shalimar—405 Fulton St., Troy, 273-8744. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat noon-11,Sun noon-10. Reservations accepted. This reasonably priced Indian restaurant serves an array of both vegetarian and meat dishes. $

Teagan’s Steak & Seafood—360 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer. 477-9909. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-4. Dinner: Mon-Sat 4-10, Sun 2-9. This Italian-themed menu provides a variety of appetizers and entrees, along with a full bar. $$

Testo’s—124th Street and Fourth Avenue, N. Troy, 235-0444. www.testosrestaurant.com. Tue-Sat 11:30-9 Testo’s is a family-run Italian restaurant with a friendly atmosphere, specializing in pasta dishes, veal, seafood and homemade meatballs. Beer and wine. Off-premises catering. Complete menu available for takeout. $

Verdile’s—572 Second Ave., Troy, 235-8879. Mon-Thur 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11, Sun noon-9. This cozy Italian eatery offers fresh veal, homemade pasta and seafood specials. Full bar. Takeout available. Reservations not accepted. $$

Villa Valenti—369 West Sand Lake Rd., Wynantskill. 283-1291; www.villavalenti.com. Dinner: Tue-Sat 4-10, Sun 3-9. Closed Mon.Takeout available. Classic Italian dishes include pasta, veal, seafood and an extensive salad bar. $$

The Boathouse—Shady Harbor Drive, New Baltimore. 756-8001; www.shadyharbormarina.com. Sit by a cozy stone fireplaces and enjoy a view of the Hudson river. The menu offers delicious entrees and there are over 18 beers on tap. $$

Saltsman Hotel—Routes 67 & 10, Ephratah. 993-4412; www.saltsmans.com. Saltsman’s opens Easter Weekend and closes around Halloween-call during this period for the days and times, which are apt to change during the season. This menu of this historical restaurant features unique specialties including milkweed and elderberry pie. Be sure to try the creamed potatoes and corn fritters! $$

Kinderhook Diner—Route 9H, Valatie. 758-1399. Sun-Sat 6:30am - 9pm. Enjoy the décor of photographs of the town in decades past at The Kinderhook Diner, which serves delicious breakfast, along with meatloaf, turkey, shrimp scampi, and chicken scaloppini for later meals. $

Across the Street Pub—1238 Western Ave., Guilderland. 482-9432 or 438-1718. Mon 11am-midnight, Tue-Sat 11 AM-1 AM, Sun noon-9. Across the Street Pub features traditional pub fare, in addition to sandwiches, salads, soups, and burgers. New menu includes low-carb choices. $

Albany Pump Station—19 Quackenbush Square, Albany. 447-9000. Mon-Sat, 11:30am-midnight, Sun., noon-8. Housed in a historic Albany building, this brewpub offers a diverse selection of food and an array of the Pump Station’s own beer. $ 1/2

Alibis Martini Bar—1100 Madison Ave., Albany, 489-5972. 6pm-1am daily. Reservations suggested on weekends. Takeout available. Menu features a unique variety of dishes, ranging from sushi to California potstickers, and an array of foods in between. Full bar-and of course, martinis! $$

Alteri’s Restaurant.—Route 9W, Glenmont. 436-0002. Sun-Thu 11:30-9:30, Fri 11:30-10, Sat 3-10. Reservations suggested. Takeout available. Choose from veal, chicken, steak, seafood and many others on this Italian-American menu. $$

Angelo’s 677 Prime—677 Broadway, Albany. 427-7463. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5-10. Located in the hub of Downtown Albany, Angelo’s Prime 677 is an upscale steakhouse featuring Porterhouse steaks, filet mignon and pork and veal chops. Diners can enjoy live music Wednesday through Saturday from 6:30 until 10. Full bar. $$1/2

Aromi D’Italia—Star Plaza, 2050 Western Ave., Guilderland. 452-9200. Mon-Thur, 7am-9pm. Fri -Sat, 7am - 11pm, and Sun 8-8. Enjoy a panini for lunch, or delicious pasta for dinner. The menu also includes a selection of beer and wine. Be sure to try a scoop of gelati as well - there are several dozen flavors! $$

Avenue A—289 New Scotland Ave., Albany. 320-8684. Mon-Wed 3pm to midnight, Thurs 3pm - midnight, Fri 11am -midnight, Sat 11am-5pm. A classy little bistro right in the Pine Hills neighborhood, Avenue A is a great place to meet for a drink and a light dinner. $

Auberge Suisse—1903 New Scotland Ave., Slingerlands. 439-3800; www.aubergine.com. Dinner Wed-Sun 5:30-close. Reservations recommended, high casual dress appreciated. At this French fine-dining establishment, the seasonal items are always popular, whether they are contemporary or classical dishes. $$$$

Bagel Bite—544 Delaware Ave., Albany, 449-1214. Tue-Wed 8-3 PM, Thu-Sun 8-8, Closed Mon. Takeout available. On/off-premises catering for private parties. The Bagel Bite serves New York- and Middle Eastern-style dinners in addition to their bagels, omlettes and sandwiches. $

Barcelona Restaurant—1192 Western Ave., Albany, 438-1144. Dinner: Mon-Thu 4-10, Fri-Sat 4-11, Sun 4-9. Lunch available through reservations for parties of 10-50. A mix of Mediterranean and American dishes include lamb, chicken vodka, grilled portobello with penne, paella, and seafood. $$$

The Barefoot Gypsy Bistro—342 Delaware Ave., Albany, 462-7876. Lunch: Tue - Thu 11-2. Dinner: Tue - Thu 5-9, Fri - Sat 5-9:30. Reservation accepted. Takeout available. Enjoy deli-style sandwiches, salads, and homemade soups in the courtyard at this eatery, then indulge in fresh, homemade desserts! Only a short walk from the Spectrum 8 Theaters, this bistro offers dinner special on Friday and Saturday, and on and off premises catering. $$

The Barnsider—480 Sand Creek Rd., Albany. 869-2448. Dinner: Mon-Thu 5-10, Fri-Sat 5-11, Sun 4-9. At the Barnsider, enjoy fresh seafood, prime rib of beef, and light fare, but be sure to try the hand-cut steaks! $$$$

Beff’s—367-371 Delaware Ave., Delmar, 475-1111. 95 Everett Rd., Albany, 482-2333. Albany: Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat Noon-11, Sun Noon-9. Delmar: Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat Noon-11, Sun Noon-10. Takeout available. BEFF’s (Big Ed Fat Field’s) serves superb pizza, excellent entrees, burgers, and fresh homemade soups, among other bar fare. Daily specials. Full bar. $

Bellini’s Italian Eatery—1365 New Scotland Rd. Rt. 5, Slingerlands, 439-6022; www.eatdrinkbellinis.com. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-4, Sat noon-4. Dinner Sun-Thu 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11. Featuring authentic Italian dishes such as pizza, bruschetta, pappardelle and sautÈed chicken, as well as sweet desserts. Be sure to check out the Clifton Park location as well! $$

Bentley’s Burgers—23 S. Pearl St., Albany. 426-9332. Mon-Thur 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat, noon-10pm, closed Sunday. Fresh burgers made of beef, turkey or vegetarian patties are a great alternative to regular fast food. Wi-Fi connection is available, perfect for a working lunch. $

BFS Catering—1736 Western Ave., Guilderland. 452-6342; www.bfsrestaurant.com. Takeout available 8 AM; Lunch and Dinner: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm. Closed Sunday. On/off-premises catering available. Takeout available. Mediterranean menu includes Lebanese, Moroccan, Egyptian, Greek and Italian dishes such as falafels, spanakopita, kebabs, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, veggie platters and many more. $$

Black Bear Bistro—50 N. Pearl St., Albany. 463-2810. Mon-Fri 7am - 4pm. The cafeteria style bistro offers a great lunch of made-to-order wraps and sandwiches. $

Blessing’s Tavern—1116 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Colonie. 869-8492. Mon-Thur 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun noon-midnight. Built in 1946, Blessing’s Tavern is the oldest continuously operating tavern in Colonie. Enjoy classic pub food in their cozy and friendly environment.

Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry—1007 Central Ave., Colonie. 482-9747. The menu features a wide selection of fish, crabs, and other seafoods. Bob & Ron’s has one of the best fish fries around!

Bombers Burrito Bar—258 Lark St., Albany, 463-9636. 11 AM-1 AM daily. Takeout available. Lunch delivery. Bar till close. This vegetarian-friendly restaurant offers not only appetizing vegetarian delights, but also burritos, chicken wings, draft beers and margaritas. $

Buca di Beppo—44 Wolf Rd., Colonie. 459-2822. Mon-Thurs 5-10pm, Fri 5-11pm. Sat 4-11pm and Sun noon to 9pm. Buca di Beppo’s is a true family restaurant, serving family-size portions of classic Italian dishes, such as spaghetti and meat-filled tortellini. $$

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse—Crossgates Mall. 452-2900. Mon-Thu 11-10. Fri-Sat 11-11. Sun noon-9. Takeout available. Try the seafood and chicken dishes, or indulge in ribs or a steak! Also look for daily specials and unique side dishes. $$

Butcher Block—1632 Central Ave., Albany. 456-1653. Mon-Fri 11:30-10, Sat 4-10, Sun 3-9. Reservations accepted. Menu features items such as prime rib, chicken, steak and seafood. All entrÈes include soup, salad and bread bar. $$$

Café Capriccio—49 Grand St., Albany. 465-0439; www.cafecapriccio.com. Gourmet northern Italian dining. Also features homemade pastas. Mon-Thu 5:30-10, Fri-Sat 5:30-11, Sun 5:30-9. Reservations strongly suggested. $$$$

Cabernet Café—1814 Western Ave., Guilderland. 452-5670. 1pm-10pm. Aside from a menu consisting of Italian and American dishes, Cabernet Café offers and extensive and impressive wine list. $$$

Caffe Italia—662 Central Ave., Albany. 482-9433. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5-10, Sun 4-9. Reservations appreciated. Off-premises catering. Takeout available. Menu features traditional Italian dishes, ranging from pastas to shrimp, veal, and lobsters. $$$$

Calaway Grill—661 Albany-Shaker Road, Colonie. 869-9976. Daily, 11:30am-10pm. Calaway Grill offers American-style cuisine served in a golf-themed atmosphere, including “sand wedges”. The menu includes entrees such as jambalaya pasta, fish dishes and steak. $$.

Carmine’s Restaurant—818 Central Ave., Albany, 458-8688. Lunch: Tue-Fri 11:30-3; dinner 4:30-9:30, Fri-Sat, Sun 4-8:30. Carmine’s offers an impressive menu of continental and Italian cuisine with American flair, plus light selections and interesting pastas. Menu includes seafood, chicken and veal specialties. Homemade desserts. Full bar. On/off-premises catering, private parties welcome. $$$

Cavaleri’s—334 Second Ave., Albany. 463-4320. Dinner: Tue-Thu 4-9, Fri-Sat 4-10. Closen Sun-Mon. Takeout available. Look for the traditional Italian home-style meals of veal, pasta, and many more! $$

Chili’s Bar and Grille—60 Wolf Rd., Colonie. 489-4664. Sun - Thur 11-11, Fri and Sat until midnight. Chili’s is a great family restaurant offering Mexican dishes, as well as burgers and salads. The bar is also a great place to have some fun. $1/2

Clayton’s Caribbean American Cuisine—244 Washington Ave., Albany, 426-4360. Mon-Fri 11-11, Sat-Sun noon-11. For those who like spicy and exciting cuisine, Clayton’s offers authentic Caribbean and Spanish food, including arroz con pollo, curry chicken, jerk chicken, veggie fajitas and a large variety of seafood and vegetarian dishes. Wine and beer. Full-service dining area, takeout and delivery available. Student discount. Reservations suggested. $$

Dakota—Latham Farms, 579 Troy Schenectady Rd., Latham. 786-1234; www.dakotarestaurant.com. Dinner: Mon-Thu 4:30-10, Fri 4:30-11, Sat 4-11, Sun 1-9. Reservations strongly recommended. Takeout available. In addition to the hearty steak served at Dakota, the menu also includes lobster and other seafood, a salad bar, and delicious desserts! $$$

Debbie’s Kitchen—456 Madison Ave., Albany. 463-3829. Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 11-6. Start your meal off with a rich soup, then try one of Debbie’s unique sandwiches, and top your dining experience off with a delicious dessert! $

DeJohn’s Restaurant & Pub—288 Lark St., Albany, 465-5275; www.dejohns.com. Lunch: 11:30-4 Sat-Sun. Dinner: 4-11 Sun-Thu, 4-midnight Fri-Sat. Enjoy an array of options in the areas of appetizers, entrees, sandwiches and specialty desserts while settling down in the pub or the dining room. Third floor banquet available for private parties. $$$

Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse—1553 Central Ave., Albany, 456-5656. Mon-Thur 4-10:30, Fri 4-11:30, Sat 2-11:30, Sun noon-10. Featured, of course, is the Delmonico steak. However, there is also a full Italian menu with savory chicken and pasta dishes. Full bar. $$

De Marco’s Italian Restaurant—1965 Central Ave., Albany, 456-7574. Daily 4-11. Bring the family to this cozy restaurant for some of the best pizza in town. De Marco’s also has a full Italian menu and full bar. Finish off the meal with some delicious fried dough, a house specialty. On/off premises catering, take-out available. $$

D’Raymonds Restaurant & Lounge—269 Osborne Rd., Loudonville. 459-6364. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2:15. Dinner: Mon-Fri 5-10, Sat 4-10. Closed Sun. Takeout until 7 PM. House specialties include veal and homemade pasta at the Italian-American restaurant. $$$

Dumpling House—102 Everett Road, Albany. 458-7044 or 458-8366. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11, Sun noon-10. Chinese cuisine. $$

El Loco Mexican Café—465 Madison Ave., Albany. 436-1855. Tue 4-10, Wed-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat noon-11, Sun 4:30-10. Closed Mon. Reservations not accepted Fri-Sat nights. Takeout available. Menu features quesadillas, chili, Tex-Mex fare, and also features many vegetarian items. Full bar. $$

El Mariachi—144 Washington Ave., Albany. 465-2568. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat 1-11, Sun 1-10. Set in downtown Albany, El Mariachi features authentic Mexican fare. Full bar. $

El Mariachi II—289 Hamilton St., Albany. 432-7580. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat 1-11, Sun 1-10. Takeout and on-premises catering available. El Mariachi II includes Mexican and Spanish dishes such as paella and pollo San Marco. Full bar. $$

Elda’s—207 Lark St., Albany. 449-3532. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-3. Dinner: Mon-Sat 4-11. Catering and takeout available. This traditional Italian menu includes such favorites as seafood, veal, chicken, and pasta. Enjoy gourmet desserts, a full bar and lounge with live entertainment! $$$

Firkin & Fox—112 Wolf Road, Colonie, 453-2369.Daily 11:30am-1am. This pub restaurant features a full menu of classic pub entrees including fish and chips, shepard’s pie, steak sandwiches, calamari and Firkin burgers. Large outdoor patio. Full bar and 14 beers on tap. On-_premises catering and takeout available. $$

Fountain Restaurant—283 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 482-9898. Enjoy burgers, pizza, finger foods, and a wide variety of Italian dinners, with specials available throughout the week. Sun-Thu 11 AM-2 AM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-3 AM. $

Four Corners Luncheonette—2 Grove St., Delmar. 439-0172. Breakfast: Mon-Sat 7-11:30, Sun 7-1. Lunch: Mon-Sat 11:30-2:30. Dinner: Tue-Sat 5-8. Takeout available. Enjoy both contemporary American diner fare and more lavish meals at this old-fashioned restaurant. $

Garcia’s—1614 Central Ave., Albany. 456-4116; www.garciasmexican.com. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet: Mon-Fri 11:30-1:30. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11, Sun noon-9. Takeout available. This Mexican menu features dishes including fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and barbecued ribs. $

Gaspary’s Restaurant—164 Madison Ave., Albany. 434.6749. Lunch: Tue-Sat 11-2. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5-10. Closed Sun. Catering and takeout available. Gaspary’s features Italian-American fare, including favorites stuffed steak, pasta and thin-crust pizza. $$

Gateway—899 Central Ave., Albany. 482-7557; www.gatewaydiner.com. Mon-Thu 6am-1am, Sun 6am-midnight, Fri-Sat open 24 hours. Banquet facilities for up to 60. Indulge in breakfast all day long, or try some deli-style sandwiches, seafood or steaks. With a full bakery, all desserts are homemade-try the cheesecake, too! $

The Ginger Man Wine Bar & Restaurant—234 Western Ave., Albany. 427.5963; www.albanygingerman.com. Mon-Thur 11:30-11:30, Fri 11:30am-12:30am. Bar open: Mon-Thu 4:30pm-1am, Fri-Sat 4pm-2am. Closed Sun. Reservations recommended. On-premises catering. Takeout available. Enjoy menu items such as vegetarian jambalaya, paella, salmon, and duck breast, in addition to daily fish, pasta specials, and of course, the house-made desserts. $$$

Grandma’s Restaurant.—1273 Central Ave., Colonie. 459-4585; www.grandmascc.com. 6 AM-11 PM daily. Takeout available. This cozy nook offers home-style appetizers and meals including cream of turkey soup, lasagna, and roast chicken. Whether you stop by for breakfast or dinner, don’t forget to take home one of Grandma’s scrumptious pies! $

Ichiban—1652 Western Ave., Albany, 869-9585. 338 Central Ave., Albany, 432-0358. Mon-Thu 11-10. Fri 11-11, Sat 1!:30-11, Sun 11:30-9:30. Takeout available. With both Japanese and Chinese dishes, you have a variety of features to pick from, including sushi, noodle soups, and donburi. $$

Justin’s—301 Lark St., Albany. 436-7008; www.justinsonlark.com. Lunch Mon-Sat 11:30-4. Dinner Sun-Thu 5-10, Fri-Sat 5-10:30. Brunch Sat-Sun 11-4. Reservations suggested. Takeout available. Justin’s features ethnic dishes like jerk chicken and the crispy fried catfish sandwich, in addition to a frequently changing menu. $$$

Kirkers Steak & Seafood—959 New Loudon Road, Latham. 785-3653. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-3. Dinner: Mon-Sat 4-10, Sun 1-8. On-premises catering. Takeout available. Steaks include prime rib, tenderloin and New York strip, among others. Don’t forget about the seafood! $$$

Koto—260 Wolf Road, Latham. 869-8888. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11, Sun 4:30-10 Sun. Try some sushi at the bar, enjoy the show by the chefs at the teppanyaki tables, or simply dine at a regular table. Menu includes tempura, teriyaki, noodle soups and much more. $$

La Casa di Canali—2490 Western Ave., Guilderland, 456-0867. Tue-Thur 4-10, Fri-Sat 4-11, Sun 4-10. Choose from a wide selection of veal, chicken and seafood, along with many pasta dishes. Hand-cut choice NY strip and rib-eye steaks also available. On/off-premises catering, takeout available. Open for private parties. $$

La Serre—14 Green St., Albany. 463-6056. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30. Dinner: Mon-Thu 5-9, Fri-Sat 5-9:30. Closed most Sundays. Reservations suggested. If you’re looking for a menu featuring pastas, fish, and veal, La Serre is the place to go! Full bar and banquet facilities. $$$$

The Larkin Restaurant & Lounge—199 Lark St., Albany. 463-5225. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-3. Dinner: Mon-Thu and Sun 5-11, Fri-Sat 5-midnight. Brunch: Sat-Sun 11:30-3. Takeout available. The assorted blend of Italian, French, African, Asian and American dishes create for a wide variety of menu choices, including seafood linguine, sautéed rainbow trout, and mussels in Thai curry with lemongrass. $$

Le Caravelle—357 Washington Ave. Ext, Albany. 456-0292 Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm. Dinner: Mon-Thu 5-8:30pm, Fri-Sat 5-9:30pm, Sun 3-8:30pm. With a wide variety of dishes including chicken marsala, Atlantic salmon fillet, and veal cutlet parmigiana, this Italian restaurant is sure to whet your appetite-wind things down with tartufos or cannolis! $$$

Lombardo’s—121 Madison Ave., Albany. 462-9180. Mon-Fri 11-11, Sat 3-11. Closed Sun. Takeout available. With a variety of pastas, over 10 veal dishes, and nightly specials, Lombardo’s will certainly add a little extra to your night. $$$

The Lone Star Steakhouse—72 Wolf Rd., Colonie. 458-7827. Sun-Thu 11-10, Fri-Sat 11-11. Call ahead for parties of more than eight. This Texas steakhouse features a wide array of menu items, from steaks to seafood, and tasty appetizers and desserts. $$

Madison’s End Café—1108 Madison Ave., Albany. 489-8859. Mon-Fri 7:30am-2pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2pm. While Madison’s End CafÈ offers non-vegetarian dishes like chicken and beef, the vegetarian entrees always prove to be a delicious choice. Chose from options such as Vermont salad burrito, Southwest chicken crepe and a grilled Portobello-eggplant sandwich, and many more! $
Maggie’s Café. 1186 Western Ave., Albany, 437-1701. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner: Mon-Thur 4:30-9:30 Fri-Sat 4:30-10, Sun 4-8. Sample any of the menu’s delicious Italian entrees, or one of the daily dinner specials and homemade soups. Full bar. Small banquets, on/off-premises catering. $$$

Magnolias on the Park—462 Madison Ave., Albany. 449-2492. Dinner: Tue-Sun 5-close. Brunch: Sun 10-2. Closed Mon. Reservations recommended. Menu specializes in Southeastern dishes, including catfish, fried chicken, bar-b-q ribs, biscuits and cornbread. $$$

Malt River Brewing Company—Latham Circle Mall, Latham. 786-6258.; www.maltriver.com. Mon 11:30-10, Tue-Thu 11:30-11, Fri 11:30-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-10. Bar open later. Reservations accepted. Takeout available. The American style menu features pub-fare, soup, salad, pasta, steak, and everything in between. Be sure to sample one of the ten handcrafted beers. $$

Mangia—1562 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands. 439-5555; www.mangiarestaurant.com.
Serving 11-9 Mon-Thu, 11-10 Fri, noon-10 Sat, noon-9 Sun. In addition to the scrumptious pizza and toppings and fresh pastas, the menus features modern world cuisine. $$

Mangia Pizza & Pasta—Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany. 482-8000; www.mangiarestaurant.com. Serving 11:30-10 Mon-Thu, 11:30-11 Fri, noon-11 Sat, noon-9 Sun. In addition to the scrumptious pizza and toppings and fresh pastas, the menus features modern world cuisine. $$

Marinara—612 Watervliet-Shaker Road (Route 155), Latham, 786-8310. Mon-Thur 5-9, Sun 4-9. A wide variety of Italian favorites from chicken marsala to stuffed shrimp and more are offered here. Full bar. On-premises catering, takeout available. $$

McGeary’s—4 Clinton Square, Albany. 463-1455. www.mcgearyspub.com. Mon-Tue 11:30-10. Wed 11:30-11, Thu-Sat 11:30-midnight. Closed Sunday. Featuring menu items including burgers, wings, steaks, seafood and chicken Caesar salad sandwiches. Soups, breads and rolls are made fresh. Two full bars and 34 taps. $

Mercato’s Pizzeria & Restaurant—155 Delaware Ave., Delmar, 475-7777. Mon-Thur 11-10, Fri-Sat 11-11, Sun noon-9. Mercato’s offers delicious pastas, as well as veal, chicken, seafood and pizza. Full bar. Banquet facilities. $$

Milano Restaurant.—594 New Loudon Road Suite 4, Latham.783-3334; www.milano-restaurant.com; www.uniquecatering.com. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-3, Sat noon-3. Dinner: Tue-Thu 5-10, Fri-Sat 5-10:30, Sun-Mon 5-9. Reservations suggested. The Northern Italian menu contains gourmet pizza, homemade pasta, and seafood, among others. Try takeout-baked goods and other gourmet foods. $$$

Miss Albany Diner—893 Broadway, Albany. 465-9148 Mon-Fri 7am-2:15pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2:15pm. Takeout and catering available. Reservations not accepted. This prewar diner offers a unique menu for not only brunch, but the sandwiches as well. Try the homemade soups and sauces! $ (Cash and personal checks only)

Miyako—2027 Western Ave., Guilderland. 452-1445. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri-Sat 11:30-11, Sun 4-10. Menu offers authentic Japanese fares such as tempura, teriyaki and sukiyaki. Try the sushi bar or enjoy the hibachi table, where your chef will make a Japanese dish right in front of you! $$

Nicole’s—556 Delaware Ave., Albany. 436-4952; www.nicolesrestaurant.com. Lunch: Tue-Fri 11:30-2:30. Dinner: Tue-Sun 5-10. Reservations suggested. Takeout available. With both Southern and Northern Italian cuisine, choose from veal, seafood, pasta, chicken, grilled meats, and even vegetarian dishes. $$$

Nicole’s Bistro at the Quackenbush House—25 Quackenbush Square, Albany. 465-1111; www.nicolesbistro.com. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30. Dinner Mon-Sat 5-10. Reservations suggested. Set in Albany’s oldest historic building, Nicole’s Bistro offers both traditional and contemporary menu items with a French style. $$$$

Pagliacci’s Ristorante—44 S. Pearl St., Albany. 465-1001. Lunch: Mon-Sat 11-3. Dinner: Mon-Sat 4-10, Sun 3-9. On Pepsi Arena event nights, kitchen stays open after event gets out. On/off-premises catering, rooftop patio. Right across from the Pepsi arena, this Northern Italian eatery features daily specials in addition to traditional menu items. $$

Palmer House Café & Tavern—1462 Main St., Rensselaerville. 797-3449. Lunch: Sun noon-5. Dinner: Thu-Sun 5-close. Brunch: Sun 11-3. Mon-Wed closed. Reservations suggested. With a weekly changing menu, this restaurant offers dishes with fresh vegetables and herbs, in addition to pastries. $$$

Pepper Jack’s Sandwich Creations—217 Western Ave., Albany, 426-5505. Mon-Sat8am-midnight, Sun 9am-10pm. A unique breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant located in the middle of Albany, Pepper Jack’s offers delicious cheese steaks, wraps and much more. Great for college students. Off-premises catering and takeout available. $

The Pig & Pickerel Pub—138 Washington Ave., Albany. 465-6744. Mon-Tue 11am-11pm, Wed-Sat 11am-1am. Closed Sunday. On-premises catering. This American-Irish restaurant is sure to hit the spot with nightly dinner specials, over 15 draft beers and vast array of Irish whiskey! $$

Pinehaven Restaurant/Catering—1151 Siver Rd., Guilderland. 456-7111 ext.132. www.pinehavencc.com. Thu 11-8, Fri-Sat 11-8:30, Sun 11-7. On-premises catering. Takeout available. Located in a 40-year-old country club, this menu offers a variety of appetizers and meals, such as homemade soups, sandwiches, pasta, and meats. Also offers a daily special. $$

Provence—Stuyvesant Plaza, Guilderland. 689-7777; www.provence-restaurant.net. Lunch: Mon-Sat 11-3. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5-close, Sun 4:30-close. Bar menu: Mon-Sat 3pm-close. Reservations recommended. The Provence serves Southern French and Mediterranean cuisine in both traditional and contemporary dishes, such as bouillabaisse and roasted duck. Take pleasure in the award-winning wine list and the beautiful French setting. $$$

Ralph’s Tavern—1328 Central Ave., Albany. 489.8290. Mon-Thu 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun noon-midnight. Off-premises catering. Takeout available. With plentiful portions of inexpensive dishes, Ralph’s offers a variety of menu items including hearty sandwiches, entrees, appetizers, and tempting desserts. $

Real Seafood Co—195 Wolf Rd., Colonie. 458-2068; www.realseafood.com. Mon-Thu 11-10, Fri 11-11, Sat 3-11, Sun 3-9:30. On-premises catering. This seafood restaurant features many popular and unique dishes including Block Island swordfish, fried calamari, and scallops St. Jacques. $$$

Ristorante Paradiso—198 Central Ave., Albany, 462-5812. www.ristorante-paradiso.com. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 - 2:30, Dinner: Thur-Sun 5-close. Authentic Italian-American cuisine, featuring pasta, beef, veal and seafood dishes. Full bar. Catering and banquet facilities. $$

Romano’s Macaroni Grill—1 Metro Park Rd. (off Wolf Rd.), Colonie. 446-9190; www.macaronigrill.com. Sun-Thu 11-10, Fri-Sat 11-11. Takeout available. Features Italian specialties and a full bar. $$

Saso’s—218 Central Ave., Albany. 436-7789; www.sasos.com. Takeout available. Lunch: Tue-Fri 11:45-1:30. Dinner: Tue-Thu 5-9:30, Fri-Sat 5-10. Closed Sun-Mon. This Japanese Noodle House serves over 20 different kinds of sushi in addition to its rice bowls and large selection of noodle dishes, which include ramen, udon, soba, and yakisoba. $$

Scrimshaw at The Desmond—660 Albany Shaker Rd., Albany. 869-8100. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5:30-10. Closed Sun. Reservations suggested. The four-course dinners at Scrimshaw are sure to please as you dine in 18-century style class. $$$$

Shades of Green—187 Lark St., Albany. 434-1830. Shades of Green offers everything from blue-green algae shakes to soups and salads, and tempeh chipotles to portabello dishes, and is sure to please both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Shaker Shed—945 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Albany. 869-3662. Mon-Sat 9am to 3pm (Breakfast until noon). Closed between Christmas and Easter. Treat yourself to an array of delicious soups and sandwiches, and bring dessert back to the office or family, all for a low cost! $

Shalimar—35 Central Ave., Albany, 434-0890. Lunch buffet: Mon-Fri 11:30-2. Mon-Thu 11:30-10, Fri 11:30-11, Sat noon-11,Sun noon-10. Reservations accepted. This reasonably priced Indian restaurant serves a variety of both vegetarian and meat dishes. $

Sitar—1929 Central Ave., Colonie. 456-6670; www.sitarindianrestaurant.com. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2. Dinner: Mon-Sat 5-10, Sun 5-9. Sunday buffet: noon-3 Labor Day weekend through Father’s Day. Reservations suggested. The Indian fare at this restaurant includes a variety of chicken, lamb, shrimp and vegetable dishes. $$

Sutter’s Mill and Mining Company—1200 Western Ave., Albany. 489-4910. 11:30am-midnight daily, sometimes later. Takeout available. Sutter’s Mill and Mining Company features a classic menu with bar food, steak, burgers, chicken, and crab legs, among others. $

The New Madison Grille—331 Madison Ave., Albany, 434-1938. Mon 11:30-6, Tue 11:30-10, Wed 11:30-11, Thu 11:30-midnight, Fri,11:30-2am Sat 5pm-midnight. Closed Sun. Pizza is a specialty here, but delicious salads, sandwiches, burgers and other entrÈes are also available. Full bar. Takeout available. $

The Orchard Tavern—68 N. Manning Blvd., Albany. 482-5677. Mon-Sat 11:30-close, Sun 4-close. Takeout available, lunch delivery. This family style restaurant is sure to please with its pizza and others dishes included in the wide variety of selections on the menu. $

The Toll Gate—1569 New Scotland Rd., Slingerlands. 439-9824. Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm. This location, once a toll for travelers in the early 1900’s, is now a popular family restaurant, still adorned in most of its original dÈcor from the 1960’s. The menu features items ranging from chili to veggie burgers-but if you only try one thing, be sure to grab some of the delicious homemade ice cream! $

V & R Restaurant—136 Madison Ave., Albany. 626-0001 or 626-0700; www.vandrrestaurant.com. Mon-Fri 11-11, Sat-Sun 3-11. Reservations suggested. Nothern Italian menu includes pasta, veal, chicken and seafood, and also homemade soups and desserts. $$$

Valente’s—4th Ave. & 8th St., Watervliet. 273-3314.

Our advertisers represent top businesses within their industry and have supported Capital Region Living magazine from the beginning. When calling upon them, please be sure to mention that you saw them in Capital Region Living magazine.

Aird Dorrance	Koto
Albany Plastic Surgeons, PLLC	Kraft's by Kim
Albany Chamber Of Commerce	Lake Placid Summitt Hotel
Astrological Concepts	Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Beacon Pointe	Linda McClain Travel Services
Bella Napoli Bakery	Lucie Capek, MD
Best Western Sovereign Hotel	Mannix Marketing
BFS	Meadowbrooks Organic
Bridal Shows	Metro 20 Diner
Bumble Beads	Millstone Lodge
Capital Region Urilogical Surgeons	Mirror Lake Inn
Chocolate Gecko	Mohawk Country Club
Clarion Hotel	Muffin Man
Clifton Park Center	Nelson Dental Healthcare
CNY Fertility Center	New Old Stuff
Community Sleep Disorder Center	Next-Act
Country Club Of Troy	Pattersonville Furniture
Creative Kitchens	Roman Pizza
Cross Eyed Owl	Salon and Spa Promotions
Dale Miller's	Saratoga Sotheby's Internationa Realty
Delmar Dental	Save-More Wine & Liquor
Designsense	Simply Irresistible Salon
Earl B. Feiden	Solutions By Design
Eric & Eric	Sporttime
Farrell Brothers Inc.	Stockade Imports
First Impression	Teakwood
Fleurtacious	Team Shillinglaw
Fusion Spa	The Beauty Parlour
Ghent Wood Products	The Book Barn
Glen Sanders Mansion	The Old Daley Inn Catering Co.
Glenmont Beverage	The Reynolds Group
Glens Falls Hospital	Time Warner Security
Great Finds	Uncle Sam's All American Chocolate Factory
High Falls Gorge	Wade Tours
Honest Weight Food Co-Op	Zachary's Pastry Shoppe
Hot Fashions To Go
Ichiban
Jackson's Old Chatham House
Joan's Cake Chateau
Karavalli

Capital Region Living magazine was started in the spring of 2003 and has quickly grown to become a leading life and leisure magazine in the area. It was established to bring those who live in and around the Capital Region a fun, yet informative publication about local events, businesses and people in the community, as well as serve as a source of information on other topics such as Wellness, Parenting, Pets, Wine, Business & Finance, Food & Dining and Home Solutions.

With its slogan Read, Learn, Live, Capital Region Living magazine has something for everyone.

Mission statement – To provide residents of the Capital Region with a monthly publication that is informative and entertaining.

"Thank you for the Capital Region Living Magazine. We always enjoy the fun, enjoyable, and informative articles. We are looking forward to many more years of your fine publication. "

T.R. Laz
USAweddings.com

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